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Sgt J. Mollohan
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Marine Gen Lewis William Walt.
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Contact Info
Home Town Wabaunsee County
Last Address Gulfport, Mississippi
Date of Passing Mar 26, 1989
Location of Interment Quantico National Cemetery (VA) - Quantico, Virginia
General Lewis William Walt, was a U.S. Marine Corps Officer who served in WW II, the Korean War,
and the Vietnam War. Lewis William Walt was commissioned a second lieutenant on 6 July 1936.
He led the attack on Aogiri Ridge during the Battle of Cape Gloucester; the Ridge was
renamed Walt's Ridge in his honor. In Dec. 1943, following hospitalization and training
in Australia, LtCol. Walt led the 2nd Bn. 5th Marines in the assault at Cape Gloucester,
New Britain, and shortly thereafter was assigned as Regimental Executive Officer. In the
In the middle of this campaign, he was ordered to take over command of the 3nd Bn. 5th Marines,
during the intense battle for Aogiri Ridge. During this action, he earned his first Navy Cross.
and Aogiri Ridge was named "Walt Ridge" in his honor by Genarel Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.,
1st Marine Division Commander. Departing Cape Gloucester in late February 1944, LtCol.
Walt was ordered to the Naval Hospital, Oakland, California, for treatment of wounds and
malaria. In June 1944, he returned to the Pacific theater. That September, he landed with the
Marine Force on Peleliu as Regimental Executive Officer, 5th Marines. On the first day of the
battle, he was ordered to take command of 3rd Bn. 5th Marines after the Bn. Commanding
Officer and Executive Officer became casualties.
Other Comments:
Vietnam War: As a testament to his vital role in Vietnam, Life Magazine featured General Walt
in a May 1967 cover story. The article noted the success of an innovative program initiated by
General Walt in August 1965, called, 'Combined Action Company (CAC).' This program sent
Squads of Marine volunteers go into the countryside to assist local part-time militia men known
as Popular Forces. As Life noted, "His CAC units all had the same orders: help protect the
villages, get to know the people, find the local Communist infrastructure and put it out of
business." General Walt stressed the importance of using CAC to win the confidence of average, ordinary Vietnamese citizens. The magazine observed, "If these people could be located and won over, Walt argued, the communists would be hit where it hurts. Because of his CAC program, the number of "secure" villages under General Walt's protection rose between 1965 and 1967 from 87 to 197, while the number of Vietnamese living in "secure" areas in general rose from 413,000 to 1.1 million.
"ASSISTANT COMMANDANT": Upon his return to the U.S. Gen.Walt saw duty from June 1967 until the following December as Deputy Chief of Staff (Manpower)/Director of Personnel, at HQMC. On January 1, 1968, he was designated Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.
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