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In Memoriam

Walter James Abel - Class Of 1952

Walter James Abel, son of Walter P. (1903-1996) and Mary E. (Gartland) (1908-1987), was born 3 November 1931, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  Mr. and Mrs. Abel moved their family from Pennsylvania to Michigan about 1945.  Walter attended Okemos High School with the class of 1952.  He left school in 1950 to join the US Marine Corps. and saw action during the Korean Conflict.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 21 March 1951

PFC WALTER J. ABEL

An Okemos marine, reported wounded in action, has written his parents Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Abel, 4536 Indian Hills dr., Okemos, that he is resting comfortably aboard the hospital ship Repose in the Punsan harbor.

Pfc. Walter J. Abel, told his parents he was wounded in the right thigh Sunday, March 11, while attacking a hill in the Ansong area.

"We had already taken four hills and were attacking the fifth when I got hit with a piece of shrapnel from a hand grenade," he wrote.  "I saw it coming but I didn't duck fast enough."

Pfc. Abel left Okemos high school to join the marine in January 1950.  He left for overseas August 15, 1950, and, went almost directly into combat.

He took part in the Inchon landings early in the campaign.

He is a member of the Seventh regiment of the First marine division.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Sunday 18 April 1951

OKEMOS PARENTS TALK TO SON IN KYOTO, JAPAN

Mr. and Mrs. Walter P. Abel, 4536 Indian Hills dr., Okemos, received a telephone call at 6 a.m. Saturday from their son, Marine Pfc. Walter J. Abel, who is recovering from leg wounds received march 11 in battle in Korea.

The parents talked for six minutes with their son, who is in a naval convalescent hospital in Kyoto, Japan.  The son told them he would be back on duty soon.

Walter was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1954 with the rank of Sergeant.  He married Donna Jean Bazzett November 1959, St. Casimir Catholic Church, Lansing.  Walter and Donna celebrated 42 years and 4 children together before his death 22 September 2002, Roscommon County, Michigan.  Walter was interred Oakwood Cemetery, Higgins Lake, Roscommon County.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 25 September 2002

WALTER J. ABEL

HIGGINS LAKE, MI

FORMERLY OF LANSING

Age 70, passed away September 22, 2002.  He is survived by his wife, Donna; 4 children, Timothy and Daniel of Lansing, Michael (Lisa) of Pinckney, Julie (Thomas) Houser of Australia; 4 sisters, Mary E. Smith of Lansing, Dorothy Harder of Eustis, FL., Patricia (Douglas) Barnard and Margie (Jerry) Wright, both of Houghton Lake; 6 grandchildren, Chase, Cole, Dylan, Ryan, Brandi and Brooke; mother-in-law, Isabel Bazzett of Lansing.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.  A Memorial Service will be held at St. Hubert Catholic church, Higgins Lake at 11 a.m. Saturday September 28.  Arrangements are by Walsh Funeral Home, Roscommon.