Pfaffenbach, Walter H. (1922-1944)

PFAFFENBACH, BAILEY, KIESECKER, STEIN, WILSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:51:58

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Monday, February 7, 1949

Military Rites On Wednesday For Soldier

Pfc. Pfaffenbach Gave Life in 1944 Trying to Save Others

Military services for Pfc. Walter H. Pfaffenbach, who died during World War II, will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Foster funeral home with the Rev. O.E. Weiss officiating. Burial will be in Graceland cemetery.

Pfc. Pfaffenbach died Oct. 12, 1944 at Sansapor, Dutch New Guinea, while trying to rescue fellow servicemen from a burning bomb-laden airplane which suddenly exploded, killing the Webster City soldier.

He was the son of Emil and Alta Pfaffenbach, born Nov. 6, 1922 at Webster City. He was educated in the Webster City schools and grew to young manhood in this community.

June 14, 1942 he was united in marriage to Nina Bailey of Eagle Grove and to this union, one son was born, Walter Steven Pfaffenbach. He is also survived by his mother; two sisters, Mrs. Eugene Kiesecker and Mrs. Franklin Stein; one brother, Donald Pfaffenbach, all of Webster City. His father died Aug. 20, 1947. Also surviving are his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Wilson of Webster City.

Before entering the service, May 1, 1942, he was employed at the Brin Furniture Co. He took his early training at Kearns field, Salt Lake City, Utah, later transferring to Buckley field, Colorado. He took administrative work at Fargo, N.D. for eight weeks before being assigned to Seymour Johnson field at Goldsborough, N.D.

Three months later he was assigned to Camp Kilmer, N.J. and went overseas Dec. 19, 1943. He had served at New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Sterling island in the Treasure island group and in Bougainville before being stationed in New Guinea.

By direction of the president, Pfc. Pfaffenbach was awarded the soldier's medal for heroism displayed at Sansapor where he was on duty as a base operations clerk with the AAF. In addition to the soldier's medal, he was awarded the good conduct medal and the Asiatic-Pacific theater campaign ribbon with four battle stars.

The Webster City AmVets, in honor of the Webster City soldier, named their post the Walter H. Pfaffenbach AmVet post, No. 52.

He was baptized in the Lutheran faith and was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran church in Webster City.