MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT: Review of Circumstances Surrounding the Disappearance of Cpl Walter E. Vanmeter, 35485089, Infantry.

1. Corporal Walter E. Vanmeter, 55485089, Company G, 508th Parachute Infantry, was reported missing in action on 4 July 1944, by ETO Shipment No. 038, and, under the provisions of Section 5, Public Law 490, 7 March 1942, as amended, a Finding of Death was made in his case (SRAD 3400), showing the presumed date of death as 5 July 1945.

2. Cpl Vanmeter was originally reported seriously wounded on 4 July 1944, by ETO Shipment No. 238, received 9 November 1944. In reply to an inquiry from this office, dated 23 April 1945 requesting information concerning the disappearance of this enlisted man, Captain Russell C, Wilde, Company G, 508th Parachute Infantry furnished the following statement, dated 14 May 1945:

"Cpl. Walter E. Van Meter was a member of this company when it was committed into the attack, of Pretot, France, 20 June 1944.

"This company advanced hedgerow by hedgerow, coining under heavy small arms fire and suffering numerous casualties. In the rapid advance, our wounded were treated and left in the protection of a hedgerow. Cpl, Van Meter was one of those casualties. After taking the town, Company 'G’ was forced, along with the rest of the Battalion, to withdraw due to heavy artillery fire, leaving all wounded and dead behind.

"It is presumed that Cpl Walter E. Van Meter was either evacuated by German medics or by American medics when the town was later retaken, or buried, where he died of his wounds, in an unmarked grave. All action took place at Pretot, France, on the 20th day of June 1944."

ETO Shipment No. 210 reported Cpl Vanmeter as missing in action in France on 20 June 1944. This report was received 3 August 1945, but in view of the previous report, reporting him missing in action on 4 July 1944, no action was taken on this report. The 7th Indorsement in the Service Record for this enlisted man showed that Cpl Vanmeter was missing in action on 4 July 1944 and that he was last paid to include 30 April 1944. Form No. 52b, Medical Department, contained the pertinent information that Cpl Walter Vanmeter, 35485089, was tagged in the field at 7:22 on a date which is difficult to decipher since it is a carbon copy of the report. The date is either 17 June 1944 or 19 June 1944. The diagnosis was shown as follows; "W.I.A. G.S.W. in back through lung" and the treatment was given as "first aid dressing". Disposition was shown as "307 Cl. Sta." but the date of his disposition appears to be "17" June but this date is also difficult to decipher. The report was signed "Lt. Bowden" with the initials "S.J.M.” under the signature. No additional information was contained in his service record or his AG 201s. The "Record of Participation of 508th Parachuted Infantry in Normandy Operations from 6 June to 15 July, 1944 reveals the following pertinent data regarding Cpl Vanmeter'a company and his battalion (Co. 5, 508 Parachute Infantry, 3rd Battalion).

"The 508th PARACHUTE INFANTRY, attached to the 82d Airborne Division, landed in Normandy, as part of that Division on D-Day, 6 June 1944 * * *.”

" * * The regiment was divided into many small groups, each of which began to fight its way individually to its objective, leaving dead Germans, wrecked German vehicles and disrupted communications behind it. Company G was dropped intact and reorganized completely with all personnel and equipment in the vicinity of Ste Mere Eglise. * * *

"The regiment assembled in four distant groups … Group L, * * , Group W, * * Group S, * *; and Group G, consisting of a combined force of Company G, under command of Captain Novak, plus a snail group of approximately twenty-five men under command of Captain Simonds. Each group was a composite unit consisting of parachutists from 508th, 507th, and 505th, and members of the 101st Airborne Division the majority being of this regiment.

“15 June 1944. .
" * * * 2d Battalion relieved the 3rd Battalion at Pont Auny at 1500. The 3rd Battalion then assembled and moved north of the Douve to Division reserve at 1700. The Battalion was transported to a position one-half mile west of le Bonneville * *

"16 June 1944.

" * * * 3rd Battalion moved to a position east of the Douve and approximately two miles north of St. Sauveur to protect the right flank of the Division and Corps in a defensive position astride the Valognes~ St. Sauveur highway and covering the passage of the 9th Division advancing to the west. * * *

"17-19 June 1944.
" * * * On 18 June the 3rd Battalion, in Division reserve astride the highway to Valognes northeast of St. Sauver, moved to an area west of Etienville, under Division control, shortly after midnight on 19 June.

"The 3rd Battalion, under Division control, crossed the Douve from a location west of Etienville in assault boats commencing at 0500. The battalion established a bridgehead on the south bank of the Douve and quickly organized a defensive position. At this time the battalion was attached to the 325th Infantry and given the mission of seizing and holding Pretot. The Battalion moved in a column of companies, passing through Vindefontaine, met an enemy strongpoint 900 yards south of Vindefontaine, and by passed it to the east. The Battalion than moved into an attack assembly area 600 yards north of Pretot, under persistent sniper and machine gun fire. * * *
“20 June 1944.

"At 0430 the 3rd Battalion moved to its line of departure astride the stream following the northeast into Pretot, and launched an attack from the northeast into Pretot at 1600. After a fifteen minute preparation by artillery the Battalion attacked fast under cover of heavy and accurate supporting fire. The remnants of the Germans defending the town fled south in disorder, and the battalion established a defensive position at Pretot. The enemy had observation from high ground south and east of Pretot and subjected the battalion to heavy artillery and mortar shelling. At 1600 the battalion was ordered by division to move from the town of Pretot to a position on high ground just west of the town. The Battalion was relieved by the 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry, at 2330. * * *

"21 June 1944.
"Upon being relieved by the 507th Parachute Infantry, the 3rd Battalion was released from Division control and moved to the Regimental area. * *

These Historical Records continue the narrative concerning the activities of the 3rd Battalion but there is no record of this Battalion returning to the town of Pretot after 20 June 1944 during the advancing of their Regiment. Those records stated that the three battalions attacked simultaneously on 4 July 1944, the ridge at la Poterie, which is at least 3 miles south and west of Pretot.

3. Cpl Vanmeter was never reported a prisoner of war and there is no record that his body has been recovered and identified. There is no record that he was evacuated as a patient. It is a known fact that he did not rejoin his organization. He was a member of Company G, 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. On 26 September 1944 an inquiry was sent to this office requesting the status of this enlisted man. At that time no report had been received indicating that he was a casualty. On 9 November 1944, a report (ETO Shipment No. 238) was received, stating that the subject enlisted man had been seriously wounded in action on 4 July 1944. On 10 February 1945, another report (ETO Shipment No. 038) was received stating that he had been missing in action since 4 July 1944. In view of these conflicting reports, an inquiry was directed to the field, and in reply to this Inquiry, Capt Wilde, Commanding Company "G", 508th Parachute Infantry, furnished a statement dated 14 May 1945, stating that Cpl Vanmeter was a member of Company G when the company made the attack on Pretot, France, on 20 June 1944, and that this enlisted man had been wounded end left in the protection of a hedgerow after being given first aid during the battle. He added that after they took the town. Company G was forced along with the rest of the Battalion to withdraw, leaving the wounded and dead behind. Capt Wilde's statement is corroborated by the Medical card on file which shows that Cpl Vanmeter had been tagged in the field after he had been shot in the back through his lung and had been given first aid dressing. The date shown on the card as the date of tagging this soldier was blurred and it is difficult to decipher whether the date is 17 or 19 June 1944, The Historical Records for this Regiment reveal that the 3rd Battalion were still on the opposite side of the Douve River from Pretot, as well as being four miles north of this town on 19 June in the early morning hours. By the afternoon on 19 June, the troops of this battalion had advanced within 600 yards north of Pretot under most persistent sniper and machine gun fire. The troops entered the town of Pretot on 20 Juno, but because of heavy artillery and mortar fire, it was necessary to move the Battalion from the town to a position on high ground just west of Pretot in the afternoon of 20 June. The troops of 3rd Battalion were relieved the next day (21 June) and returned to the Regimental area. The Regimental area was about 21 kilometers southwest of Etienville or about 3 miles northwest of Pretot. The 3rd Battalion was engaged in occupying new positions with the Regiment but this Battalion did not return to the immediate vicinity of Pretot at any time during the period after 21 June through 5 July 1944. In view of the fact that Cpl Vanmeter's battalion was known to have been in the battle of Pretot on 19 and 20 June 1944 and it was also known that Cpl Vanmeter was seriously wounded in this battle and left behind with other wounded and dead when it became necessary to temporarily vacate the town of Pretot on 20 June, there is no doubt but that the report that Cpl Vanmeter was missing in action on 20 June 1944 during the attack on Pretot, Franco is correct. It is, therefore, determined that the official date on which Cpl Vanmeter was missing in action be corrected to read "20 June 1944”.

4. Since it is a known fact that Cpl Vanmeter was left behind in the town of Pretot after being seriously wounded when the artillery and mortar shelling of the enemy became so heavy, there is the possibility that Cpl Vanmeter nay have been taken prisoner. In view of this fact, it is concluded that the information of record in the Department of the Army at this time does not warrant the issuance of an official report of death-pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 of the Missing Persons Act.

/s/ FLORA T. LEITIS
Investigator

CONCUR:
JAMES A. PRIX
Captain, AGD
Asst. QIC, Determination Unit
Casualty section
Personnel Actions Branch, AGO