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Personal info

Full name
PETE, Walter J
Date of birth
5 December 1917
Age
27
Place of birth
Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana
Hometown
Delaware County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
35169868
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Squad Leader
Unit
B Company,
1st Battalion,
175th Infantry Regiment,
29th Infantry Division
Awards
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
30 October 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Bauchem, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Joseph Pete (father)
Savina Pete (mother)
John Pete (brother)
Rural Pete (brother)
Betty M. (Wimmer) Pete (wife)
Diana J. (Clark) Pete (daughter)

More information

Sgt Walter Pete worked in a slaughtery.

He enlisted on 16 October 1941 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He was sent overseas in July 1944.

The second Bronze Star was awarded to him posthumously. The citation stated: He went to the relief of his commanding officer, who was isolated and in danger of capture or death by the enemy. Arriving at his commanding officer's position, Sgt Pete assumed the offensive and was last seen pursuing the enemy, in the vicinity of Bauchem, Germany.

On 29 October 1944 he participated in a night raid on Bauchem. The raid was made over open terrain in a widely dispersed formation which caused him to become separated from the other members of his company.

Investigation teams visited and searched the area around Bauchem on 17 June, 1 and 7 October and 6 November 1947 without any result.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Diana J. Clark Pete, Jo Purnot, www.wwiimemorial.com, IDPF of Robert W. Seeger

Photo source: www.wwiimemorial.com, Diana J. Clark Pete, Peter Schouteten