World War II Honoree

John Walsh

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Burlington, Vermont

Honored By

Anne W. & Col. Robert F. Gibson

Relationship

Nephew

Drafted into the Navy in 1944, but instead volunteered and was inducted on June 5, 1944. After basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, he departed Camp Kilmer, New Jersey to arrive at La Havre, France in early 1945 where he was assigned to the 83rd Infantry Division (Ohio). The 83rd saw duty in relief of American forces and the mop up of the remnants of the German Army just defeated at Bastogne, Belgium in The Battle of the Bulge. He served with this division and the 80th Infantry Division for over a year and participated in the Allied spearhead into Germany, reached within 60 miles of Berlin. There the American Forces passed the responsibility for that sector to the Russian Army. He returned home with the 95th Infantry Division and was honorably discharged after the war on June 9, 1946. Was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery in combat.