- Walter James Sabalauski
Infobox Military Person
name= Walter James Sabalauski
born= 1910
died= death year and age|1993|1910
placeofbirth=Lithuania
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=Arlington National Cemetery
caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears= June, 1941 - 1971
rank= Command Sergeant Major
commands=
unit=
battles=World War II Vietnam War
awards= Distinguished Service CrossSilver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star (8)Air Medal (3)Army Commendation Medal (6)Purple Heart (4)Combat Infantryman Badge (3)Master Parachutist Badge Campaign medal (s)
laterwork=Walter James Sabalauski (1910 - 1993) was born in
Lithuania . His family moved to theUnited States while he was a small child. From 1929 to 1937, he boxed professionally while living in theChicago area. An auto accident ended his career with an outstanding record of only two defeats in 33 bouts.Command Sergeant Major Sabalauski entered the U.S. Army in June 1941. During
World War II , he served in the Pacific Theater, fighting on the beachheads of theSolomon Islands ,Guadalcanal , and thePhilippines . He later served in theKorean War with the187th Regimental Combat Team (Airborne) and 25th Infantry Regiment. In 1963, CSM Sabalauski went toVietnam for the first time, where he served as an advisor to the 32d Vietnamese Ranger Battalion. After service in theDominican Republic in 1965, he returned to Vietnam in 1966. It was during this tour that he fought his most memorable battle.Early in June of 1966, Charlie Company, 2d
Battalion ,502d Infantry Regiment was conducting a mission to locate elements of the 24th North Vietnamese Regiment. Charlie Company made contact with what was estimated to be a battalion-sized enemy element. Under heavy enemy fire and unable to maneuver, the company commander, CPT William Carpenter called forair strike s in his position in an attempt to force the enemy to withdraw. The enemy ceased fire long enough to allow Charlie Company to consolidate, reorganize and establish a position from which to defend and begin evacuation of wounded personnel. 1SG Sabalauski, in utter disregard for his own safety, repeatedly placed himself at risk for the sake of his soldiers during the conduct of this mission. For his extraordinary heroism in destroying the enemy and in evacuation the mass casualties, he received both the Distinguished Service Cross and theSilver Star .After his second tour in Vietnam he returned to the
United States to serve as Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major atWest Point . In 1968, he again returned to Vietnam and the 2-502d Infantry Regiment. Command Sergeant Major Sabalauski continued to serve until 1971 when he retired at the age of 61.Command Sergeant Major Sabalauski's awards include the Distinguished Service Cross,
Silver Star ,Legion of Merit , 8Bronze Stars , 3Air Medals , 6Army Commendation Medal s, 4Purple Heart s, 3 Awards of theCombat Infantryman Badge , theMaster Parachutist Badge along withcampaign medal s for service inWorld War II ,Korea ,Dominican Republic , and Vietnam.Command Sergeant Major Sabalauski died in 1993 and was buried with full military honors in
Arlington National Cemetery . To the soldiers who served with him, he is remembered as a fearless leader in combat and as having a heart as big as any country in which he served.The Sabalauski Air Assault School located in
Fort Campbell, Kentucky was renamed in his honour in 1994.ee also
References
Online references
*http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/sabalauski.htm
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