World War II Honoree

Walter S. Barrett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Okfuskee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: First Lieutenant. Inducted into the United States Army from Oklahoma. As a graduate of the Officer’s Candidate School, he accepted his commission, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. He served as an Infantry Officer with the Thirty-Sixth Infantry Battalion, a subordinate unit of the Third Armored ‘Spearhead’ Division, attached to the U.S. First Army. Wednesday, October 4, 1944 he was mortally wounded, when his Division laid siege and occupation of Liege, Belgium. Personnel from a Grave Registration Company buried him in the Fosse Battlefield Cemetery at Namur, Belgium. In the post-war era, this Soldiers’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery Location: Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Silver Star, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. The Silver Star was awarded to the Lieutenant for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in Combat against an enemy force. The Bronze Star was awarded for Bravery, Act of Merit and Meritorious Service in Combat, and the Purple Heart for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.