T.Sgt. Edward W. Waller, US Army.Duke Shoop, War Correspondent, in an article in Wednesday's Kansas City Star, tells of the awards of 27 heroes from the Mid-West in the great battle of San Lo, in France, and includes T. Sgt. Edward W. Waller of Coldwater. Edward is a son of County Engineer and Mrs. Henry Waller of this city and has been in much fierce fighting with the infantrymen since D Day. The account follows:
WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES IN FRANCE, August 16, Twenty seven midwestern boys, some of them from Kansas, have been honored for gallantry and heroism in combat against the Germans by one of our infantry divisions.
When the military history of the "war" is written, great credit will be given to Kansas men for the personal and group heroism displayed for the battle of St. Lo, the German bastain that had to be taken in order to set the stage for the employment of Lieut. Gen. Omar N. Bradley's armored forces across the Brittany peninsula.
The heroism of the Silver Star and Bronze Star winners offers a good picture of the day-by-day fighting that takes place on the front line. It shows too, that the lads from the ranches and wheat fields and from shops and factories of the Mid-West have proved more than a match for the so-called Superman of Hitler.
Take the case of Sergeant Waller, Bronze Star winner. His platoon ran out of ammunition after being pinned down by the Germans two hours. Waller returned alone to the ammunition point and brought back shells and grenades. He made five trips in 45 minutes through shell fire to keep his platoon armed.
In letters written home in July, Sgt. Waller made no mention of any specific battles. From the letters we quote in part:
"I have come to the conclusion that this is a pretty serious game over here. The Jerries are playing for keeps, but so are we. Mom, don't worry about me. Just say a prayer for me each day, and if God is willing, I will be home when it is all over. I have the feeling that I will. That is the main thing. I feel that way and want you to feel the same. Just hold your head up when you go down the street so that people will know that you are proud to have a son doing his duty to the best of his ability for his country. I won't be a big hero, but I hope and pray that I will never do anything that I would be ashamed to have the world know about."
After getting through the terrific battle of St. Lo the middle of July without a scratch, Sgt. Edward Waller, of Coldwater, who received the Bronze Star Award after the battle, has written his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Waller, that he was wounded in France on August 13.While he was hugging the ground a piece of shrapnel from a nearby exploding shell plowed through the fleshy part of one hip and another piece ripped through the flash of one thigh, but he says no bones were touched, so he rushed through a series of field hospitals and stations to a hospital in England within a short time and is recovering satisfactorily.
But he rather mournfully writes: "It looks like I might miss out on the capture of the krauts. I had a good part in it, though I am doing nothing now. I suppose everyone back home still goes to town on Saturday nights. I could stand a day or two of that myself. My wounds are sore but they are healing nicely, but it looks like I will be here for a month or two. I have done quite a lot of moving since I was wounded."
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news articles to this web site!
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