Carson Walsky
| Date and Place of Birth: | November 14, 1910 Czechoslovakia |
| Date and Place of Death: | February 26, 1945 near Ferschweiler, Germany |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | Staff Sergeant |
| Military Unit: | 76th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized), 76th Infantry Division, US Army |
| Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
Carson “Kit Carson” Walsky, son of John and Anna Walsky, was born in Czechoslovakia on November 14,
1910. His family moved to the United States shortly afterwards, and
settled in the coal mining
town of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Hazleton High
School in 1930, following outstanding athletic performances in football,
basketball and as a left-handed pitcher.
In the early 1930s, he followed his father's footsteps as a miner but
played professional football for Cranberry in the Twin-County Football
League. From 1935 to 1937, Walsky escaped the mines and attended Mount
St. Mary’s College (now University) at Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he
played end on the football team and pitched for the baseball nine.
In 1939, despite being 28 years old, Walsky signed with his hometown
Hazleton Mountaineers, an independent entry in the newly-formed Class C
Interstate League. The Mountaineers, who played at Cranberry Ballpark,
were managed by former big league infielder Harvey “Hob” Hiller (he was
replaced by the team’s first baseman, Frank DeManicor in June) and
included former Red Sox pitcher George Hockette, and future Athletics
pitcher/outfielder Woody Wheaton (who would lead the Interstate League
with a .428 batting average in 1939).
On June 14, 1939, Walsky was honored by the 14th Ward Intelligence Club
and Hazelton High School students in a "Carson Walsky Day." The school
band took part in the ceremonies and Walsky was presented with a gift
before the game against Allentown.
Walsky played 14 games over the
102-game season between May 11 and June 28 - 12 of those as a pitcher
(and two in the outfield) - hurling 74 innings (including five complete
games) for a
4-6 won-loss record and a 7.54 ERA. He hit a respectable .297 with 11
hits in 37 at-bats and two homeruns, but was released in April 1940, by
newly appointed manager Cy Perkins. He spent 1940 playing shortstop for
the Fegley team in the City Softball League
On May 28, 1942, Walsky entered
military service with the Army at the age of 31. From early 1943, he was stationed at Fort Meade,
Maryland, with the 76th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized) of the
76th Infantry Division. On January 24, 1943, Walsky married Cecelia (nee
Guzock) at St. John's Church in Newark, New Jersey. Following a
week's honeymoon, Sergeant Walsky returned to Fort Meade, while Cecelia
returned to her job as a drafter in Newark.
Walsky later attained the rank of staff sergeant and was stationed at
Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, where he was joined by Cecelia. In December 1944,
the 76th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop sailed for England. In
January 1945, they crossed the English Channel to France and were soon in the heat of
combat.
On February 24, 1945, attached to the 304th Infantry Regiment, the troop
crossed the Sauer River at Echternach, Luxembourg, and moved towards
Ferschweiler, Germany. Staff Sergeant Carson Walsky, taking part in his
first battle, was killed in action
on February 26, 1945. He was 34 years old.
Following his death, Cecelia received a letter from Army Chaplain
(Captain) Abraham Zemach:
Dear Mrs Walsky
I wish to convey to you my deepest sympathy upon the death of your
husband...who was killed in action...against the enemy in Germany.
Carson was laid to rest with his fellow American heroes in the
U.S.Military Cemetery in the Duchy of Luxembourg. Appropriate funeral
services were conducted.
Carson was a pride and credit to his organization as a soldier and as a
man. He was conscientious, dependable and devoted to his duties. He was
very well like by the officers and fellow soldiers in his organization.
His loss will be keenly felt by all of us.
May the Lord give you strength to bear your grief with courage and
resignation to the Divine Will.
With deepect sympathy,
ABRAHAM ZEMACH
Chaplain (Capt.) U.S. Army
In November 1950, Walsky and another former Hazelton High athlete killed
in WWII, Anthony "Hunky" Moran, were honored through a memorial plaque
presented after the Hazelton High-West Hazelton High Thanksgiving Day
football game. Presented by the Pollock and Mann Sporting Goods Company,
the annual award went to the player most typifying the courage, spirit
and competitive brilliance of Walsky and Moran. The first award went to
Hazelton High's Eddie Boran.
In 1979, at the 16th annual Hazelton YMCA Sports Hall of Fame banquet,
Carson Walsky was inducted into the hall of fame. The award was accepted
by Cecelia. Cecelia Walsky passed away
in September 2005.
Walsky with the 1936 Mount St. Mary's football team
(Walsky is front row, fourth from left wearing 23)
Carson Walsky with the Hazelton Mountaineers pitching staff during the
spring of 1940 before his release. (Walsky is sixth from left)
Carson Walsky's grave marker at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, Luxembourg.
Thanks to Gary Fink for “discovering” Carson Walsky so he could be added to the Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice site. Thanks also to Astrid van Erp for providing a photo for this biography
Date Added January 24, 2016. Updated December 15, 2019
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