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Walter Philipp Hertz
| Walter Philipp Hertz | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Walter Philipp Hertz |
| Born | 20 February 1912 Frankfurt, Germany |
| Died | 5 May 1994 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Protestant |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Arm / service | Infantry |
| ASN | 01697833 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 25 (30 November 1944 – 29 January 1945) |
| Section | 5B |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Walter Philipp Hertz (20 February 1912–5 May 1994) was a Frankfurt-born U.S. Army captain who served in New Caledonia with the Americal Division and later trained at Camp Ritchie in Class 25.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Walter Philipp Hertz was born on 20 February 1912 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He attended the Goethe Gymnasium and studied law in Germany and Switzerland before working in Boston for United Shoe Machinery on a work visa. Drafted in Massachusetts (enlisted ASN 31018952), he was naturalized on 16 June 1941.
In early 1942 he shipped with Task Force 6814 to the South Pacific and served with the Americal Division / First Island Command in New Caledonia as a linguist censor and later counterintelligence / G-2 officer (commissioned second lieutenant, ASN 01697833; captain by November 1943). Recalled to the United States in September 1944, he entered Camp Ritchie on 29 November 1944 and graduated Class 25 (OIC German) on 29 January 1945. A spring 1945 Camp Ritchie photograph shows a CSU interrogation demonstration (Composite School Unit role-players in German uniforms), not a field POW capture.
After Ritchie he was alerted to Fort Sam Houston. He later served in the Army Reserve (major by 1954). He died on 5 May 1994.
Research notes[edit | edit source]
- 5/45 to Ft Sam Houston
- Served in POA 1942-1944
- Also enlisted ASN 31018952 (drafted Massachusetts); canonical officer page 01697833 (dual-ASN pattern).
- Camp Ritchie spring 1945 photo: CSU demonstration troops in German uniforms, not captured field POWs (family initially captioned as POW interrogation).
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Naturalization certificate abstract — Walter Philipp Hertz, Brookline, Mass.; admitted 16 June 1941 (Boston). -
WWII draft registration card — Walter Philipp Hertz; born 20 Feb 1912, Frankfurt am Main; Brookline, Mass.; United Shoe Machinery. -
Draft registrar’s report (verso) — Brookline Local Board #44, Oct 1940. -
Camp Ritchie, spring 1945 — training demonstration with Composite School Unit (CSU) personnel in German uniforms (not field POWs); family caption named Hertz. -
Nouméa, New Caledonia, 19 June 1942 — Americal Division postal censors; Hertz identified as front row, right (French/German/Portuguese). -
Army reservists from Massachusetts at Fort Slocum, New York, 18 August 1954; Hertz identified as major, front row, left. -
Waynesboro Record Herald, 25 July 1957 — related Hertz / CSU clipping. -
Waynesboro Record Herald, 19 July 1976 — related Hertz / Camp Ritchie clipping.
Technical record[edit | edit source]
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 82 |
| Class_ASN | 1697833 |
| Class_Name | HERTZ, Walter P. |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- 20 February 1912 — Born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- 4 March 1941 — Enlists, Boston (ASN 31018952).
- 16 June 1941 — Naturalized, Boston.
- 1942–1944 — New Caledonia / Americal Division & 1st Island Command (G-2/CI); commissioned 2LT (ASN 01697833); captain Nov 1943.
- 13 September 1944 — Returns to U.S. (Brookline, Mass.).
- 29 November 1944 – 29 January 1945 — Camp Ritchie Class 25 (OIC German).
- May 1945 — Released from Camp Ritchie; alerted Fort Sam Houston.
- 18 August 1954 — Photographed as major, Fort Slocum reservists.
- 5 May 1994 — Died.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Camp Ritchie CSU demonstration, spring 1945
- RB Archive / family packet: naturalization abstract, draft card, Nouméa & Fort Slocum photos, Camp Ritchie CSU demonstration photo, Waynesboro clippings
- 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)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Walter P. Hertz for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Hertz, Walter P. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: WALTER P. HERTZ.doc)