PRINCETON Walter L. Deckard Sr., 84, of Princeton, formerly of Terre Haute, died at 10:20 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003, at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville.
   Born March 11, 1919, in Lawrenceville, III, he was the son of Elvie and Dora (Knott) Deckard.
   He retired in 1976 after working over 28 years as an ironworker. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He had lived in Princeton since 1972, moving there from Terre Haute. He attended the Four Square Church in Vincennes and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1147. He loved to fish.
   His wife, Frances Deckard, died in 2000. A daughter, Betsy Jo Goodwin, died in 1965. His parents are also deceased.
   Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Walter and Jayne Deckard Jr. and John and Peg Deckard, all of Princeton; a daughter, Sue Hardiman of Princeton; 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren; a brother, Vern Deckard of McKeesport, Pa.; and three sisters, Mary Ada Hitt, Lois Clark, and Ruth Hendrixson, all of Vincennes.
   The funeral will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Colvin Funeral Home, 425 N. Main St., Princeton, by Dennis Bruggeman. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Vincennes. VFW Post 114 of Princeton will conduct military graveside services.
   Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

[The Vincennes Sun-Commercial, Vincennes, IN, 21 Sep 2003, Sun, Page 7]

(courtesy of Angela Deckard-Gerkin]

Grave marker for Walter L Deckard

Pfc Deckard was wounded in action as was reported in this clipping taken from the Evansville Courier newspaper edition published on 17 April 1945.  There were no specifics as to when and where the incident occurred.

But, it occurred before he cam e into the 508th where he made a very brief appearance. 

On 17 August 1945, Pfc Deckard was transferred to the 508th from the 17th Airborne Division. less than two weeks later, on 31 August, he was transferred to the 19th Reinforcement Depot.  It is presumed that this was his staging area to await transportation back to the Zone of Interior.