A group of parishioners from what Tom Brokaw coined “the Greatest Generation” gather regularly in the Teenior Center after our 9am weekday mass. This week, they heard the World War II recollections of veteran Walter McNeeley. Walter’s story recalls how this Greatest Generation fought not for fame or glory, but did so because “it was the right thing to do”. In Walter’s own words, “We only and always do what God give us the Grace to do”.
Here is some of Walter’s story. When you come to worship at Holy Family, give him your thanks.
When Walter joined the army at the age of 17, he had no idea of the brutalities he was going to witness. With his unit on its way to Normandy in 1944, they ended up in Italy instead when their ship lost its rudder. He did eventually make it to France near the front lines, but was soon called upon to work with members of the French, Belgian, and German underground in a counter-intelligence role. Walt was chosen for this role since he understood German. His grandmother was from Germany and only spoke German in their American home.
Walt was “dropped into Germany” and lived amongst the locals to establish connections and gather information. During his service, Walt “often went hungry” as they lived among the civilians who also often went hungry. At one time, Walt was detained by enemy soldiers and managed to escape to a safe place in a local farmhouse. In case of capture, Walt carried two cyanide pills – one that could easily be found and another hidden.
Walt reported that he was the first American in the Bergen-Belsen comp in Celle, Germany following the British. “You never forget the smell of burning flesh and rotting bodies”. After the war ended, Walt aided in identifying and capturing war criminals.
Special agent Walt came home in 1946, married his sweetheart Marian, and raised their family of five children. They are now eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Walt spent the next forty five years of his career as a bank president and became bank president and chairman of the National Security Bank in Chicago. Thank you, Walt for your service. We are honored to have you part of our faith comminity.