October 11, 1922 (Norwalk, CT) – November 3, 1944; 22 years old
Unmarried
Last local address: 3 State Street, South Norwalk
Enlisted on March 4, 1943
Service number: 8072532
USS Reno (CL-96)
Missing In Action (MIA)
Born to Valentine W. (1885-1960) and Jessie Byxbee Walter (1885-1940). Robert was their only child.
Awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
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.
On the night of 3 November, while escorting the U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16) east of the San Bernardino Strait, Philippines, 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.
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.

END
One thought on “SEAMAN FIRST CLASS ROBERT VALENTINE WALTER; U.S. NAVY”