Walters, John

Description

John Walters was born on November 10, 1912, in Rye, New York, to Gerda Sofia G├╢ransson and Alex Walters. He was raised and educated in Rye and his family lived at 29 Redfield Street.

John enlisted February 26, 1943 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers in New Guinea and Leyte, Philippines and throughout the Pacific Theatre.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) played a vital, challenging role in New Guinea during World War II, building critical airfields, ports, roads, and supply bases in dense jungle to support the Allied advance against Japan, overcoming extreme terrain, disease, and logistical hurdles to establish crucial logistical hubs for island-hopping campaigns, a testament to their ability to fight and build in hostile environments.

A September 1944 letter from Cpl.
John Walters stated,
He’s in New Guinea,
where evidently he has not been enjoying the heat and the rain. He is in
the engineers heavy equipment company. His description of the island,
its people, life and vegetation were
most interesting. Wish you could
bring us back some of those fruits
and vegetables that you speak of .

In the Leyte campaign (October–December 1944), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were essential for overcoming the island’s swampy terrain and torrential rains to establish the air and logistical bases required for the liberation of the Philippines

Received a most interesting
letter from Cpl. John Walters who
landed four days after D-day in the
Philippines. Says he had some exciting times including getting caught
in a strafing attack while taking a
bath on the ship’s deck. Did you
dress before running, John

In October 1945, Lions Club Secretary William Dormbusch read an interesting letter from Corporal
John Walters, stationed at Tacloban, Leyte . Corporal Walters described
the tumultuous scene at Leyte when
the jap surrender was announced.
He expressed gratitude for the Lions
Club Newsletter sent to servicemen,
stating, “I want to thank all of you for bringing a little of that hometown feeling to me by means of your newsletter and I know other Rye boys feel the same way I do, that it was always one piece of mail we looked forward to. Your news made us feel like we were not forgotten men.

John was honorably discharged February 9,1946

Upon returning home, he started a business in home remodeling. He married Irene Gertrude Dumas in 1949. They had two children during their marriage and the family would live in Branford, CT .

He continued as a home improvement and remodeling subcontractor until his retirement. John retired to Sarasota, Fl. in 1975. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge 1939 of Branford, Connecticut and Moose Lodge 608 in Sarasota. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed camping, tennis, and golf, and was devoted to his family.

John Walters died on Memorial Day, May 29, 2006 at The Springs in Sarasota, Florida. He was 93.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife of 57 years, Irene Walters of Sarasota; and two daughters, Linda Walters Whittet and husband, Robert Whittet of Richmond, Virginia, and Sandra Walters DeFeo and husband, Neil DeFeo of Westport, Connecticut He is also survived by five grandchildren, John and Emily Whittet and Julia, Lauren and Elizabeth DeFeo.

Memorial services were held at Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home.