Exhibit 001 · A Soldier’s Story
In May 1944, Harry James Walker left civilian life in Muskegon, Michigan, and entered the United States Army. Before the war ended, Army records would identify him as a rifle noncommissioned officer and platoon sergeant in Company A, 309th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division.
His surviving records document a man entrusted with leading several squads of infantrymen in combat—attacking and holding enemy positions during the final months of the war in Europe.
The documents tell us much. They also leave questions.
Harry rose as high as Technical Sergeant, yet returned home as a Private. His company fought through major operations during 1945, but surviving records have not yet established Harry’s personal presence in every Company A action. Reconstructing that story remains an active part of the family archive.
Harry and Marie
Family photograph · Exact date, studio, place, and occasion not established.
Before and after the uniform, Harry belonged to a family. Marie Agnes Webb Walker was his wife. This exhibit does not extend beyond the family history currently supported by approved records.
Before the Army
- Born
- December 9, 1919
- Birthplace
- Muskegon, Michigan
- Permanent wartime address
- 536 Hawley Street, Muskegon
- Civilian occupation
- Salvage Inspector
- Citizenship
- United States
- Army component
- Army of the United States
Called to Serve
Entered active serviceMay 23, 1944
Place of entryFort Sheridan, Illinois
Army Serial Number36,980,866
Branch / componentInfantry · AUS
Documented organization
From division to company
- 78th Infantry Division
- 309th Infantry Regiment
- 1st Battalion
- Company A
Harry’s Form 53-55 states: CO A 309TH INF REG 78TH INF DIV. Company A’s place within 1st Battalion is established unit structure.
Rifle NCO and Platoon Sergeant
Harry’s own WD AGO Form 100 establishes this role.
As a platoon sergeant in the European Theater of Operations, Harry supervised several squads of men in attacking and holding enemy positions during 1945. The record also notes that he dismantled and cleaned the M-1 rifle under combat conditions.
Interpretive transcription from Harry’s Army qualification record
Open Question
Technical Sergeant to Private
Documented
- Highest grade held: T/SGT
- Form 100: T/SGT Rifle NCO
- Platoon-sergeant duty
- Grade at separation: PVT
- August 1945 roster: Pvt
Unknown
- Promotion date
- Date of grade change
- Authority
- Reason
Do not infer misconduct. The surviving record does not establish a disciplinary explanation.
Documented chronology
Overseas Service
- Departed the United States
- Arrived in the European Theater of Operations
- Departed the ETO
- Returned to the United States
- Honorably separated at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania
No ship name, route, port, or unrecorded intermediate location has been added.
Individual military record
Combat Recognition
Combat Infantryman Badge
Recorded directly on Form 53-55.
Locate the original award order →Campaigns
Ardennes · Rhineland · Central Europe
Service medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with three bronze campaign stars.
Campaign stars—not the Bronze Star Medal.
Wounds
Form 53-55 records: None.
Unit Context
Company A at War
The following record documents Harry’s company or battalion. It does not, by itself, document Harry’s presence in each action.
Hürtgen Forest
Company A, 1st Battalion, 309th Infantry is documented operating in the Hürtgen area. Staff Sergeant Leo J. Husak of Company A was killed during a combat patrol on January 30.
Unit context — Harry’s individual presence has not yet been confirmed for this action.
Research question: Was Harry already present for duty with Company A?
Schwammenauel Dam
Companies A and B led the assault, with Company A on the right. Company A objectives included gatehouse and building positions and high ground at the northern end of the dam. The attack unfolded during the night of February 9–10; engineers were subsequently able to inspect interior passages.
Battalion and company context — Harry’s individual presence has not yet been confirmed.
- Was Harry present for duty February 9–10?
- Was he already T/SGT and serving as a platoon sergeant?
- Which platoon did he lead?
78th Division General Order 40
This source adds 1st Battalion context. No precise geographic location is assigned without corroboration.
Remagen Bridgehead
1st Battalion relieved troops near Bruchhausen during the night of March 9–10 and later attacked northeast toward the Cologne–Frankfurt Autobahn. On March 10, a Company A bazooka team destroyed an enemy tank and enabled the company to renew its assault.
Unit context — Harry’s individual participation remains unconfirmed.
Platoon-Level Context
PFC John F. Miller Jr. of Company A is documented as a platoon guide during combat near Bielstein. Harry’s Form 100 identifies him as a platoon sergeant, making this a potentially useful clue.
Do not infer that Miller served in Harry’s platoon.
Coming Home
October 6Departed the European Theater
October 21Returned to the United States
October 26Honorably separated
Harry left the Army at Unit B Separation Center #45, Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania, under demobilization authority. His record states that a lapel button was issued and gives an Adjusted Service Rating score of 76.
Family-held artifact
Service Book of Scripture, Prayer and Hymns
Family history records that Harry carried the small blue book during World War II and brought it home. Marie later gave it to their son, Garey Duane Walker.
Awaiting authenticated artifact photography
Sources & Evidence
How this exhibit is grounded
Harry-specific primary sources
- WD AGO Form 53-55
- WD AGO Form 100
- Men of Diehard, 309th Infantry wartime address roster
Unit and historical context
- 78th Infantry Division General Orders 33 and 40
- Army study of 1st Battalion, 309th Infantry at Schwammenauel Dam
- Remagen bridgehead material
- DPAA and Company A context preserved in family research
Private Google Drive working-document links are not published. Public labels point to records curated within the Walker Family Archive.