Walter E. Lauer
| Walter Ernst Lauer | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
June 20, 1893 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Died | October 13, 1966 (aged 73) Monterey, California, United States |
| Buried at | Golden Gate National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1917–1946 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Unit |
 Infantry Branch
|
| Commands held |
99th Infantry Division 80th Infantry Division 66th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star |
Major General Walter E. Lauer (29 June 1893 – 13 October 1966) was a senior United States Army officer who fought in both World War I and World War II. During World War II he commanded the 99th Infantry Division in the Battle of the Bulge. The green troops of the 99th, along with the battle-tested 2nd Infantry Division, held a key sector controlling access to Spa and Leige and large repositories of ammunition, fuel, and supplies. Despite being outnumbered by German forces at least five to one, during the Battle of Elsenborn Ridge they did not yield. It was the only sector of the American front lines during the German offensive where the Germans failed to advance. Lauer was a veteran of both World War I and II.
Walter Ernst Lauer was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Albert and Anna Rehlmeyer Lauer. He attended Cornell University, and left in his junior year to enlist in the United States Army for World War I. He completed training at Madison Barracks, New York, and was [Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch. He attended the School of Small Arms from 1917 to 1918. He married Lily Grace Hunter of East Hampton. Massachusetts on June 9, 1918, and they had two children, Helen Ivy Bohin and Hunter Lauer.
Lauer had five brothers. His brother Alexander commented, "There were five boys in our family, and with the exception of Walter, we were all doctors or pharmacists." Lauer also had two sisters, Mrs. Ernst Schaefer, a New Rochelle pharmacist, and Mrs. H. R. Evans of Brooklyn.
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