World War II Honoree

Robert H. Walker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Youngstown, Ohio

Honored By

Elsie L. Walker

Relationship

Wife

SERVED ABOARD THE ATTACK TRANSPORT SHIP USS HENRICO AND WAS A SIGNALMAN ON A HIGGINS BOAT. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY INVASION JUNE 6, 1944, LANDING TROOPS OF THE 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION ON OMAHA BEACH, EASY RED SECTION, DURING THE FIRST WAVE OF THE ASSAULT. FOLLOWING THE NORMANDY LANDINGS, SAW ACTION IN THE SOUTHERN FRANCE INVASION AND THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER. LATER, HIS SHIP AND CREW WERE DEPLOYED TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER AND PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS. HE IS A SURVIVOR OF A SUICIDE ATTACK WHEN A JAPANESE KAMIKAZE BOMBER WITH ITS TWO BOMBS HIT HIS SHIP, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND INFLICTING HEAVY CAUSALITIES DURING THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA.