Walter C. Wetzel was born in Huntington. He joined the Army in 1941 after his family moved to Detroit for work. His unit trained across the U.S. before heading to Europe in 1943 to prepare for the Normandy Invasion.

After landing in France in July 1944, Wetzel fought in several major battles, including Brest and the Hürtgen Forest. On April 3, 1945, in Birken, Germany, enemy soldiers attacked his unit’s post and threw grenades inside. Wetzel threw himself on the grenades to save his fellow soldiers, dying instantly.

For his heroism, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1946. Wetzel is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, and his medal is displayed at the Michigan Heroes Museum.