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Walter V. Bodlander
| Walter V. Bodlander | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Breslau, Germany |
| Died | 2 February 2020 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| 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 |
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
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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.
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. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 21)
- 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. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 21)
- 2 to 7-43 Served as 2nd Lt., Mess Officer and Motor Officer, HQ Battery 310, FA y. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 11)
- Assigned to Camp Ritchie. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 12)
- Bodlander was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier). He was also the recipient. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 51)
- Born in Breslau, Germany. (Religion: Jewish). (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 5)
- Capt. Walter V. Bodlander (1920-2020). (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 24)
- Lt. Howard R. Scroggs (1916-2012) Class 16. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 45)
- Lt. Iwan E. Devries (1908-1991?) Class 11. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 37)
- Lt. Julius Braunstein (1915-1992) Class 8. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 36)
- Lt. Oscar Haac (1918-2000) Class 5. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 40)
- M/Sgt George Y. Kay (1922-1989) Class 6. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 43)
- M/Sgt Robert H. Sternberg (1921-1990). (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 26)
- Pvt Frank Divilio (1910-1983) Class 10. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 38)
- Pvt Frank Divilio (1910-1983) Class 10. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 38)
- Pvt George Sonnenschein (1920-2000) Class 13. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 48)
- S/Sgt John H. Lerch (1922-2008) Class 15. (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 44)
- S/Sgt Otto Brickner (1908-2002). (Dan Gross private research timeline; WALTER V. BODLANDER (2021).doc, page unknown; paragraph 27)
Sources
- Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
- 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)