Walter Krueger was born in Flatow, West Prussia (now Zlatow, Poland), the son of Julius Kruger, a Prussian landowner who had served as an officer in the Franco-Prussian War, and his wife, Anna, formerly Hasse. Following Julius's death, Anna and her three children emigrated to the United States to be near her uncle in St. Louis, Missouri. Walter was then eight years old. After Anna remarried, the family settled in Madison, Indiana
In 1898 he enlisted for volunteer service in the Spanish-American war, and in 1899 having served in Cuba, he enlisted as a Private in the Regular Army. While serving in the Philippines with the Infantry, he was advanced to the rank of Sergeant. In 1901 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 30th Infantry.
Krueger returned to the United States with the 30th Infantry in December 1903. In September 1904, he married Grace Aileen Norvell, whom he had met in the Philippines. They had three children: James Novell, born on 29 July 1905; Walter Jr, born on 25 April 1910; and Dorothy Jane, born on 24 January 1913. Both James and Walter Jr attended the United States Military Academy, James graduating with the class of 1926 and Walter Jr. with the class of 1931. Dorothy married an Army officer, Aubrey D. Smith.
Kreuger graduated from the Infantry-Calvary School in Ft. Leavenworth, KS in 1906. In 1907 he graduated from the General Staff College. After a second tour in the Philippines, he was assigned to various routine duties. In 1916 he took part in the Mexican Punitive Expedition under General John J. Pershing. He went to France in 1918 and served as Assistant Chief of Staff of the 26th Division, later with the 84th Division, and as Assistant Chief of Staff with the Tank Corps. He was Assistant Chief of Staff of VI and IV Corps in occupation duty following WWI.
After periods at the Infantry School in Ft Benning, GA, and in command of the 55th Infantry at Camp Funston, KS, he attended the Army War College, graduating in 1921, and staying for another year as an instructor. In 1922-1925 he was in the War Plans Division of the General Staff. He graduated form the Naval War College in 1926 and from 1928-1932 he taught there.
He commanded the 6th Infantry at Jefferson Barracks, MO., for two years, then he returned to the War Plans Division. He became Chief of the Division in May of 1936 and received a promotion to Brigadier General in October. In June of 1938 he went to Fort George Meade, MD, as commander of the 16th Infantry Brigade. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Major General in Feb. 1939, then he commanded the 2nd Division at Fort Sam Huston, TX, rising in October to the command of the VIII Corps.
In May of 1941 he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant General in command of the 3rd Army and the Southern Defense Command. A month after the activation of the 6th Army in Jan. of 1943, he took command, making his headquarters in Australia. He remained in command of the 6th Army which included various combinations at different times I, X, XIV, and XXIV Corps, throughout its combat period. The operations of the 6th Army included those on Kiriwina and Woodlark Islands, July 1943. New Britain, Dec. 1943 through Feb. 1944. Admiralty Islands, Feb. through May of 1944. New Guinea, July & Aug. 1944. Morotai, Sept. and Oct. 1944. Leyte and Mindoro, Philippines, Oct. through Dec. 1944. Luzon, Jan. and Feb. 1945. In Sept. of 1945 the 6th Army took up occupation duty on Honshu, Japan. It was deactivated in Jan. of 1946.
Krueger retired to San Antonio, Texas, where he bought a house for the first time. In retirement, he wrote From Down Under to Nippon: the Story of the 6th Army In World War II, which was published in 1953.
His retirement was marred by family tragedies. His son James was dismissed from the Army in 1947 for conduct unbecoming an officer. Grace's health deteriorated and she died on 13 May 1956. In 1952, Dorothy fatally stabbed her husband, Colonel Aubrey Dewitt Smith, with a hunting knife while he slept in their Army quarters in occupied Japan. By six votes to three, a U.S. Army court-martial found her guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced her "to be confined at hard labor for the rest of her natural life" (a unanimous verdict of guilty would have made the death sentence mandatory). In 1955, the US Supreme Court ruled that military trials of civilians were unconstitutional, and Dorothy was released. The Supreme Court of the United States considered the issue of the jurisdiction of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice to civilian dependents of service members stationed overseas and initially affirmed the conviction of Dorothy Krueger Smith in 1956, in KINSELLA v. KRUEGER, 351 U.S. 470 (1956), but reversed itself in 1957, overturning her conviction.
In 1962, Krueger Middle School was established in San Antonio, Texas. The school is Home of the Fighting Falcons.
Krueger died at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in 1967 and was buried in Section 30 of Arlington National Cemetery, among a number of family members.
Krueger was portrayed in a 2005 war film, The Great Raid, by, curiously, a retired Marine captain, Dale Dye.
