PFC Walter Watt Roach

PFC Walter Watt Roach was born 28 Mar 1922 in Eldon, Oklahoma. He was the 7th of 9 children born to Jesse Tom and Aggie (Keener) Roach. His parents were 3/4ths and full blood Cherokee respectively. Walter's eldest sister had died in infancy. His father farmed near Park Hill in Cherokee County and he died in 1940 aged 57 years. Walter attended 2-years of high school.

Walter was drafted in November 1942. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to I Company 116th Infantry. He trained with that unit for the planned amphibious assault that was to be part of the liberation of occupied France. PFC Roach took part in that landing on 6 Jun 1944. Shortly after he was reassigned to B Company 116th Infantry in the regimental consolidation and reorganization that was necessary due to the tremendous losses suffered by A and B Companies on D-Day. PFC Roach was killed in action on 14 Jun 1944.

PFC Roach was repatriated in 1953 and re-interred in the Briggs now Cedar Tree Cemetery in Briggs, Oklahoma.

Older brother, Johnnie Bill Roach, served in the U.S. Army 1940-1944.Johnnie died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in 1946.