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Bodlander, Walter V. (01176890): Difference between revisions
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Clarify museum roster and Dan Gross research sources |
Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment |
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|death_year=2020 | |death_year=2020 | ||
|arm_or_service=Field Artillery | |arm_or_service=Field Artillery | ||
|birth_place=Breslau, Germany | |||
|rank_final=Col | |||
|awards=Purple Heart | |||
|awards_grid=Purple Heart | |||
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png | |||
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Purple_Heart_ribbon.png | |||
}} | }} | ||
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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. | 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 == | ||
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| row_source || both | | row_source || both | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Timeline == | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | |||
<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | |||
* 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. | |||
* Bodlander was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier). He was also the recipient. | |||
* Born in Breslau, Germany. (Religion: Jewish). | |||
* Capt. Walter V. Bodlander (1920-2020). | |||
* Lt. Howard R. Scroggs (1916-2012) Class 16. | |||
* Lt. Iwan E. Devries (1908-1991?) Class 11. | |||
* Lt. Julius Braunstein (1915-1992) Class 8. | |||
* Lt. Oscar Haac (1918-2000) Class 5. | |||
* 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 style="clear: both;"></div> | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
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* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-05-31 (2 posts) | * Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-05-31 (2 posts) | ||
* Facebook-linked source: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucS6XJFGF5Y YouTube video] | * Facebook-linked source: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucS6XJFGF5Y 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) | |||
Revision as of 03:18, 31 August 2026
| Walter V. Bodlander | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Breslau, Germany |
| Died | 2 February 2020 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Awards | Purple Heart |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Arm / service | Field Artillery |
| ASN | 01176890 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Rank at Ritchie | Second Lieutenant |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 11 (25 August – 23 October 1943) |
| Section | 5A |
| Team | IPW 34 |
Awards and honors
|
| Purple Heart |
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
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 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.
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
- The Unauthorized Autobiography
- VI Corps. to Capt
- 11/30/1920-a
Gallery
-
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
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Class_ASN | 176890 |
| Class_Name | BODLANDER, Walter V. |
| match_method | asn_partial_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline
- 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.
- Bodlander was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier). He was also the recipient.
- Born in Breslau, Germany. (Religion: Jewish).
- Capt. Walter V. Bodlander (1920-2020).
- Lt. Howard R. Scroggs (1916-2012) Class 16.
- Lt. Iwan E. Devries (1908-1991?) Class 11.
- Lt. Julius Braunstein (1915-1992) Class 8.
- Lt. Oscar Haac (1918-2000) Class 5.
- 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).
Sources
- 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)