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Personal info

Full name
KILPELAINEN, Valtemar "Walter"
Date of birth
1924
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Maine
Hometown
Oxford County, Maine

Military service

Service number
31320967
Rank
Private
Function
unknown
Unit
27th Armored Infantry Battalion,
9th Armored Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 January 1945
Place of death
Büdesheim/Eifel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 7 10

Immediate family

Members
Peter Kilpelainen (father)
Hilda Kilpelainen (mother)
Peter Kilpelainen Jr. (brother)

More information

Valtemar Kilpelainen was a lumberman.

He enlisted in Portland, Maine on 24 March 1943.

According to German records, Pvt Kilpelainen was taken prisoner and died in Feldlazarett 257 of a wound caused by a big splinter in the left thigh. This German field hospital was stationed in the schoolhouse of Büdesheim/Eifel, Germany at that time and he was initially buried at the local cemetery.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.5ad.org, IDPF of William H. Craig

Photo source: Peter Schouteten