DOB/DOD: October 11, 1922 (Norwalk, CT) – November 3, 1944; 22 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 3 State Street
ENLISTMENT: March 4, 1943
SERVICE NUMBER: 8072532
SHIP ASSIGNED TO: USS Reno (CL-96)
STATUS: Missing In Action (MIA); at sea, not recoverable
FAMILY: Born to Valentine W. (1885-1960) and Jessie Byxbee Walter (1885-1940). Robert was their only child. Stepmother, Elizabeth Bauer Hackl Walter (1890-1989).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Killed when the USS Reno was sunk near the Philippines. On the night of 3 November, while escorting the U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16) east of the San Bernardino Strait, Philippines, the USS Reno was hit by two Japanese torpedoes on her port side fired from Japanese submarine I-41. 46 crewmen perished as a result of this attack, including S1C Walter.
Norwalk High School Class of ’40
From The Norwalk Hour November 18, 1944
One Norwalk sailor is missing. Robert Valentine Walter, Seaman First Class, USN, who is the only son of Valentine W. Walter of 3 State Street, was reported missing in action last week. Mr. Walter has as yet received no information regarding the circumstances.
From The Norwalk Hour January 4, 1946
Robert Valentine Walter, Seaman First Class, son of Valentine W. Walter of 3 State Street, is listed as dead in a Navy Department release today. He had been reported as missing in a message received on December 21, 1944, by his father. No details regarding his death have been given.
Picture of the USS Reno from historycentral.com
Memorialized on the Walls of the Missing Manila American Cemetery, 1634 McKinley Road, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. Photo from FindAGrave.com.
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