Comer Levi Altland

The grave of 2nd Lt. Comer Levi Altland in Gettysburg National Cemetery

Quick Facts

Significance:

Gettysburg native who served in WWII and Korea, and was killed in action in Korea.

Place of Birth:

Manchester, PA

Date of Birth:

November 11, 1925

Place of Death:

North Korea

Date of Death:

November 6, 1951

Place of Burial:

Gettysburg, PA

Cemetery Name:

Gettysburg National Cemetery

Section 2, Row 5, Grave 51

2LT Comer Levi Altland was the son of Leon and Ruth Altland who, at the time of Comer’s death, were residing in York, Pennsylvania. The family had formerly lived in Gettysburg.

Since his father worked for different furniture companies, Comer’s family moved several times as he grew up. By the time he was in high school, the family was living in Gettysburg where Comer attended Gettysburg High School. The family lived on Fourth Street in Gettysburg, and his father worked for the Gettysburg Furniture Company.

At Gettysburg High, Comer was active in establishing a club for model airplanes, as well as scouting. He also played on the football team, a source of immense pride for him. He played in the backfield as the team went 8-1-1. He said of the coach, Bill Bidinger, “I have never met a nicer man.”

Later, as a senior student at Gettysburg High and getting ready to graduate during WWII, he wrote a brief biographical sketch. In this reflection of his short life, Comer noted that in his early years he “had the honor of being one of the biggest cry-babies in the family.” For his future he wrote, “I hope to attend a school in Harrisburg and take up aviation training. When I get old enough, I hope to enlist in the Air Corps as a pilot. I hope to be a bachelor.”

Comer graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1943 and then enlisted and served in the US Navy for three years during WWII. At that time, he was 5 foot 10, weighed 160 lbs., had brown eyes, black hair, and a dark complexion.

During World War II, he was deployed to the Pacific aboard the USS Zaniah (AK-120). The Zaniah was a Basilan-class cargo ship commissioned by the United States Navy for service in World War II. She delivered troops, supplies, and equipment to locations in the war zone.

Comer was discharged from the navy on May 12, 1946, with the rating of Radar Technician Second Class. After his discharge, he attended Hillsdale College, a small school in Michigan. After a year at Hillsdale College, he came back home to Gettysburg, finishing his last three years at Gettysburg College. Upon graduating in 1950, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. He went on active duty In November 1950. He was initially assigned to Company B, 71st Tank Battalion, 3rd Armored Division.

Comer was later transferred to the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. After training, he was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He served as an infantry platoon leader.

Comer came home to Gettysburg on furlough in August 1951 and arrived in Korea the following month. During his time in Korea, he wrote home to his parents almost daily. His last letter home was dated October 16, 1951.

With winter settling in on the Korean peninsula in 1951, combat actions and the subsequent deaths drastically declined. Peace talks continued in earnest, which added to the slowed-down pace of combat. With this slowing of combat deaths, those that did occur were mostly isolated incidents, patrols, and short, sharp clashes, sometimes not even intentional. Six hundred and twenty-six men died in Korea during November, ranking it on the lower end of the deaths for the year. However, the 7th, 24th, and 1st Cavalry Divisions sustained most of the casualties.

Between November 5-7, the 1st Battalion’s ‘A’ Company would lose 21 men killed, ‘B’ Company 25 men killed, ‘C’ Company 24 men killed, ‘D’ Company 7 men dead, and 12 other men killed from other various sections of the battalion - 89 men from one battalion killed in total, in three days.

On November 6, 1951, at 0300 hours, Comer’s A company was engaged in combat near Maro-ri, North Korea, when he was killed instantly by shell fragments that struck his head and left arm. November 6 was also his mother Ruth’s birthday.

His parents were notified of his death by telegram on November 25, 1951.

Comer was initially buried in a United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Tanggok, Korea. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart.

In announcing his death, the Gettysburg Times noted, “Comer Altland was well known in Gettysburg and had a wide circle of friends here.”

Comer was reinterred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery on March 14, 1952 (Section 2, Row 5, Position 51). His funeral was led by Rev Dr. Ralph Gresh, pastor of St. James Lutheran church, and Rev. Dr. Henry Hanson, president of Gettysburg College.