Walter Joseph Filla WWII US Army TEC-5

Walter Joseph Filla, 7 March 1920 - 26 October 1988, was born to John Florian and Frances A (Brueggemann) Filla, in Washington, Missouri.

The youngest of seven children, he was drafted into service during World War II.

Record of his marriage to Mary Elizabeth Brannock taught me that he was stationed at Camp Gordon Johnston in Carrabelle, Florida.

Walter and Mary were married in December of 1942.

Map of Camp Gordon Johnston courtesy of Florida State Archives.

Training at Camp Gordon Johnston courtesy of Florida State Archives.

Chow line at Camp Gordon Johnston courtesy of Florida State Archives.

Courtesy of Museum of Florida History at museumoffloridahistory.com:

With the outbreak of WWII, amphibious warfare training centers were hurried into construction. Utilizing a twenty-mile stretch of Gulf Coast beach between Alligator Point and St. George Island, and including St. George and Dog Islands, construction on Camp Carrabelle was begun in July 1942. Officially designated the Amphibious Training Center (ATC), the camp covered over 100,000 acres of training area. Support troops arrived on September 10, 1942 to begin preparation for the trainees in November. Medal of Honor winner Col. Gordon Johnston was honored posthumously in January 1943 when the name of the facility was changed to recognize his distinguished service. The first unit to pass through this rugged, commando-style training was the twenty-eighth infantry division. 
The ATC disbanded in June 1943 and was replaced in September with the Armed Service Forces (ASF) Training Center. This training was geared toward harbor craft companies and amphibian truck (DUKW) companies, which were needed in the Pacific. Allegedly referred to by columnist Walter Winchell as the "Alcatraz of the Army", the camp was home to upwards of 30,000 troops during the later months of the war. Paratroopers from Fort Benning, Georgia conducted airborne exercises in the area. 
In addition to the training function, German and Italian POWs were moved to this site in March 1944. Camp Gordon Johnston later became the second largest POW base camp in the state with branch camps at Telogia, Dale Mabry Field and Eglin Field. Prisoners housed at this site principally performed work in the military camp.
Officially closed in March 1946, a few structures and other evidence remains of what was the largest community in the region during the war. Two Florida Historical Markers commemorating those who served at Camp Gordon Johnston have been placed in the area. One such marker is found at the American Legion Hall on Oak Street in Lanark Village. Another is located in the Carrabelle Beach Park on US98. Contemporary maps, which locate select base sites, are available at the Camp Gordon Johnston Museum in Carrabelle.  

German POWs at Camp Gordon Johnston courtesy of Florida State Archives.

 Walter's rank was TEC-5, which mean he was a "Technician Fifth Grade". Those who held this grade were addressed as Corporal. The wearers of this rank were often called "Tech Corporal" and they were easily distinguished by the "T" imprinted on the standard chevron design for that pay grade.

Walter is on the right. 

I have heard two stories regarding this injury, primarily that he was injured sliding into base while playing baseball.

Full uniform next to his sister, Marcie.