Walter Acklin

Walter Stacy Acklin went to be with our Lord on August 8, 2015, born June 12, 1922 to Chester and Gertrude Acklin in Jones County, Texas. Raised in Radium and later his family home was located on Ball Park Road where Hamlin Football Field and High School are now located. Walter was married to Macdell, "MAC" Wood, deceased; they lived in Sweetwater, Texas for many happy years.

Before retiring from Red Ball Trucking in Amarillo, Texas Walter served in the Army. Walter was wounded on Okinawa and was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Walter took part in The Leyte Campaign and the Okinawa Invasion with the 96th Infantry Division.

On Leyte, he was a member of a 10 man patrol which was credited with occupying a Japanese command post and capturing maps showing Japanese positions, supply routes and communication equipment.

On Okinawa, he was one of 12 men left of his rifle platoon after days of battle against strong Japanese fortifications on Kakazu Ridge, the "Siegfried Line" of the island. For two days and nights the 12 men held their position and on the third day repulsed a vicious Japanese counter attack just before a heavy weapon company moved in and finished off the remaining Japanese.

Walter was the first to notice six Japanese helmets moving toward their foxholes and yelled a warning to the other men. Everybody opened up fire against the Japanese. Walter's bar on his gun failed. He began disassembling it under fire, where he noticed his recoil spring was weak and wouldn't feed to the chamber. Stretching the spring, he slapped the parts together again. Then he emptied two magazines of bullets into the advancing Japanese. A second later, six Japanese were lying dead almost on the embankment of his foxhole.

Walter had told me numerous stories of his adventures in the war, too many to write about today. One day while telling his stories he paused and said "strange I can remember the things I would like to forget and can't remember the things I would like to remember". God bless you Uncle Walter, you will forever be in our hearts.

Survivors include: One son, Tony Acklin, two brothers, Dallas F. Acklin, Hamlin, Texas; Whitfield Acklin, Amarillo, Texas, two sisters, Margie Brown, Dallas, Texas and Omega Suggs, Nevada; Grandaughter Brook Wood, San Antonio, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased: One son Terry Acklin, two brothers, C.F. Acklin and T.G. Acklin of Amarillo, Texas; two sisters, Dovie Graham, Amarillo, Texas and Elsie Marie.

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