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name
WALTERS, Frank Leo - Date of
birth
29 April 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Shelburn, Curry Township, Sullivan County, Indiana -
Hometown
Sullivan County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35731505 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
F Company,
2nd Battalion,
334th Infantry Regiment,
84th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 December 1944 - Place of
death
Lindern, northeast of Geilenkirchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 18 | 7 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Pearl F. Walters (father)
Elsie L. (Johnson) Walters (mother)
June Walters (sister)
Goldvina Walters (sister)
Abby I. Walters (sister)
Robert F. Walters (brother)
Walter H. Walters (brother)
Ruby M. Walters (sister)
Hubert A. Walters (brother)
Maxine V. Walters (sister)
Nettie S. Walters (sister)
Marjorie H. Walters (sister)
Elizabeth J. Walters (sister)
More information
Pfc Frank L. Walters enlisted in Evansville, Indiana on 10 June 1943 and was sent overseas in October of 1944. He was transferred immediately upon his arrival overseas from England to France.On the morning of 2 December 1944 F Company went on patrol, southwest of Lindern trying to find higher ground. Sometime during the night two of the Fox Company platoons got seperated and became known as the lost platoons. Among these men was Pfc Frank Walters.
When the dawn broke on 3 December 1944 the lost platoons found themselves six miles behind the German lines. The batteries in their walkie talkies had died so they were unable to communicate with Beeck, Germany to get reinforcements or at least artillery support.
The platoon leaders made the decision to try to fight their way to the our lines.
That effort failed when the Germans opened up 88's the artillery barrage pin the two platoons down. When the artillery lifted the platoons were attacked by units of the 2nd SS Panzer Division (Das Reich) and they did not take prisoners.
When the attack was over 56 men from those two platoons were killed including Pfc Walters.
Four of the wounded men from the lost platoons were found by the underground and helped back to the American lines. These four men told of the battle that took place on 3 December.
Pfc Walters was probably killed by artillery or mortar fire while they were dug in holding high ground.
Source of information: Jac Engels, Mr. Rickey E. Street (nephew), Rick Bell, John E. Clerk, www.abmc.gov, www.archives.gov - WWII Army Enlistment Records, www.wwiimemorial.com - National Archives / ABMC Cemeteries, www.findagrave.com - CWGC/ABMC, www.ancestry.com - Haynes Family Tree (adeptr) / 1940 Census US, www.84thinfantry.com, "The 84th Division in the Battle of Germany" by Theodore Draper (Pg 69-70)
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Ralph Peeters, www.ancestry.com - Haynes Family Tree (adeptr), Rick Street, John E. Clerk