3206th Quartermaster Service Company
US Army
Walter Benjamin Burgfeld
Service No.: 37415567
Ship Assignment: USS LST-531
Private Walter Benjamin Burgfeld was an American soldier from Jackson, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, who died on 28th April 1944 during the Exercise Tiger disaster in Lyme Bay. He was 34 years old.
His surviving records identify him as a married Missouri resident who had worked in the manufacture of boots and shoes before entering the United States Army in February 1943. His own signature on his enlistment registration form gives his name as Walter Benjamin Burgfeld, providing primary documentary evidence for the spelling and full form of his name.
The Exercise Tiger Trust’s Roll of Honour records Burgfeld among those who died aboard LST-531 during the attack on 28th April 1944. (Exercise Tiger)
Identification
Full name: Walter Benjamin Burgfeld
Rank: Private
Service branch: United States Army
Service number: 37415567
Unit: 3206TH Quartermaster Service Company
Walter Benjamin Burgfeld enlisted in the United States Army at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, on 1st February 1943.
The enlistment record describes him as a Selective Service enrollee (enlisted) entering the Army from civilian life. It records his education as grammar school and his civilian occupation as a semi-skilled worker in the manufacture of boots and shoes. His employer was the International Shoe Company.
The original enlistment registration form is particularly significant because Burgfeld himself signed the document “Walter Benjamin Burgfeld”. This provides the strongest evidence currently available for his full name and surname spelling.
The Exercise Tiger Trust’s current Roll of Honour independently records Walter Burgfeld as a casualty of Exercise Tiger and places him aboard LST-531. (Exercise Tiger)
Exercise Tiger
LST: USS LST-531
Circumstances: Walter Benjamin Burgfeld died on 28th April 1944 during the German E-boat attack on Convoy T-4 in Lyme Bay.
The Exercise Tiger Trust Roll of Honour specifically places Burgfeld aboard USS LST-531, one of the eight American Landing Ship, Tank vessels taking part in the Exercise Tiger training convoy. (Exercise Tiger)
During the early hours of 28th April 1944, German E-boats attacked Convoy T-4 as it sailed towards the Slapton Sands training area. USS LST-507 and USS LST-531 were torpedoed and sunk, while USS LST-289 was severely damaged.
LST-531 sank rapidly after being struck. Many of those aboard were killed, including Army personnel travelling on the vessel for the amphibious training exercise.
Burgfeld’s presence aboard LST-531 is therefore now established by the Exercise Tiger Trust’s Roll of Honour.
Personal Information
Walter Benjamin Burgfeld was born on 27th October 1909 in Tilsit, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.
His parents were Henry J. Burgfeld and Dorothea Emma Burgfeld (née Ristig).
Before the war, Burgfeld lived in Jackson, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. His civilian occupation was recorded as a semi-skilled worker in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and his employer was the International Shoe Company.
His enlistment record describes him as married and a United States citizen. At the time of registration, he was recorded as having completed grammar-school education. His physical description on the enlistment record gives his height as 71 inches, and his weight as 138 pounds. He was recorded as having a light complexion, blonde hair and grey eyes.
Burgfeld was married to Bessie Geraldine Burgfeld, née Mason, according to the family information associated with this record.
Death and Burial
Date of death: 28th April 1944
Age: 34
Cemetery: Russell Heights Cemetery, Jackson, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA.
Grave: Plot 1-09-09-A
The City of Jackson’s Russell Heights Cemetery records identify Walter B. Burgfeld as a World War II US Army veteran and record his dates as 27th October 1909 – 28th April 1944.
Honors and Memorials
Burgfeld is included in the Cape Girardeau County fallen service members memorial maintained by VFW Post 3838.
Private Walter B. Burgfeld has an entry in the American Memorial Chapel Roll of Honour at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, United Kingdom.
NOTE: The St Paul’s Cathedral entry records the surname as ‘Burgfield’, which differs from the spelling found on Walter’s original enlistment registration and from the forms used in other records.;
Sources for this record
1. Walter Benjamin Burgfeld — original US Army enlistment registration
The original enlistment registration form records his full name, including his own signature as Walter Benjamin Burgfeld, together with his service number 37415567, enlistment at Jefferson Barracks on 1st February 1943, birthplace, residence, occupation, employer and personal details.
2. Exercise Tiger Trust — Roll of Honour
The Trust’s Roll of Honour records Walter Burgfeld among those who died on 28th April 1944 and identifies his vessel as LST-531. (Exercise Tiger)
3. City of Jackson, Missouri — Russell Heights Cemetery records
The official cemetery records provide independent evidence of Walter B. Burgfeld’s birth and death dates and identify his burial in plot 1-09-09-A
Additional source: VFW Post 3838 — Cape Girardeau County Fallen Service Members
The Cape Girardeau County memorial records Walter B. Burgfeld among the county’s World War Two fallen.
Additional source: St Paul’s Cathedral Honour Roll A-D
The supplied research record identifies the St Paul’s Cathedral Honour Roll as a further memorial source for Burgfeld. It is important to note that the surname spelling (Burgfield) in the record is incorrect.
Primary and contemporary evidence
- US Army enlistment registration
- wartime service records, where available
- contemporary memorial records
Institutional and later evidence
- City of Jackson cemetery records
- Exercise Tiger Trust Roll of Honour
- VFW Cape Girardeau County memorial
- St Paul’s Cathedral American Memorial Chapel Roll of Honour
Research status
Record status: Researched
Last reviewed: 30 September 2026
Evidence classification
[C] Contemporary record — wartime or near-contemporary military or civil record.
[O] Official/institutional record — government, municipal, military or recognised memorial record.
[R] Recollection — later survivor or family recollection.
[H] Later historical research — subsequent reconstruction based on surviving evidence.
[?] Uncertain/disputed — information requiring further verification.
