WALTER WHITLOW (then Technical Sergeant, United States Army). For extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific area on March 20, 1945. When heavy and accurate enemy fire from well-concealed positions in a wooded area near Cuenca, Luzon, Philippine Islands, held up the advance of the 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, Sergeant Whitlow, an acting platoon leader in Company A, devised a bold plan to attack to reduce the hostile strongpoint. He volunteered to lead his platoon and an attached squad in a wide flanking movement while another platoon lent fire support to the hazardous advance. Moving forward under the hot sun, he led his men for a thousand yards, crawling much of the way, toward the location whence an assault might be launched. Subject to intense enemy sniper, machine and mortar fire within 150 yards of his objective, he directed a fierce fire fight at close range for nearly an hour until resistance was overcome. A subsequent count of enemy dead revealed that casualties had been inflicted upon the enemy in the ratio of 20 to 1. The reduction of the pocket enabled the battalion to resume its advance and secure its final objective.

Mr. Whitlow joined the L.O.V. in 1989 and resided in Arizona.