Walter Victor

Photo of the Dora Mittelbau mass grave taken by Victor

Walter John Victor (1 July 1917 – 14 October 2014) was an American photographer and World War II veteran.[1]

Biography

Photo of the Dora Mittelbau rocket assembly tunnels, where parts for the Mittelwerk V-2 rockets were stored, taken by Victor

He was born in Dupont, Pennsylvania to Frank and Agnes Victor.[2] He later moved to Dawsonville, Georgia. Victor fought at Utah Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, serving as a gunsmith for the 9th Infantry Division.[3] His division also assisted the liberation of Dachau concentration camp.[4] Victor was named a Chevalier[5] of the Legion of Honor in May 2010 for his service.[6][7] He also earned one Silver Star, and two Bronze Stars.[8] In 1966, he became a team photographer for the Atlanta Braves.[9] The Braves named the first base camera well at Turner Field for Victor in 2006.[10] Twelve of his photographs are housed in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.[11] A compilation of his work was included in the book Brave at Heart: The Life and Lens of Walter Victor, published in 2007.[12] Victor was a Master Mason belonging to the Etowah Lodge in Dawsonville, Georgia.[2] He was married to Ruth and had four children.[13] Victor died on 14 October 2014, aged 97, and was interred at Georgia National Cemetery.[2]

References

  1. Hester, Michele (22 October 2014). "World War II veteran dies". Dawson News. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Walter Victor Obituary". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014 via Legacy.com.
  3. Reddy, Frank (26 May 2010). "France says 'thanks' to Dawson County veteran". Gainesville Times. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  4. "Local veteran, eye of baseball dies". Dawson News. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  5. "Dupont native honored by the President of France". Times Leader. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  6. "Local vets to receive Legion of Honor". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  7. "France to honor three WWII veterans with the Legion of Honor Medal". French Consulate General, Atlanta. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  8. Shanks, Bill (March 2005). "Walter Victor, a real trooper on and off the field". Georgia Magazine. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  9. Freeman, Scott (14 August 2007). "Walter Victor's 'Brave At Heart'". Creative Loafing. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  10. Bowman, Mark (14 October 2014). "Braves photographer, World War II veteran Victor dead at 97". MLB.com. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  11. Stanford, Ken (14 October 2014). "Dawsonville man who was official photographer for the Braves for 40 years dies". Access North Georgia. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  12. O'Brien, David (14 October 2014). "Walter Victor, World War II vet and Braves photographer, dead at 97". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  13. "Area veteran, eye of baseball dies". Forsyth County News. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.

External links

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