This collection documents the life and military service of Walter W. Gentry, particularly Gentry’s death while serving in France during World War II. This collection is arranged into three series:

The first series, Early Life (1927-1946), contains material from Gentry’s childhood and time before entering the service. This series includes grade school work and certificates, high school publications from Gentry’s attendance at Central High School, and material from his time at the University of Tennessee.

The second series, Military Service (1939 June 13-1986 March 17, undated) documents Gentry’s military service and subsequent death. This series includes military documents such as identification cards, induction and discharge papers, and a brief service diary kept by Gentry. Also included is correspondence between Gentry and his parents during his service, both while training stateside and his service overseas in the European Theater. It also contains the telegrams to his parents first notifying them of his status as missing in action, and later of his death. Condolence letters, cards, and notes to his parents are also included, both while he was designated missing and after the announcement of his death.

The third series, Oversize (1921-1945), contains oversize items such as school certificates, Purple Heart certificate, and a large scrapbook kept by an "Aunt Eunice" which documents Gentry's life from birth to death. This scrapbook includes photographs from throughout Gentry's life including his birth and upbringing with family and friends in Mississippi and Tennessee, his time at the University of Michigan, his military training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and letters related to his death.