CPT Walter Otis Schilling

CPT Schilling at FT Meade, MD 1941

CPT Walter Otis Schilling was born 27 Feb 1908 in Roanoke, Virginia. He was the youngest of the 7 children born to Charles Peter and Callie Ruth (Aldridge) Schilling. His father worked for Roanoke in city street maintenance. Walter was working as an electrician in a silk mill in 1930. He married Marie Christine Equi on 3 Jun 1931 and 18-months later the couple was blessed with a daughter.

Walter had enlisted in the Virginia National Guard on 8 Apr 1929 and rose to the rank of SGT before being commissioned a 2LT on 7 Apr 1938 and assigned to Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry. He was mobilized with his unit on 3 Feb 1941 and trained with the unit at Fort Meade, Maryland, Camp A. P. Hill, Virginia, in the Carolina Maneuvers near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Camp Blanding, Florida before sailing to England aboard the Queen Mary in September 1942. Once in England he worked to train his unit for the amphibious landing that was planned to be a part of the effort to liberate occupied France. CPT Schilling was commanding D Company 116th Infantry as they moved to board the ships for the amphibious assault at Omaha Beach and as they boarded the landing craft on the morning of 6 Jun 1944.

In the hours preceding the landing CPT Schilling had confided to a fellow officer, "I don't believe I will make it." But, as the units assembled on deck to load he told his soldiers, "This is the real McCoy. The dry runs are over, the amphibious assault training is concluded. I am proud to lead this company into battle.... Cross the beach fast, gain the high ground and get into a perimeter defense.... When I call the roll tonight in Isigny I want everyone to say 'Here!' Good luck!" He was in the lead boat of the 3rd wave, he turned to one of his soldiers and spoke his last words, "I told you this would be easy." He was killed by a German 88mm shell driving the right door of the LCA into his head before the steel ramp went down.

CPT Schilling rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Walter is survived today by many grand and great-grandchildren. Grandfather, Jeremiah Jerdan Shilling, served as a PVT in B Company 42nd Virginia Infantry (CSA). Grandfather James Peter Aldridge served as a PVT in I Company 54th Virginia Infantry (CSA).