Robert O. Walter

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Corporal (then Private First Class) Robert O. Walter, 33 243 442, Infantry, Anti-Tank Company, 7th Infantry Regiment. On 29 February 1944, when a large concentration of enemy troops attacked an anti-tank position near Ponte Rotto, Italy, Corporal Walter opened fire with his rifle and slowed their advance. As the Germans began closing in and his squad was ordered to take up another position, Corporal Walter covered the withdrawal. Although knocked down by two hand grenades, he held the enemy off, killing one German who was preparing to hurl a potato masher. Upon reaching the new position, where the remnants of his platoon had assembled, Corporal Walter helped stem the enemy attack, killing a total of six Germans and wounding a number of others.