Enlistment & Separation Documents

Enlistment & Separation Documents (Honorable Discharge) #1

Date: 7/19/45
Notes: Official paperwork indicating Wally was honorably discharged on July 19, 1945. The paperwork lists Wally’s military occupational specialty as an aerial gunner. His service school record lists “66 CTD, 17 Weeks Academic LAAF, 6 Weeks Aerial Gunner.” He received a Purple Heart in the European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign, as well as an Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters. He was deployed on July 27, 1944 and spent 10 months and 6 days in Europe, in addition to the 2 years 5 months and 12 days spent in continental service. He returned to the United States on June 2, 1945. (Note: See the telegram he sent his mother, Helene, when he got to the United States.)

Enlistment & Separation Documents (Separation Qualification) #2

Date: July 19, 1945
Notes: In addition to Wally’s Honorable Discharge paperwork, this document details his skills and qualifications after leaving the war and transitioning back into civilian life. It indicates he had 17 weeks of Academics training in the Army Air Force, 6 weeks of training as an aerial gunner in Laredo, Texas, and 8 weeks of training as a Navigator for the Army Air Force. In civilian life, he had qualifications for “assembler, armorer, proof technician.”

Enlistment & Separation Documents #3

Date: 7/27/1999
Notes: Correspondence between Laurie (Wally’s wife) and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs regarding Wally’s enlistment and separation records, which Laurie was requesting so Wally could receive medical care in the Veteran’s Hospital. Because of this request, we have original copies of Wally’s enlistment and separation documents.

Enlistment Separation Document #4

Date: June 17, 1999
Notes: Wally’s obituary focuses on his service during WWII and his family.