Lieutenant Colonel Walter J. Landry Jr., U.S. Army Retired, of Westwood, MA, passed away quietly in his sleep after a brief but serious bout with cancer on October 26, 2013. Walter was born in Boston, MA in 1919 and graduated from Dorchester High School in 1938. He enlisted in the Army before the start of World War II and was commissioned as a Cavalry Second Lieutenant in late 1941. He served throughout the war with the 1st Cavalry Division in the Pacific Theater and successively served as a Platoon Leader, Troop Commander and Squadron Commander in the 8th Cavalry. His led these units through the liberation of the Japanese prisoner of war camp at Santo Thomas University and the occupation of Japan. He then served in Germany with the U.S. Constabulary, Fort Knox as commander of the 509th Tank Battalion, advisor duty in South Vietnam, and completed his military service as an advisor to the New Jersey National Guard in 1961. His decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal for Valor with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, and Army Commendation Medal; and he was awarded the Combat Infantryman?s Badge. He was married to the late Ruth G. Lyons in 1948 and they raised four children in Westwood, where after his Army retirement, he worked in various industrial security positions in the Boston area. He stayed involved in community activities as a Scoutmaster, occasional Grand Marshall of the Westwood Memorial Day parade, and 10 years of service to Meals on Wheels. He retired from Gillette in 1986 and kept active in muzzle loading and small bore competitive shooting activities at both the Sharon Fish and Game Club and Westwood Gun Club, where he often served as President or in other offices. He was appointed a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians based on his lifelong interest and expertise in U.S. military history. He is survived by his wife Barbara Landry (Berton) of Westwood; his twin sister Betty Mahoney of Hingham; his children Robert Landry (Aleida), Cynthia Stewart (Thomas), Patricia LaChance and Richard Landry (Courtney); his grandchildren Cheryl, Jenna, Brian, Christina and Michael; and great grandchildren Madeleine and Landen. A memorial gathering will be held at a date and location to be determined.