Walter Paul Schroeder
Walter Paul Schroeder was born 21-Oct 1918 in St Louis, Missouri. His parents were Paul Gustaf Schroeder (1897-1970), and Marie Wachtendorf (1892-1920). Walter had no siblings. He attended Roosevelt High School in St. Louis. In his 1936 yearbook, he is described as ‘Little in Stature, Large in Mind.’ He was a Student Council Rep. and in the Engineering Club.
Walter registered for the draft 16-OCT 1940. According to his draft registration, Walter worked for Mallinckrodt Chemical Company. Walter’s listed address was 3016 Iowa Avenue. He was the 3rd generation to live in this home. Walter received an order to report for induction on 2-Jun 1941. Walter Paul Schroeder was inducted into the U.S. Army on 18-Jun 1941 at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis.
Walter’s Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) was Radio Operator Low Speed 776. A radio operator, low speed (LSRO 776) was a U.S. Army enlisted role in WWII responsible for operating tactical field radio equipment to send and receive messages, primarily using Morse code. Units, including U.S. Army infantry regiments’ cannon companies, had dedicated Morse code operators. Morse code was considered more reliable and efficient than early voice radio for certain situations, particularly in transmitting concise orders and pre-arranged codes.
In WWII, a “Cannon Company” was a specific type of U.S. Army unit that provided direct and indirect fire support to an infantry regiment. They were often equipped with towed 105mm howitzers. The concept of dedicated cannon companies within infantry regiments during WWII evolved from battlefield needs, though Colonel William O. Darby is famous for forming a provisional one for the Rangers.
The 40th was called the ‘Sunburst Division’ because of its distinctive patch. Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7-Dec 1941, plans were made for the 40th division for disposition along the coast of California. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, there was a widespread fear among the American military and public that the Japanese would next attack or even invade California and the rest of the West Coast. The 185th was positioned along the coast of California where they were frequently on guard duty at key strategic locations. The 185th was based in California for about a year before moving to Fort Lewis Washington in April 1942. Walter accompanied the division at Fort Lewis. Throughout the summer, the division wondered when they’d go overseas and get chance to fight.
Movement orders were received and on 20-Dec 1943, Units began departing in convoys for Guadalcanal for their first combat assignment. By the middle of January 1944, the move from Hawaii to Guadalcanal was complete. The division settled down to living, training, and surviving the mud and heat of the infamous jungle. It was said, “No 40th Division man had a good word to say about Guadalcanal and agreed the most fitting punishment for the Japanese, would be to give the place back to them and then make them stay there!”
Walter and his regiment, would see plenty of action in the liberation of the Philippines fighting along with the Flipino army.
For more of the story, click on the pdf below.
Walter brought back a Japanese scrapbook and the museum had several pages translated. You can read the translated pages by clicking on the pdf below. Please note, with the permission of the donor, the museum is attempting to repatriate the scrapbook with the help of the Japanese Consulate.
