During World War II, the 9th Armored Division history activated for service in World War II on July 15, 1942 at Ft. Riley, Kansas. They later trained around the country, including Camp Ibis, California. They arrived in England in September of 1944. They were stationed on the coast of England as part of Operation Fortitude. They arrived in Normandy in the end of September and moved the Luxembourg border with Germany by the end of October. They joined in the fighting in what was to be called “The Battle of the Bulge” in December of 1944.

The 9th Division fought at St. Vitch, Echternach, and Bastogne. From December 16 to 22, 1944 they fought against a whole German division by which they were outnumbered five to one. They held back the Germans to allow other U.S. units to gather and began an attack of the Germans. The 9th Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for this heroism which likely saved Luxembourg from invasion by the Germans.

They rested in January of 1945 and they returned to fighting along the Roer River in February of 1945. They fought at Rheinbah and Remagen. In March, they captured a key bridge at Ludendorff which may have shortened the war and saved many lives. They then moved to Limburg and liberated Allied prisoners from Stalag XIIA. They then fought in the Ruhr Pocket, at Leipzig, and the Mulde River. When Victory in Europe Day came on May 8, 1945, the 9th Division was moving towards Czechoslovakia.

The 9th Armored Division inactivated on October 13, 1945 at Newport News, Virginia.

PFC Lloyd W. Walrack served with the 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division of the U.S. Army during WWII.

Lloyd William Walrack was born March 3, 1918 in Iowa County, Wisconsin to Riley and Katherine (Jones) Walrack.

{*Note: Blanchardville is in both Iowa and Lafayette Counties in Wisconsin. However, another source lists Moscow Township in Iowa County, as a place of birth.}

From the 1920 U.S. Census, the Walrack family was living in Cross Plaines Township in Dane County, Wisconsin. The household included father Riley, mother Katie M. and children William L. and Clifford I. Riley’s brother William C. (26) was living with them. Father Riely was a farmer in general farming working on his own account, as was his brother.

Lloyd’s brother Clifford died on February 20, 1920. Lloyd’s mother Katherine died on May 3, 1924.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Walrack family was in Moscow Township, Iowa County. The household included father Riley, sons Lloyd and Riley Jr. Also in the household was Riley’s brother John (44), Marie Giley (servant) and her daughter Phyllis. Father Riley was a farmer as was his brother John. Marie was a servant in a private home.

Note: Lloyd’s sister Kathleen was living with their uncle William and his wife Kate on the 1930 U.S. Census. (She was 6 years old).

On July 18, 1938, father Riley married a second wife, Orpha Hanson.

From the 1940 U.S. census for the same place, the household included father Riley, his second wife Orpha, sons Lloyd and Riley Jr., and daughter Clarise Jean (age 1). Father Riley’s brother John (55) and Alve (35) also lived with them. Father Riley was a farmer. Son Lloyd and Riley both worked as truck drivers for the CCC Camp Garage. Riley’s brother John was a farmer and brother Alvin was a farm laborer.

On October 9, 1942, Lloyd W. Walrack enlisted for service in Milwaukee. He resided in Iowa County. He had three years of high school. He was a foreman in the construction industry. He was single, without dependents.

From the October 14, 1942 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Men from Iowa County Accepted for Service,” the notice included Lloyd William Walrack.

At some point Lloyd Walrack was in Albion, Calhoun County, Michigan working before he entered the service. In December 20, 1942, he married Thelma Peters of Homer, Calhoun County, Michigan at Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas. Walrack was likely stationed there at Ft. Riley.

On the December 1944 WWII Hospital Admission Cards, Lloyd W. Walrack was a battle casualty and died in the line of duty. He had artillery shell fragments in his shoulder and other locations on his body.

From the January 23, 1945 Monroe Evening Times article titled “Blanchardville Youth, Reported Missing, Is Dead,” the news from Blanchardville was that “Pfc. Lloyd W. Walrack, son of Riley Walrack of Blanchardville, was killed in action in Luxembourg on Dec, 29, 1944, a war department telegram today informed the father. The boy last week was reported missing in action.

“Son of Riley and Catherine Walrack, Lloyd was born at Moscow, Iowa county, March 3, 1918 and attended Blanchardville high school. He was married in 1942 to Miss Thelma Peters, at Coldwater, Mich., who survives him as does his father, stepmother, a brother, Corp. Riley Walrack, now in France, one sister Kathleen (Mrs. Otis Ayen) in Blanchardville, and also a half sister, Clarice Jean Walrack.”

From the March 8, 1945 Wisconsin State Journal notice “Father Gets Walrack’s Posthumous Award,” stated “Riley Walrack has received the Purple Heart medal which was awarded posthumously to his son, Pfc. Lloyd Walrack, who was killed in Luxembourg, Dec. 29.”

From the March 17, 1949 The Battle Creek Enquirer article “Bodies of 7 War Dead Being Returned Home,” stated “The bodies of seven former service men from the Battle Creek area who lost their lives in the European battle areas and were buried in northern France, Holland, and Luxembourg are being returned home for burial…aboard the army Transport Haiti Victory…” The list included Lloyd W. Walrack and his next of kin was his wife Thelma Walrack of Coldwater.

From the April 28, 1949 The Homer Index notice titled “Funeral for PFC Lloyd Walrack,” stated “Military funeral services for Pfc. Lloyd Walrack, 26, who was killed in Luxembourg, Germany, December 29, 1944 were held…Burial was in Fairview Cemetery here…

“Surviving are his wife Mrs. Thelma Peters Walrack, 1 son Lloyd Riley Walrack of Coldwater; his father, Riley Walrack of Blanchardville, Wis., 1 brother Riley Walrack Jr. of Mineral Point, Wis.’ and a sister Mrs. Kathleen Ayres of Linden, Wis.”

Private First Class Lloyd William Walrack is listed on the National WWII Memorial Registry for Lafayette County. He was killed in action on December 29, 1944 in Luxembourg. He received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously.

PFC Lloyd William Walrack was repatriated and reburied at Fairview Cemetery in Homer, Calhoun County, Michigan. His family put a memorial stone at Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville, Lafayette County. 

Thank you, Private First Class Lloyd William Walrack, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.