Sir Walter Williams May

May, Sir Walter Williams, Major, US Army, Ret. at age 96 lay down to take a nap and peacefully went to heaven February 25, 2016. Walter was born January 12, 1920 in Dresden, Ohio. The son of Carrie and James May, Walter was born the middle child of three brothers and three sisters. As a boy he spent a great deal of time on his uncle's farm where he had many adventures, like fishing with dynamite his big brother Dan had procured and having the dynamite being a bit too much, jumping on trains and, at the suggestion of railroad sentries, jumping off trains, once breaking two ribs. In August 1942, Walter joined the US Army, Third Armored Division, 341 Armored Regiment. While training for combat in England before D-Day 1944, he received news that his brother Dan was killed in action in Italy. Walter entered Nazioccupied France via Omaha Beach, Normandy, fought in continuous battle in the major campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. Walter was twice wounded in action, receiving two Purple Hearts which he called his German marksmanship medals. Both Purple Hearts were awarded with Oak Leaf Clusters for valor. He was awarded his second Purple Heart after receiving wounds serious enough to knock him out of the war 70 kilometers from Berlin. In addition to the Purple Hearts, Walter was awarded two Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters, five Battle Stars equaling a Silver Star, the Croix de Guerre from Belgium and France, and the Legion of Honor from France, conferring upon him knighthood and the title ofSir. The Legion of Honor document signed by the President of France and the Consul General of France in part reads We will never forget your valor and courageous actions during WWII. Knighthood with the Legion of Honor medal is the highest honor France can bestow in gratitude for your invaluable contribution for our liberation. After recovering from his combat wounds, Walter learned German and returned to the rubble of Europe where he worked in plainclothes for the U.S. Counterintelligence Corps (CIC) during the Cold War, often infiltrating the Iron Curtain. In June of 1948 he married Mary Jean Osborn, his wife of 67 years. In close order they had three sons and while he was still with the CIC they traveled all over Europe and from coast to coast in the US. Walter was completely devoted to his wife and sons John (Karen), Jim (Kathi), Jeff(Kim) and later Eric. He was a member of the VFW, the Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of Saint Louis, Missouri where he was also Senior Director of Security for McDonnell Douglas Boeing Aircraft. Walter is preceded in death by many family members, most notably his wife Jean and fourth son, Eric Daniel May. Sir Grandad is survived by twelve grandchildren that he was exceptionally close to and who have been blessed by his resolute optimism and one-of-a-kind sense of humor. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren and two sisters, Caroline Leeper and Janette Moon. Services: Visitation will be held at Collier's Funeral Home Tuesday, March 1 from 4 to 8 PM and graveside services with full military honors will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Wednesday, March 2 at 11:30 AM.