World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Walter L. Harris
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Merced, California
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY MARCH 26, 1943 AT FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN EUROPE WITH THE U.S. ARMY, 175TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE UNITED STATES 1ST ARMY. ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1944 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING HIS DIVISION’S DRIVE TO THE ROER RIVER IN GERMANY AND WAS BURIED IN A BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY IN GERMANY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. DECORATION AND CITATION: PURPLE HEART WITH A BRONZE CLUSTER. THE PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.