WALTER ARCHIE ROSS
Walter Archie Ross Jr. was born 3-Aug 1921 in St. Louis. His father was Walter Archie Ross Sr. (1879–1962). His mother is unknown. He later lived in Versailles MO. When Walter registered for the draft, he was a student at Lincoln University in Jefferson City MO. Walter was a WWII veteran and in the US Army Reserve after the war.
He married Helen Emma Chatwell Ross, of Saint Louis in June 1949. He was living at 4248 W. Finney in St. Louis. He was called for duty in Korea in October of 1950. His service number was 37517485.
Sergeant First Class Ross was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on 14-Feb 1951, after his unit engaged the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) near Sangnok, South Korea and the division’s defensive positions were attacked and overrun.
Following the war, two repatriated U.S. POWs confirmed that Ross was captured by the CCF, and while in captivity died from dysentery in April 1951 at the Suan POW Camp Complex in North Korea. It was determined Walter died on 15-Apr 1951. Ross remained unaccounted for and determined to be nonrecoverable in January 1956.
In 1994, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea government, unilaterally turned over 14 boxes of remains believed to be those of U.S. service members. Documentation accompanying those remains indicated that the remains in box 3 were exhumed from Suan County. This information correlates with Ross’ last reported location at the Suan POW Camp Complex.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Walter Archie Ross Jr., 29, of St. Louis, Missouri, who died in captivity during the Korean War, was accounted for 7-Jun 2024. Ross’s family received a full briefing on his identification. To identify Ross’s remains, scientists from DPAA used DNA, dental and anthropological analysis, as well as chest radiograph and other circumstantial evidence.
Walter Ross’s name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others who are still missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
Walter A. Ross will be buried in Missouri at a later date. Sergeant First Class Walter A. Ross Jr. is eligible for the following medals and commendations.
- Purple Heart
- Prisoner of War Medal
- Marksmanship Badge
- Korean Service Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Republic of Korea Presidential Citation
- Republic of Korea War Service Medal
- United Nations Service Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
From his service in World War II, Walter was awarded:
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- National Defense Medal
- European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
- Good Conduct Medal
For more of his story, click on the pdf below.
