Born in Portage, Cambria Co., Pa., son of Walter and Mary (Weaver) Dunwiddie. Husband of Helen Regina Wilson. Father of Claudia Zaharia.
Walter was raised in Pittsburgh from the time he was an infant. Shortly after his marriage he began working as a clerk for the firm of Somers, Fitler & Todd. He was called "Dutch," a nickname given to him by his wife.
Walter was drafted into the army on 9 October 1942 and in April 1943 was sent overseas to serve with Co. C. Eighty-Third Chemical Brigade. He served in Italy, Sicily, and in North Africa, where he was hospitalized for a four-month illness. He returned to active duty 20 January 1944.
On the 24th of January, Walter's company embarked from Naples, Italy, on a ship bound for the Anzio Beachhead. Due to the rough seas the troops were unable to disembark upon their arrival late on the 25th. The following morning the ship struck a mine and caught fire. Many of the men perished on board ship or in the extremely cold waters of the Mediterranean after the ship was abandoned. Walter was among those who died. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for his wartime service.
Walter was raised in Pittsburgh from the time he was an infant. Shortly after his marriage he began working as a clerk for the firm of Somers, Fitler & Todd. He was called "Dutch," a nickname given to him by his wife.
Walter was drafted into the army on 9 October 1942 and in April 1943 was sent overseas to serve with Co. C. Eighty-Third Chemical Brigade. He served in Italy, Sicily, and in North Africa, where he was hospitalized for a four-month illness. He returned to active duty 20 January 1944.
On the 24th of January, Walter's company embarked from Naples, Italy, on a ship bound for the Anzio Beachhead. Due to the rough seas the troops were unable to disembark upon their arrival late on the 25th. The following morning the ship struck a mine and caught fire. Many of the men perished on board ship or in the extremely cold waters of the Mediterranean after the ship was abandoned. Walter was among those who died. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for his wartime service.
Born in Portage, Cambria Co., Pa., son of Walter and Mary (Weaver) Dunwiddie. Husband of Helen Regina Wilson. Father of Claudia Zaharia.
Walter was raised in Pittsburgh from the time he was an infant. Shortly after his marriage he began working as a clerk for the firm of Somers, Fitler & Todd. He was called "Dutch," a nickname given to him by his wife.
Walter was drafted into the army on 9 October 1942 and in April 1943 was sent overseas to serve with Co. C. Eighty-Third Chemical Brigade. He served in Italy, Sicily, and in North Africa, where he was hospitalized for a four-month illness. He returned to active duty 20 January 1944.
On the 24th of January, Walter's company embarked from Naples, Italy, on a ship bound for the Anzio Beachhead. Due to the rough seas the troops were unable to disembark upon their arrival late on the 25th. The following morning the ship struck a mine and caught fire. Many of the men perished on board ship or in the extremely cold waters of the Mediterranean after the ship was abandoned. Walter was among those who died. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for his wartime service.
Walter was raised in Pittsburgh from the time he was an infant. Shortly after his marriage he began working as a clerk for the firm of Somers, Fitler & Todd. He was called "Dutch," a nickname given to him by his wife.
Walter was drafted into the army on 9 October 1942 and in April 1943 was sent overseas to serve with Co. C. Eighty-Third Chemical Brigade. He served in Italy, Sicily, and in North Africa, where he was hospitalized for a four-month illness. He returned to active duty 20 January 1944.
On the 24th of January, Walter's company embarked from Naples, Italy, on a ship bound for the Anzio Beachhead. Due to the rough seas the troops were unable to disembark upon their arrival late on the 25th. The following morning the ship struck a mine and caught fire. Many of the men perished on board ship or in the extremely cold waters of the Mediterranean after the ship was abandoned. Walter was among those who died. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for his wartime service.
Inscription
PFC 83 CML BN PENNSYLVANIA
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
