Black Hawk County

Pfc. Walter O. Bovy

 

Service News

Pvt. Walter O. Bovy, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Bovy, 1637 Lafayette street, has arrived safely in England with the army infantry, according to a letter received this week by his parents. Private Bovy entered the army on Feb. 22, 1944, and received training at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., Camp Roberts, Cal, and Camp McCoy, Wisc., before going overseas. He had one furlough at home before leaving.

Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, January 14, 1945, Page 5

Larsen, Bovy Are Killed in Action

Word was received here Thursday that two more Waterloo men have been killed in action in Germany, according to telegrams received from the war department by their parents. They are:

Tech. 5th Gr. Raymond L. Larsen, 30, and Pfc. Walter O. Bovy. 19.

[NOTE: Portions of this article regarding Tec5 Larsen has been omitted but appears on his individual webpage within this site.]

[Page 2]

Killed Mar. 30.

Private Bovy, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Bovy, 1637 Lafayette street, was killed Mar. 30, according to word received here by his parents.

He entered the service on Feb. 23, 1943. From Camp Dodge, Des Moines, he was sent to Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. He went from there to Camp Roberts, Cal., for 13 weeks and came home on a 10-day furlough last Sept. 1. Reporting to Camp McCoy, Wis., he remained there for six weeks. In December of last year, Private Bovy went overseas, first to England, later to Luxemburg and Germany.

Requiem mass will be offered for Private Bovy at 7 a. m. Monday at St. John’s Catholic church by Rev. Fr. N. J. Lentz, pastor.

He was born on Dec. 4, 1925, on a farm near Eagle Center, Ia. He attended St. Mary’s of Mt. Carmel Catholic school at Eagle Center. He worked on the farm of his parents, and when they moved to Waterloo two years ago, he was employed at the Rath Packing Co.

Surviving besides his parents, are two brothers, Albert and Raymond, both of Route 6, Waterloo; five sisters, Mrs. Omer Conrad, 313 Glenwood street; Mrs. Andrew Fischels, Franklin street; Louisa Bovy, 313 Glenwood street; Mrs. Chris Schmitz, Raymond, Ia.; and Mrs. John Weber, Route 1, Waterloo.

Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, April 12, 1945, Pages 1 & 2

Last Rites Thursday
For Walter Bovy

The body of Pfc. Walter O. Bovy, 19, who was killed in action in Germany Mar. 30, 1945, is expected to arrive in Waterloo Tuesday, and will be taken to O’Keefe & Towne funeral home prior to services Thursday.

The son of the late William Bovy and Mrs. [Rose] Bovy, 1637 Lafayette street, he entered service Feb. 24, 1944, at Camp Dodge, ia., and was in England and Luxembourg before going to Germany.

Only yesterday his mother received a letter stating that her son was awarded the Bronze Star medal for “exemplary conduct in combat on or about Feb. 18, 1945, in the European theater.”

He was born Dec. 4, 1925, on a farm near Eagle Center, and in 1943 moved with his parents to Waterloo. He was employed at Rath Packing Co. before entering the army. He served in the Third army, 385th infantry, 76th division, and his death occurred at Katzenbach. Private Bovy’s father succeeded him in death Feb. 21, 1948.

Surviving besides his mother are two brothers, Albert and Raymond, Route 4, Waterloo; five sisters, Mrs. Omar Conrad, 313 Glenwood street, Mrs. Andrew Fischels, 1520 Franklin street, Mrs. Lee Benner, 1222 Williston avenue, Mrs. Chris Schmitz, Raymond, Ia., and Mrs. John Weber, Route 1, Waterloo.

Funeral services, including military rites, will be at 9 a. m. Thursday in St. John’s Catholic church. Burial will be in the cemetery of St. Mary’s of Mt. Carmel church in Eagle Center.

Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, November 14, 1948, Page 10