Walt Stillwell passed away on Saturday night. I have known him for 35 years. I have spent some amazing time just sitting and listening to him talk.
He joined the Army just as WWII was starting. He served in the 10th Mountain division in both the Pacific and Europe. His first battles were in the Aleutians fighting the Japanese. He fought in North Africa and then Italy, Monte Casino and Anzio were some of the places he served there. He then marched into Germany. He never went to OCS, but came out of the war after the end as a Second Lt. You can not imagine the action he has seen, and the hardships he endured for this great nation. One soldier under his command you might have heard of, Bob Dole. Walt was there when Dole was wounded. It would be nice if he was there tomorrow.
He came home with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and a bunch of other medals. Walt went back to the family ranch in 1946, and that is where he died. In the last few months his health was failing and his son (My friend) was talking about a nursing home. Walt told him on Wed. that it would not needed. He was right. He died with his boots on, at home. He was 87.
We are getting low on the generation that served in that war. He was a man of honor and courage and I will miss him. I am better for having known him.
DC
He joined the Army just as WWII was starting. He served in the 10th Mountain division in both the Pacific and Europe. His first battles were in the Aleutians fighting the Japanese. He fought in North Africa and then Italy, Monte Casino and Anzio were some of the places he served there. He then marched into Germany. He never went to OCS, but came out of the war after the end as a Second Lt. You can not imagine the action he has seen, and the hardships he endured for this great nation. One soldier under his command you might have heard of, Bob Dole. Walt was there when Dole was wounded. It would be nice if he was there tomorrow.
He came home with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and a bunch of other medals. Walt went back to the family ranch in 1946, and that is where he died. In the last few months his health was failing and his son (My friend) was talking about a nursing home. Walt told him on Wed. that it would not needed. He was right. He died with his boots on, at home. He was 87.
We are getting low on the generation that served in that war. He was a man of honor and courage and I will miss him. I am better for having known him.
DC