Walter Frank Wissel was born in Los Angeles on September 9, 1921, the son of Otto Frank and Atta (Chapman) Wissel. He graduated from Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California, worked at the Northrop Aviation Corporation in Hawthorne, and married Suzanne Haller in January 1942. Wissel enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 19, 1942, and in August of that year starting serving aboard the Sims-class destroyer U.S.S. Walke (DD-416) as a Seaman First Class.  

According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, on November 13, 1942, one day after the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal began, the Walke sortied with other American warships. Two days later they were engaging Japanese warships when an enemy “Long Lance” torpedo struck the Walke’s starboard side. Almost simultaneously a burst of shells from a Japanese light cruiser added to the Walke’s damage, leading the ship’s commanding officer to give the order to abandon ship.

Wissel’s wife was notified shortly before Christmas 1942 that her husband was missing in action, and just a few months later gave birth to their son, Walter Frank Jr.  She was living with her sister on Marcelina Avenue in Torrance at the time and held out hope that her husband was still alive. Later in the year, however, it was found that Walter Wissel was killed in action and was one of 76 men who died in the ship’s fiery end. Six officers including the commanding officer were also killed.  

Seaman 1C Walter Frank Wissel was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. He is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines, in addition to the Torrance Veterans Memorial Wall.