CUTLER, Walter, M Sgt.

CUTLER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/27/2011 at 17:53:57

#1 of 3:

Osage Marine
Jap Prisoner

OSAGE, IOWA - Sgt. Walter Cutler, U.S. Marine the last 25 years, is now a prisoner of the Japs and is held in a camp near Manchukuo, in northern China, according to word his brother, Victor Cutler, sent to Donald Tuttle, county clerk.

Sergeant Cutler is remembered here as one of the younger sons of the late Mr. and Mrs., John Cutler, who were for years residents of Osage.
Sergeant Cutler left high school in 1915 to enlist in the Marines. He served in World war 1 and on a visit home soon after the armistice told friends he intended to make the army his career. He was stationed in the Philippines for a number of years—then for some unknown reason family nor friends heard nothing from him for a long time.

However when his father died a few years ago the family secured his address and found he was still in the service.

It is the recollection of his friends that he wore a top sergeant's stripes on his last visit to Osage and some of them believe he is now a commissioned officer.

His name was one of the first posted on the Mitchell county service men's board when it was erected on the American Legion home grounds a year ago.

He is a cousin of Dr. E. V. Cutler of Osage and has other relatives here.

[Waterloo Courier, Wednesday, February 9, 1944]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2:

Osage Marine
Jap Prisoner
(Courier Special Service)

OSAGE, IOWA - Sgt. Walter Cutler, U.S. Marine the last 25 years, is now a prisoner of the Japs and is held in a camp near Manchukuo, in northern China, according to word his brother, Victor Cutler, sent to Donald Tuttle, county clerk.

Sergeant Cutler is remembered here as one of the younger sons of the late Mr. and Mrs., John Cutler, who were for years residents of Osage.
Sergeant Cutler left high school in 1915 to enlist in the Marines. He served in World war 1 and on a visit home soon after the armistice told friends he intended to make the army his career. He was stationed in the Philippines for a number of years—then for some unknown reason family nor friends heard nothing from him for a long time.

However when his father died a few years ago the family secured his address and found he was still in the service.

It is the recollection of his friends that he wore a top sergeant's stripes on his last visit to Osage and some of them believe he is now a commissioned officer.

His name was one of the first posted on the Mitchell county service men's board when it was erected on the American Legion home grounds a year ago.

He is a cousin of Dr. E. V. Cutler of Osage and has other relatives here.

[Waterloo Courier, Wednesday, February 9, 1944]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#3:

Master Sgt. Walter Cutler
Helped Rout Revolutionists
in Russia.

Osage. Iowa — Master Sgt. Walter Cutler is back in Osage, visiting, for the first time since 1919. He left Osage July 5, 1916, when his parents. John A. and Retta Cotter Cutler, were still in Osage. He became a part of the national guard and then joined the regular army, going to Russia as a member of the 339th infantry.

That was the time when guerrilla warfare was in progress in northern Russia to smoke out the revolutionists. Cutler was then a sergeant, and says he will never forget the trip from England, north of Norway and Sweden, through the Arctic circle, then to Murmansk and down to Archangel, Russia.

To a farm boy, a school of whales was an awesome sight. Then in the intense cold of Russia, as much as 75 degrees below zero in the area he was in, he remembers vividly the tall pine forests, and how many timber wolves were there. Often there were 50 in a pack of large lean gray wolves. "There howls were fearsome, but we machine gunned them, and they never bothered us." Sergeant Cutler said, "Probably the first time they had ever heard guns."

They were billeted in Russian houses - crude affairs with high oven stoves, and the men had to sleep with their clothes on to keep warm, day after day. They took towns as they came to them in order to keep the transportation line open, and he says. "Oh, it was a lot different from this war. We machine gunned them a little, and they'd cut and run."

Revolutionists Bolder.
After the armistice there was no relief for the fellows in northern Russia. "It was worse than before." said Sergeant Walter Cutler, "for the revolutionists seemed to be stronger and bolder. We didn't get out of there until June, 1919. It was the time of the 24 hours shining of the midnight sun and my picture of that scene is the brightness of the sun and the intense energy of the peasants, who had to get in their scanty crops as quickly as possible.

It seemed as though they worked all day and night. The night was no different from the day, except it was a bit hazy at midnight. Then we sailed for the U.S. A."

He was at Corregidor and did not like it. The story for a few years then reads, transfer to Manila, discharge in October, 1922, to try civilian life as a machinist for the Chino Copper Co., Hurley, New Mexico.

After four years of civilian life reenlistment again with membership in the 1st battalion, 15th infantry, with duty again in the Philippines. Soon he became a member of the DEML - detached enlisted men's lits - and was again in the States, and finally, the Philippine Isles again.

In February, 1942 he became a master sergeant. He was stationed at that time in Corregidor. December 29 came the first bombing. "Another sergeant and I were in the barracks," he said. "All we could do was to sit. The fellows in the next barracks, a bunch of marines, got it, but we escaped with no injury at all. We were there for three days, and then went to Bataan on barges. On April 9, 1942 we were prisoners of the Japs."

From 147 to 98 Pounds.

Sergeant Cutler was on the death march. As someone mentions the death march, his eyes mirror the start tragedy of the march. he, in conformance with government regulations, will not reveal any of the story of the march. "We had to sign papers stating we wouldn't talk about the time we were in the hands of Japs." he said. "Yes, I weighed 147 pounds at the time I was taken and 98 pounds directly after the march.

He was 40 months a prisoner, at Camp O'Donnell prison camp, then at Mukden, Manchuria, from where he was liberated by the Russians, August 20, 1945. "No, I never gave up," he said, "those who did, died."

Sergeant Cutler is having some eye difficulty now, and says he dare not eat much until his body has become accustomed to food.

"What now?" he says, "I can retire, if I want to, but don't think that I shall. I have a Spanish wife in the Philippines. We were married in March, 1941. Incidentally, she is perhaps alive today because her two sons, who are adults now, stole food for her from the Japs. She is a fine little woman, and I'll go back to her. Now, in a short time I'll report back to the hospital at Santa Fe, Arizona.

[Waterloo Courier, Friday, December 14, 1945]