Wall Police To Unveil Sculpture Of Town's WWII Hero

WALL, NJ — A labor of love will come to fruition in November when a monument to a World War II veteran from Wall Township is unveild on Veterans Day.

The Major General Harry J. Rockafeller II Monument, honoring the highly decorated combat veteran of the Army's 4th Armored Division, will be revealed during an 11:30 a.m. ceremony in front of Wall Township Police Headquarters, 2700 Allaire Road.

The monument was a project of the township's police department and the Wall Township Police Benevolent Association in support of efforts by Police Officer Michael Malone, who sought to honor Rockafeller after striking up a friendship with him, according to a WCBS 880 report. The monument was created by award-winning sculptor Chad Fisher of Fisher Sculpture.

Rockafeller, who lived on River Road in Wall after his service in World War II until his death Aug. 8, 2017 at the age of 100, was three times recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award behind the Medal of Honor, and received three Silver Stars for those actions. He also received a Bronze Star with V Device for Valor, a Purple Heart, and several other commendations.

Rockafeller was a captain in the 51st Infantry Battalion in the 4th Armored Division, which pushed north into the town of Bastogne in Belgium and helped the 101st Airborne Division as it was surrounded by the Germans in December 1944.

The division also liberated the Ohrdruf concentration camp, Malone told WCBS. Rockafeller was promoted from captain to major under Gen. George S. Patton. After the war he rose through the ranks of the Army Reserves to reach major general, commander of the 78th Division, before he retired in 1974, according to that report.

The 9-foot bronze monument depicting Rockafeller during the Battle of the Bulge is the culmination of a yearlong effort of planning and fundraising to remember him and honor all of veterans, the police department said. The fundraising efforts, both through a GoFundme and offline events, far exceeded the $130,000 goal, taking in more than $217,000.

A video the police department created tells how Malone met Rockafeller and more about him.

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Photo shows Major General Harry J. Rockafeller II when he served as a major in the 4th Armored Division, Bastogne, Belgium, during World War II in late December 1944. Photo provided by Wall Township Police