Walter Dekar

Walt and June Dekar live in Binghampton, New York.

Walter Dekar on bridge with brother Paul approaching LST 791 in B-24

I was born in Rattskovice, Czechoslovakia and came to this country when three years old. I grew up on a farm within a mile of where we live today. My two brothers and I did the farming while our parents worked in a shoe factory. We had a few cows, raised pigs, and chickens. We also raised potatoes, beets, corn, and whatever we (and the animals) ate. We always had plenty of food—and were short on sugar, salt, shoes, and clothes—but had no luxuries.

Paul and I cut all the firewood needed to keep the family warm (sort of) with a crosscut saw. My shoulders ache thinking about it, although I was in good shape then.

I graduated from high school and got a job at IBM running a lathe. After working six months, I turned 18 and became eligible for the draft, so I joined the U.S. Coast Guard.

Following is my personal log of LST 791’s trip home:
Oct 3, 1945 – Pulled into Cebu City this morning and are now loading the 77th Field Artillery Division
Oct. 3, 1945 – Departed Cebu City
Oct. 4, 1945 – Arrived Leyte Harbor
Oct. 7, 1945 – Departed Leyte
Oct. 19.1945 – Arrived in Otaru, Hokkadate
Oct. 20, 1945 – Had shore patrol in the city today
Oct. 22, 1945 – Departed Otaru
Oct. 23, 1945 – Arrived in Hakkadate
Oct. 27, 1945 – Departed Hakkadate
Oct. 30, 1945 – Arrived in Yokohama Bay
Nov. 6, 1945 – Departed Yokohama Bay
Nov. 12, 1945 – Arrived in Saipan
Nov. 20, 1945 – Departed Saipan flying the Homeward Bound Pennant with a load of gas semi’s
Nov. 28, 1945 – Crossed the International Date Line—had two Wednesdays
Dec. 3, 1945 – Arrived in Pearl Harbor. Brother Paul came aboard. Later we left together for Kuhukee Air Base, where I spent the night.
Dec. 4, 1945 – Paul flew me in his B-24 for a tour of the islands. He let me fly the beast. We buzzed the 791 in Pearl Harbor. After returning to the 791, had dinner in the officers’ mess.

Paul had promised me he would buzz our ship as we left Honolulu. As Paul approached, Reed Adams, the Officer of the Deck and on the conn, sent for me to come up and observe my brother’s attempt to remove our Going Home Pennant. Paul made several close passes. Adams got some good pictures of me with my brother’s B-24 in the background.

After surviving the perils of the Atlantic and the Pacific, I was discharged in New York City in January, 1946 and returned to Binghampton, New York—and went back to work for IBM. I married in June, 1946 and started raising the first of our three children.

I worked toward a mechanical engineering degree with ICS while moving up to assistant foreman. Got my certificate, and was transferred into purchasing where I became a purchasing manager (38 years) and retired. I lost my wife in 1966, and married June, a lovely widow with 2 beautiful children. The kids have all left, but so far June has stayed.

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