The late Joseph Walters is one of two Post members nominated for prestigious distinction .
The late Joseph Walters is one of two Post members nominated for prestigious distinction .
By Michael P . Mauer
Over the skies of Europe a young American airman sat cramped between two deafening . 50 caliber machine guns . Sending streams of lead toward a swarming array of highspeed Messerschmitts , Focke-Wulfs and Heinkels , he knew his bomber — Chug-A-Lug Lulu — would need to be flown straight and level to have any chance of dropping its heavy bomb load on target . He also understood that a good bombing run would give the enemy an easy target — him . And he bravely went through more than a dozen of these missions and proved himself a hero .
The late Joseph J . Walters , former West Mifflin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Life Member , has been inducted into the Joseph A . Dugan Jr . Hall of Valor at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland . A winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 bomber during World War II , Walters , along with 12 other local heroes , was enshrined during a ceremony March 26 .
According to VFW Post 914 commander Jake Bradich , the honor should have arrived sooner . The veterans ’ service unit only learned the extent of Walters ’ heroism during his funeral in September .
“ The Walters family had Joe ’ s medals displayed ,” said Bradich . “ Several of the post ’ s officers saw that he had won the Distinguished Flying Cross .”
Awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight , the DFC is one of the top valor medals conferred by the United States . Walters received his decoration for actions during 15 bombing missions where he shot down enemy fighter aircraft and warded off attacks by several others .
In all , he was personally credited with destroying three hostile fighter planes .
“ Sergeant Walters displayed courage and presence of mind when he encountered experiences involving great personal danger and vital decisions under hazardous conditions ,” reads Walters ’ DFC citation . “ The courage , coolness and skill displayed by Sergeant Walters on all these occasions reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States .”
Walters ’ other awards and decorations include four awards of the Air Medal , a Purple Heart Medal , the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal , the Word War II Victory Medal , the American Campaign Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal . All of his valor and combat medals were awarded during a six-month span in 1943 .
As a post commander in the nation ’ s largest organization of combat veterans , Bradich said his group is quick to honor a real hero when they find one . Knowing where to look , he said , is the key .
“ The bravest of us aren ’ t found in comic books , video games or in the movies ,” he notes . “ Like Joe , they are usually your friends , neighbors and members of your community who at some point in their lives did far more than what was expected of them — often at great risk and sacrifice .”
Walters is not the first from the West Mifflin veterans organization to be sponsored for induction into the Hall of Valor . In 2011 , VFW Post 914 nominated Vincent Hoover , who was awarded a Silver Star for his actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom .
A West Mifflin native , Hoover won the Silver Star while assigned to Charlie Company , 1st Bn , 22nd Infantry Regiment . Ten months into his Iraq deployment while conducting a patrol in Baghdad , a grenade was thrown
Vincent Hoover into his vehicle . He immediately grabbed the device and threw it outside while yelling to the driver to leave the vicinity . The grenade exploded after being thrown out and the lives of all in the vehicle were saved .
Bradich , also a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom , hopes with the rest of his unit that Hoover becomes the second VFW Post 914 Intrepid member enshrined in the Hall of Valor .
“ This Veterans Day , as we ’ re involved in parades and ceremonies , each of us will remember the sacrifices made by service members like Hoover and Walters ,” he said . “ Each of us should be standing a little taller and a little straighter knowing that there are brave people who are willing to do so much to defend our freedoms .”
For more information about the VFW Post 914 , visit traa . weebly . com / vfw-post-914 . html , the Facebook page , or contact Jake Bradich at 412.464.9838 . n
“ The bravest of us aren ’ t found in comic books , video games or in the movies . Like Joe , they are usually your friends , neighbors and members of your community who at some point in their lives did far more than what was expected of them — often at great risk and sacrifice .”
West Mifflin | Spring 2017 | icmags . com 11