World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
G. W. Walker
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Washington, North Carolina
Honored By
Washington High School Alumni
SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY FROM JANUARY 1945 TO FEBRUARY 1946. RATING WAS FIREMAN SECOND CLASS, STRIKING FOR ELECTRICIAN'S MATE THIRD CLASS. BASED AT CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS AND ASSIGNED TO THE ORIGINAL COMMISSIONING CREW OF THE USS JOSEPH P. KENNEDY, JR. DD-850. THE SHIP WAS COMMISSIONED AT BOSTON DECEMBER 15, 1945. AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL CREW, HE WAS ABOARD FOR THE SHAKEDOWN TRAINING CRUISE OF THE NEW DESTROYER TO THE CARIBBEAN AND PANAMA. THE SHIP RETURNED TO HER HOMEPORT OF NEWPORT IN APRIL, AFTER A DRYDOCK STOPOVER IN NORFOLK WHERE HE WAS RETURNED TO NAVAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS AND DISCHARGED IN FEBRUARY.