World War II Honoree

Robert Doran Walker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Dallas, Texas

Honored By

Edward W. Samuell, Jr.

Relationship

Brother

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY OF THE U.S. ON 5 SEPTEMBER 1942 FROM DALLAS, TEXAS. COMMISSIONED AS A LIEUTENANT IN THE ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS, ON DUTY WITH THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS, HE WAS SHIPPED TO NORTH AFRICA IN THE EARLY SPRING OF 1943. WHILE IN NORTH AFRICA HE WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF 250,000 TONS OF BOMBS USED IN THE ALLIED AIR ASSAULTS ON SICILY AND THE ITALIAN MAINLAND. HE WAS ON THE BEACHES OF SICILY WHERE HE COORDINATED THE MOVEMENT OF AIR ORDNANCE MATERIEL DURING THE INVASION OF THAT ISLAND. HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE CONTROLLED EVACUATION OF BOMBS AND VEHICLES FOR REDEPLOYMENT TO ACTIVE AREAS OF OPERATION AND SUPERVISED THE MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES AND OTHER ORDNANCE MATERIEL AT U.S. AIR BASES WITHIN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA. HIS DUTIES TOOK HIM TO THE MAINLAND OF ITALY AS WELL AS TO CORSICA IN CONNECTION WITH THE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT OF THE ALLIED LANDINGS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE FOLLOWING D-DAY. OFTEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE COORDINATION OF OVER 2500 PERSONNEL IN AIR ORDNANCE ACTIVITIES IN CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES. HE WAS HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE ON 16 FEBRUARY 1946 AT CAMP FANNIN, TEXAS.