Walter William Meyer
Corporal Walter W. Meyer served with Dog Company, First Battalion, 4th Marines in the Philippine Islands.
He was killed in action at Corregidor on 24 April 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 301447
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
January 10, 1922
at San Pedro, CA
Parents
William Jennings Meyer
Myrtle Beatrice (Kelly) Meyer
Education
Colton Union High School
Occupation
Student
Service Life
Entered Service
November 5, 1940
at Los Angeles, CA
Home Of Record
1344 Canyon Drive
San Bernardino, CA
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. William J. Meyer
Specialty
—
Primary Unit
D/1/4th Marines
Campaigns Served
Defense of the Philippines / Corregidor
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
Meyer was a recent transfer from K/3/4th Marines; some casualty reports erroneously list him as a member of King Company.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Corporal Walter Meyer served with the 4th Marines during the Philippine campaign – first with King Company, and then with Dog Company in the defense of Corregidor.
On 24 April 1942, Japanese artillery unleashed a bombardment against Marine-held positions at Corregidor’s Infantry Point. Unable to strike back, the defenders took cover from the shelling. Several Marines sheltered in a nearby magazine, which subsequently suffered several direct hits.
When the explosions ceased, the survivors turned out to search for the casualties. They identified four bodies, and found other men “beyond recognition.” Corporal Meyer failed to answer at a muster following the shelling, and was reported as missing in action. Eyewitness statements later confirmed his death, but the fall of Corregidor prevented this information from reaching the United States until June of 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
All remains recovered from the destroyed magazine were buried in the Fort Mills Station Cemetery, Corregidor.
It took three days to remove the last of the men, by which time they were long beyond recognition. The Graves Registration guessed that the remains represented four Marines, but “all efforts were made to identify without results. Impossible to fingerprint.” They received a collective burial in the Station Cemetery, Plot C, Grave 40.
The four Marines are almost certainly Corporal Meyer, Corporal Vernon E. Putnam, PFC Truman K. Fain, and PFC Irving E. Holmes.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. William J. Meyer.
Location Of Loss
Meyer was last seen near an ammunition dump at Corregidor’s “Infantry Point.”
