Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Walton
Stoutenburg
Danker
KIA (WWI)
1874-01-26

–

1918-06-23

Born:

Little Falls

, 

New York

Home:

Worcester

, 

New York

Buried: 

Menands

, 

New York

Cemetery:

Albany Rural Cemetery

Walton Danker graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1897, and from the General Theological Seminary in 1900. He was ordained an Episcopalian minister and served pastorates in Bayonne, New Jersey, Milford, Massachusetts, and Brooklyn, New York. He moved to Worcester, Massachusetts in 1907 and served as rector of Saint JohnÕs Church. He was dean of the Worcester convocation of the diocese of Western Massachusetts, and was a member of the Boy Scouts Council. He took a leave of absence in 1917 to enlist for military service, and was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain, serving in combat in France. He was the first chaplain to be killed in action in World War I.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    104th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    April 12 – 14, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 1 (June 3, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Walton Stoutenburg Danker, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Danker distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Seicheprey, France, 12 – 14 April 1918, in attending the sick and wounded and caring for the dead under enemy fire.