Soft launch: Soldier biographies and research notes vary in completeness. Prefer class-roster, NARA, newspapers, and other cited sources for contested facts — treat Research notes as leads, not settled history. Anyone can correct a page; contact us with questions.

Bodlander, Walter V. (01176890): Difference between revisions

From Ritchie Boys Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment
Link Camp Ritchie class and team mentions in lead/biography
 
(8 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 6: Line 6:
|middle=V.
|middle=V.
|class_section=5A
|class_section=5A
|class_rank=2nd Lt
|class_rank=Second Lieutenant
|nativity=Germany
|nativity=Germany
|religion=Jewish
|religion=Jewish
Line 19: Line 19:
|arm_or_service=Field Artillery
|arm_or_service=Field Artillery
|birth_place=Breslau, Germany
|birth_place=Breslau, Germany
|rank_final=Col
|rank_final=Colonel
|awards=Purple Heart
|awards=Purple Heart; French Legion of Honor
|awards_grid=Purple Heart
|awards_grid=Purple Heart;;French Legion of Honor
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Legion_Honneur_Chevalier.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Legion_Honneur_Chevalier.png
|awards_extra=
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Bodlander, Walter V. (01176890)|Walter V. Bodlander]]''' (died 2 February 2020) (ASN 01176890) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 11 and served with IPW Team 34.
'''[[Bodlander, Walter V. (01176890)|Walter V. Bodlander]]''' (died 2 February 2020) (ASN 01176890) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in [[:Category:Class 11|class 11]] and served with [[Team IPW 34|IPW Team 34]].
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Walter V. Bodlander (1920–2020) was a German-born Jewish Ritchie Boy who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 11 and served as captain of IPW Team 34, 4th Infantry Division, leading the team into battle on D-Day, 6 June 1944. A photograph from 25 July 1944 shows him at St. Lô, France, interrogating a German prisoner of war and interpreting for Lt. Col. Hansen, G-2 of the division (he is partly hidden behind a helmet in the image).
He worked as a author of “The Unauthorized Autobiography of W. He Graduated with 11th Class/5A as IPW-Ge. Worked in stock room of wholesale clothing concern. Bodlander (1920–2020) was a German-born Jewish Ritchie Boy who trained at Camp Ritchie in [[:Category:Class 11|class 11]] and served as captain of [[Team IPW 34|IPW Team 34]], 4th Infantry Division, leading the team into battle on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Hansen, G-2 of the division (he is partly hidden behind a helmet in the image). He was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, and two Bronze Stars. He died on 2 February 2020 at age 99.
 
He was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, and two Bronze Stars. He gave an interview to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles in July 2018. He died on 2 February 2020 at age 99.
 
<!-- Dan Gross timeline enrichment -->
The timeline research also records Graduated with 11th Class/5A as IPW-Ge. Author of “The Unauthorized Autobiography of W. Worked in stock room of wholesale clothing concern.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* The Unauthorized Autobiography
* VI Corps. to Capt
* VI Corps. to Capt
* 11/30/1920-a
* 11/30/1920-a
Line 70: Line 65:
* 2 to 7-43 Served as 2nd Lt., Mess Officer and Motor Officer, HQ Battery 310, FA y.
* 2 to 7-43 Served as 2nd Lt., Mess Officer and Motor Officer, HQ Battery 310, FA y.
* Assigned to Camp Ritchie.
* Assigned to Camp Ritchie.
* Became naturalized U.S. citizen when volunteered to join Army.
* Bodlander was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier). He was also the recipient.
* Bodlander was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier). He was also the recipient.
* Born in Breslau, Germany. (Religion: Jewish).
* Born in Breslau, Germany. (Religion: Jewish).
* Capt. Walter V. Bodlander (1920-2020).
* Entered Army as Officer (ASN: 01176890).
* Lt. Howard R. Scroggs (1916-2012) Class 16.
* Naturalized as U.S. citizen.
* Lt. Iwan E. Devries (1908-1991?) Class 11.
* The 4th Infantry Division, which landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, was involved in many.
* Lt. Julius Braunstein (1915-1992) Class 8.
* assigned to the 4th Infantry Division included S/Sgt J.D. Salinger (Class SC B6) and the.
* Lt. Oscar Haac (1918-2000) Class 5.
* of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.
* M/Sgt George Y. Kay (1922-1989) Class 6.
* M/Sgt Robert H. Sternberg (1921-1990).
* Pvt Frank Divilio (1910-1983) Class 10.
* Pvt George Sonnenschein (1920-2000) Class 13.
* S/Sgt John H. Lerch (1922-2008) Class 15.
* S/Sgt Otto Brickner (1908-2002).
</div>
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

Latest revision as of 23:53, 18 September 2026

Walter V. Bodlander
Personal details
BornBreslau, Germany
Died2 February 2020
NativityGermany
ReligionJewish
AwardsPurple Heart; French Legion of Honor
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
Arm / serviceField Artillery
ASN01176890
RankColonel
Rank at RitchieSecond Lieutenant
Camp RitchieClass 11 (25 August – 23 October 1943)
Section5A
TeamIPW 34
Awards and honors
Purple Heart French Legion of Honor
Teammates
Team — IPW 34
These are other soldiers listed on the same team roster. People moved between teams; overlapping service dates are not always documented.
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Walter V. Bodlander (died 2 February 2020) (ASN 01176890) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 11 and served with IPW Team 34.

Biography[edit | edit source]

He worked as a author of “The Unauthorized Autobiography of W. He Graduated with 11th Class/5A as IPW-Ge. Worked in stock room of wholesale clothing concern. Bodlander (1920–2020) was a German-born Jewish Ritchie Boy who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 11 and served as captain of IPW Team 34, 4th Infantry Division, leading the team into battle on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Hansen, G-2 of the division (he is partly hidden behind a helmet in the image). He was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, and two Bronze Stars. He died on 2 February 2020 at age 99.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

  • VI Corps. to Capt
  • 11/30/1920-a

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Lt. Walter V. Bodlander (hidden behind the helmet) taken on July 25, 1944 at St. Lo, France, interrogating a German POW and interpreting for Lt. Col. Hansen, G-2 for the 4th Infantry Division
    Lt. Walter V. Bodlander (hidden behind the helmet) taken on July 25, 1944 at St. Lo, France, interrogating a German POW and interpreting for Lt. Col. Hansen, G-2 for the 4th Infantry Division

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Class_ASN 176890
Class_Name BODLANDER, Walter V.
match_method asn_partial_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 6-6-1944 Landed on Utah Beach on D-Day as Captain in charge of IPW Team 34 (4th Infantry Division / 8th Regiment) attached to the VII Corps.
  • 2 to 7-43 Served as 2nd Lt., Mess Officer and Motor Officer, HQ Battery 310, FA y.
  • Assigned to Camp Ritchie.
  • Became naturalized U.S. citizen when volunteered to join Army.
  • Bodlander was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier). He was also the recipient.
  • Born in Breslau, Germany. (Religion: Jewish).
  • Entered Army as Officer (ASN: 01176890).
  • Naturalized as U.S. citizen.
  • The 4th Infantry Division, which landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, was involved in many.
  • assigned to the 4th Infantry Division included S/Sgt J.D. Salinger (Class SC B6) and the.
  • of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.

Sources[edit | edit source]

  • Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
  • Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
  • NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
  • 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-05-27 (1 post)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-05-28 (1 post)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-05-31 (2 posts)
  • Facebook-linked source: YouTube video
  • Dan Gross, Timeline of Walter V. Bodlander for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 2 source documents reviewed)
  • Dan Gross, Timeline of Bodlander, Walter V. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 2 source files: WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, WALTER V. BODLANDER.doc)
Retrieved from "https://ritchieboys.org/index.php?title=Bodlander,_Walter_V._(01176890)&oldid=125069"