Staff Sergeant Walter Raymond Heltenberg

World War II US Army 17th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division Service Number: 37336352 Born: August 17, 1920 - Haxtun Inducted: October 1942 Killed in action April 1, 1945 in Germany Buried: Yuma Cemetery, Lot 212 original, Yuma

Son of Fred F. and Ella Taylor Heltenberg of Otis.

Yuma Pioneer April 19, 1945

Walter Heltenberg Killed in Action in Germany, April 1st
Parents Received Dreaded Message From The War Department Saturday, Telling of Son's Death

Another blue star has turned to gold. On Saturday, April 14, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heltenberg of Otis, received the dreaded message from the War Department telling them their son had made the supreme sacrifice for his country, on April 1, on the battle field in Germany. The telegram read: "The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your son, Sgt. Walter Heltenberg, was kill in action in Germany on April 1, 1945, Confirming letter follows. I.A. Ulio, Adjutant General"

Walter entered the armed forces in October 1942. A few days ago the Otis Independent received a story from the public relations department of the 12th Armored Division of the Seventh Army, with the excerpts as follows: "Staff Sergeant Walter R. Heltenberg has been awarded the Certificate of Merit for exceptional service with the 12th Armored Infantry Division in France. Sergeant Heltenberg was a rifleman at the time of the action, assigned to the 17th Armored Infantry Battalion. He distinguished himself by meritorious service in fighting off a strong enemy attack on the town of Herrlisheim, France."

Walter's division was at the front of Lieutenant General Alexander M. Patch's American Seventh Army and his division's official nickname was "Hellcat Division" and its members represented every state in the union.

Akron News-Reporter April 19, 1945

County Man Killed On German Front

Word has been received at this office that S/Sgt. Walter Heltenberg, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heltenberg, had been killed in action in the European War Zone. He resided with his parents in the Otis community before being called into the service on October 4, 1942.

He is survived by the following sisters and brothers: Mrs. Lyle Root of Eagle, Nebr., Mrs. Chas. Spiker of Yuma; Mrs. Louie Behrendson and Roy and Charles Heltenberg and Dorothy Heltenberg of the home community.

Sgt. Heltenberg had recently been awarded the Certificate of Merit for exceptional service with the 12th Armored Division in France.

His position was on the front of Lieut. Gen. Patch's American Seventh Army as a rifleman.

Yuma Pioneer September 12, 1948

Last Rites to be Held for War Hero

The body of Staff Sergeant Walter R. Heltenberg arrived in Yuma early this (Thursday) morning accompanied by military escort. On Sunday afternoon, at two o'clock, full military services will be conducted from the school gymnasium in Otis, in charge of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Staff Sergeant Heltenberg made the supreme sacrifice for his country on the battle field of Germany on April 1, 1945. He had entered service in October 1942 and at the time of his death was with the Seventh Army under General Patch. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heltenberg of Otis.

Burial will be made in the Yuma Cemetery, with Morris Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

The Otis Independent September 16, 1948

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3961 of Otis, will conduct chapel services this Sunday afternoon at the Otis High School gymnasium for Sergeant Walter Raymond Heltenberg, whose body has been returned from Europe. Sgt Heltenberg of Otis, was killed in action on the battlefields of Germany on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945.

Burial will be made in the Yuma Cemetery for this young man who gave his life for his country. Sgt. Heltenberg's body is the first local veteran to be returned here for burial.

Staff Sgt. Walter Raymond Heltenberg was born on a farm near Haxtun, Colorado, August 17, 1920. He and his parents moved to a farm near Yuma, Colorado in the spring of 1923 where they lived until the spring of 1925 when they moved to their present home. Walter attended school in Washington County.

He was inducted into the Armed Forces of his country in October of 1942, at the age of 21. Walter received his training at Camp Campbell, Kentucky, and Camp Barkley, Texas and went overseas in August of 1944. He was attached to Co. D 56th Armored Infantry Regiment with the 7th Army commanded by General Patches. He was killed in action on the battlefields in Germany on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945.

Before being called into service, Walter was engaged in farming with his father and never been away from home for any length of time. He was a home-loving boy and had made the remark in his Last letter that he thought the war would soon be over and he could come home.

Walter leaves to mourn his passing, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heltenberg of Otis; four sisters, Mrs. Lyle Root of Eagle, Nebraska, Mrs. Charles Spiker of Lebanon, Oregon, Mrs. Steve Benwell of Yuma and Mrs. Louie Behrendson of Yuma two brothers, Charles and Roy, both of Yuma, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Yuma Pioneer October 7, 1948

Walter Raymond Heltenberg was born near Haxtun, Colorado on August 17, 1920. His parents moved to a farm near Yuma in 1923 and to the present home in the spring of 1925 in Washington County, where Walter received his schooling.

He was taken into the service in October 1942 and lost his life on the battlefield in Germany on April 1, 1945. Walter was loved by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Memorial service was conducted from the Otis Gymnasium on Sunday September 19 and burial was made in the Yuma Cemetery.

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