SGT Ward Gunard Walter

Ward Gunard Walter was born October 13, 1917 in Minot, North Dakota. He joined The Army in 1950. By November of 1967, he had risen to the rank of Sergeant in C Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade. Those around him knew him as "Pop". 

On the 29th of November, 1967, Walter was working as part of an ambush team. The following account of what happened was taken from Together We Served:

The Military Assistance Command Vietnam/Army Of The Republic Of Vietnam (MACV/ARVN) outpost at Phuoc Cang on Highway QL-15 was coming under heavy enemy fire and the combined (A, B, and C company) ambush team was tasked with attempting to take the pressure off by flanking the Viet Cong (VC) positions. They were working their way south from the Finger of Land along Highway QL-15 several hundred yards or so away from the outpost. For some time they had been able to see headlights lights approaching north from the direction of Bear Cat.

      
The ambush team hunkered down alongside the roadway berm preparing to move to their left and engage the VC who had no idea they were there. They waited for the vehicle to pass so its headlights would not expose their position. The vehicle turned out to be a gun jeep from the 9th Infantry Division. The men in the jeep must have spotted movement because they opened fire as they passed by the ambush teams location, then continued down the highway towards Long Binh Post.

      
Three rounds from the jeep machine gun passed through the M-16 magazines that were hung in bandoleers across SGT Walter's chest.

      
SGT Walter age 50, was transported to the 24th Evacuation Hospital but died from the wounds before he arrived. SGT Walter had thirty days in country when he died.

SGT Walter was 50 years old at the time of his death. He had never married. Still, he family that was touched by his loss in a way that many will never know. We will never forget his many years of service and sacrifice. Looking at his ribbon bar, it quickly becomes obvious that he was a special man who served with distinction. Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor device among the many that set him apart.

We'll never forget you Pop! Thank you for the way you lived your life!