Early Life
Walter was born and raised in Avonmore, Pennsylvania, USA, a small town near Pittsburgh. His interest in history began as a child after he discovered what his parents did during World War II. His father served in General George S. Patton's 4th Armored Division and encountered several Nazi concentration camps. His mother wrote letters to service members who had no family, while serving as a local air raid warden. The young Zapotoczny watched every World War II movie on television and read as many books on the subject as he could get his hands on. After high school, flying lessons and several jobs, he joined the Army National Guard and served for eight years. He was a member of the Avonmore Borough Council and Chairman of the Borough Planning Commission. Walter worked as a volunteer and issues coordinator for the Carter for President Campaign in 1976 and assisted with Carter's transition. He supervised personnel involved in the clean-up of debris, while planning and implementing heavy equipment operations during the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood in July 1977.
Career
Later in 1977, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Superintendent for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Walter went to work for an international management consulting firm in 1980, developing productivity improvement programs and writing procedure manuals for clients. He started his own consulting company in 1986, concentrating on the glass business. As glass-making in America began a steady decline in the early 1990s, Walter re-enlisted in the Army National Guard, working in aviation operations, and went on active duty in 1993. He never lost his love of history. Rising through the ranks, he achieved the rank of Sergeant Major while earning a master's degree in history. While attending the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Walter developed an interest in creative writing.
His last duty assignment, before retiring in 2009, was the Command
Historian of the 28th Infantry Division. In that role he visited World War I
and World War II battlefields and memorials in Luxembourg, Belgium,
Germany, Egypt, and France and several Nazi concentration camps.
After leaving the U.S. Army, Walter and his wife Bonnie moved to Baja
California, Mexico where he worked as the
managing editor of the East Capers regional
magazine, freelance writer for several
magazines and creative writing instructor. He
and his wife traveled extensively throughout
North America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central
America and Europe. After four years in Mexico,
they moved back to the United States.
Education
Walter is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. He
holds a Bachelor of Arts with honors in world military history, a Master of
Arts with honors in global history, together with emphasis in English
composition and writing, from American Military University, Charlestown,
West Virginia. He has a Ph.D. in History from Liberty University,
Lynchburg, Virginia.
Affiliations
• Circle of Studies on the Battle of the Bulge, Luxembourg
• Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum
• 28th Infantry Division Association
• Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archives)
