Walter Herbert Marshall
Corporal Walter Herbert Marshall of Collingswood, NJ, known as “Red.”
Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces
Serial Number: 13094024
Unit: 32nd Photographic Squadron, 5th Reconnaissance Group
Hometown: Collingswood, New Jersey
Killed: , Mediterranean Sea
Memorial: Tablets of the Missing, North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia
Awards: Purple Heart
Corporal Walter Herbert Marshall was born in Philadelphia on March 15, 1921. An only child, he grew up at 210 West Browning Road in Collingswood, NJ, where his father was a cashier at the First National Bank of West Collingswood, member of the school board, and was a past president of the Rotary Club. He entered Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA in September 1939 after his graduation from Collingswood High School. As a member of Dickinson’s class of 1943, “Red” was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, participated in the International Club, and worked on the Microcosm. He also took advantage of the College’s accelerated program, graduating with his bachelor of arts degree on January 24, 1943. He then joined sixteen other Dickinson men in the first group to leave in a body for the armed services, assigned to Camp Lee, Virginia.
Marshall trained at Miami Beach, FL and then was selected for technical school in photography at Lowry Field, near Denver, CO. He studied photo topography at Colorado Springs and finished first in his class. He was offered an assignment as an instructor but rejected this in favor of an overseas assignment with the Intelligence Corps and was sent to the Mediterranean theater in April.
On April 20, 1944, the naval “Liberty ship” transport S.S. Paul Hamilton, part of a large convoy, was attacked near sunset by twenty-three Ju-88 bombers approximately 30 miles off the Coast of Cape Bengut, Algiers, in the Mediterranean Sea. A single torpedo struck the ship, which was also carrying ammunition, and it immediately exploded, killing all 508 men aboard in one of the most serious losses of life in a single Liberty ship sinking during the war. The explosion was recorded by Coast Guard photographer Russell Green aboard the U.S.S. Menges and the photograph was published in Time Magazine on May 22, 1944. Only a single body was found and recovered. “Red” Marshall was among the 154 men of the 831st Squadron, U.S. Army Air Corps traveling to Naples aboard the Paul Hamilton and died with his comrades.
S.S. Paul Hamilton
The explosion of the S.S. Paul Hamilton, April 20, 1944, photographed by Coast Guard photographer Russell Green aboard the U.S.S. Menges. Published in Time Magazine, May 22, 1944.
Walter Herbert Marshall
Prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Marshall, Collingswood, NJ
Walter Herbert Marshall — of the Army Air Forces, was lost in action when the transport USS Hamilton was sunk by enemy action in the Mediterranean Sea, April 20, 1944. The ship was attacked by aeroplane off the coast of Algiers when on route to Naples. No one on the transport was saved, not even one of the crew. The plane which attacked the ship was blown to pieces.
Less than a month after his graduation from Dickinson College when he received his A.B. degree, our son left for Camp Lee, Va., on February 19, 1943, with sixteen other Dickinson men, the first group to leave the College in a body for a training Camp. He received his basic training at Miami Beach, receiving the rating of PFC. after the three months’ training. From here he went to Lowry Field, Denver, Colo., to attend the technical school in photography. He completed this course and then studied photo-topography (map making) at Colorado Springs. He graduated first in his class and the commanding officer offered him a position as instructor there. He chose, however, to continue in the field. His reason for this decision was that he had gone to school so constantly that he wished to have some experience before returning to studies again after the war was over. Walter was then sent to the Intelligence Corps as a photo interpreter. He completed this course at Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma City and received the rating of Corporal. He left for overseas on April 2, 1944.
Born in Philadelphia on March 15, 1921, he graduated from Collingswood High School in June 1939, and entered Dickinson College the following September. He completed his College course in three and one-half years. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.
Following the formal notification of our Son’s loss, we have received the Purple Heart medal and the Citation of Honor signed by H.H. Arnold, Commanding General of the Army Air Forces. He is our only child.
(Prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Marshall, 210 Browning Road, Collingswood, N.J.)