World War II Honoree

Donald Henry Walters

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Relationship

Friend

Rank: Fireman First Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy January 15, 1942, at Denver, Colorado with Basic Military Training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp and with additional training; he was transferred to the USS Indianapolis II Cruiser (CA-35) for duty. July 26, 1945 the USS Indianapolis with her Shipmate’s, delivered the components of the Little Boy atomic bomb to the U.S. Air Base on Tinian Island, located in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. The Ship’s Captain Weigh Anchor on the Twenty-Seventh and departed for Leyte Philippine Islands. July 30, 1945 the USS Indianapolis, during the voyage was torpedoed, and sunk by an Imperial Japanese Submarine. He was reported “Missing-in-Action” or Buried at Sea along, with his gallant crew members, gone without a trace and will “Remain on Eternal Patrol”. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial Cemetery, located in Indianapolis, Indiana. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously for his Heroism, and ultimate sacrifice. He served his Country with Pride and Honor.