Biographical/historical information

Walter S. Hunt Jr. was born on 1917 January 1 in Troy, New York to Walter Skellie Hunt Sr. and Ruth M. Hunt. The family moved to Thomasville, North Carolina in 1924 and Walter S. Hunt Jr. attended high school there. Hunt graduated with a Bachelor of Science in medicine from the University of North Carolina in 1937 and graduated from Northwestern University Medical School with his Medical Degree in 1939. Soon after his return to North Carolina, he enlisted in the Army Medical Corps on 1940 July 5.

During his military career, Hunt first served as a surgeon at Fort Monroe, Virginia before his promotion to Captain on 1941 November 1. After attending the Medical Military Tactics School, Hunt departed for foreign service on March 3, 1942. He served as a surgeon for the 28th Surgery Hospital in Australia and New Guinea until June 1943, a medical inspector for Alamo Base I from July to December 1943, and a battalion surgeon for the 1881st engineer Aviation Battalion until 1944 October 4. While serving the 1881st, he received a Purple Heart on 1944 May 28 for the wounds he suffered during battle.

Hunt returned to the United States on 1944 November 22 and over the next few years, served at the Army Service Forces Headquarters Army Ground and Service Forces Redistribution Station in Asheville, North Carolina, at a base in Rome, Georgia, and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After studying orthopedics at hospitals in Chicago from September 1945 to July 1948, Dr. Hunt began practicing Orthopedic Surgery with Dr. Hugh Thompson in Raleigh, North Carolina. Additionally, he joined the staff at Rex Hospital, Raleigh Community Hospital, St. Agnes Hospital (later Wake Medical Center), and the North Carolina Central Prison Hospital. From 1948 to 1960, Hunt also served as an instructor and professor of orthopedic students and interns at Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill. During his career, Dr. Hunt established and directed clinics devoted to treating crippled children and adults in Raleigh, Smithfield, Greenville, and New Bern. He also received the governor's award as 'Physician of the Year" in 1965. Dr. Hunt died on 2006 August 5 at his home in Wilmington, North Carolina and is buried at Raleigh Memorial Park.

Scope and arrangement

The Dr. Walter S. Hunt Jr. Papers contain Dr. Hunt's military records. The documents include his certificate of service and other United States Army communications.

Administrative information

Custodial History

2018 January 30: one folder of military records. Gift of Walter S. Hunt IV.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Walter S. Hunt IV.

Processing information

Processed by Layne Carpenter, 2018.

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration

Language of material

English

Related material

Related artifacts held at The Country Doctor Museum, Bailey, North Carolina.

Key terms

Topical

Medicine, Military
World War, 1939-1945

Container list