Making a Difference Alumnus Earned Silver Star on Iwo Jima Walter Josefiak Jr. and his siblings Robert (DLS ‘44), Harry (DLS ‘51), John, and Geraldine were raised as eastside Detroiters on Fairport Street. Walter graduated from De La Salle in 1942 and enlisted in the U.S. Marines for the World War II effort.
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and the snipers. The Japanese began to throw hand grenades; Rusty was hit full force. Seriously wounded, Rusty crawled to Josefiak’s side to protect him while grenades continued to blast around the pair.
In the meantime, Marines in the unit He was assigned to threw a rope to Josefiak Camp Lejeune, home to Walter is pictured here as a freshman at DLS. Walter played in and pulled him to the War Dog Training the high school band and graduated in June 1942. safety. Regardless of his Center in North wounds, Josefiak refused to be immediately evacuated Carolina. Here he trained as a soldier and dog hanand ordered others to remain under cover until the dler with the Marine 3rd War Dog Platoon. Rusty, a enemy soldiers were annihilated. He was later taken faithful Doberman Pinscher, would become his proto a battalion hospital where he died. Lt. William tector and best friend during his days on Guam and Taylor, the commanding officer of the unit, noted that Iwo Jima. They shipped out for the fight in the Asiatic Corporal Rusty died as well, on the scene without a Campaign from Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA. whimper. War dogs were used by both the Allies and the Japanese in WWII. The dogs varied by breed and were specifically trained to scout, guard, attack, carry messages, detect underground land mines, and trip wires. They were an important part of the Asiatic campaign and a contributing factor to the liberation of Guam in 1944. Additionally, they had their own cemetery and were assigned rank. Rusty was a Corporal. On March 22, 1945, Walter and Rusty were leading a patrol on Iwo Jima searching for snipers. Scouting about 15 feet ahead of the unit, they were first to sniff out two hidden Japanese soldiers. Josefiak shot the first soldier; his rifle then jammed, and he won the fight in hand-to-hand combat with the second soldier. A short time later, the duo continued up along a ledge to the mouth of a cave where several enemy snipers were holed up. Josefiak began firing but was downed and wounded from return fire. Fulfilling his duty, Rusty guarded his master, staying between Josefiak
Walter Josefiak Jr. earned the Silver Star posthumously for his assertive nature in combat and courage. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery with a full Marine military salute. A small playground honoring him is stocked with newer equipment. It is located on Grenier St. near Fairport - around the block from the Josefiak’s childhood home. In 2014, it was adopted by volunteers and was well tended during the summer.
Thanks to Andrea Gallucci for submitting this story. The Josefiak story is one of many about the dedicated, creative and courageous people honored with a memorial park within the City of Detroit. Read more at Telling the Stories of Detroit Parks found at www.cityliterate.com
