Sgt. James W. Walker
Co. B, 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Several years ago, my husband and I began to research my father's service in World War II. It was not a subject that Dad talked about freely; however, we realize now that had we just asked he would have talked us through his war experiences. On the 50th anniversary of D Day, my husband purchased a copy of St-Lo, 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition for Dad and as he was looking through the book, he turned the page and said "that's my tank destroyer". It's actually a pretty well known photo taken in St. Lo, France at an important intersection. We later learned he had carried a photo cut from Yank Magazine of that same scene--his TD after it had been hit by a round going through the building on the left--in his wallet since the war and never mentioned it. It was for his bravery in St Lo that he was awarded a Silver Star.
The 803rd landed on Omaha Beach on the 13th of June. Their Campaign Credits include Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. They were attached to many fighting infantry units throughout the war. This made it a difficult unit to follow; however, we were able to access the information on the 803rd at the National Archives in College Park, Md and along with Internet research and personal items create an excel spreadsheet following the 803rd from Normandy to Czechoslovakia.
Dad entered service from Georgia and returned after the war. Married a local girl, had one daughter, me and was employed at the USDA and farmed the rest of his life.
If anyone is researching the 803rd, we would love to share information.
