World War II Honoree

Joseph Walker, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Columbia, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

JOINED THE MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD TOGETHER WITH HIS BROTHER IN 1940. INDUCTED INTO ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE WITH HIS REGIMENT AT FREDERICK, MARYLAND ON FEBRUARY 3, 1941 WITH THE RANK OF SECOND LIEUTENANT. ASSIGNED TO THE 176TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY 'BLUE AND GRAY' DIVISION. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT GEORGE G. MEADE AT BALTIMORE, MARYLAND BEGINNING FEBRUARY 17, 1941. DETACHED FROM THE DIVISION ON DECEMBER 17, 1941 AND ATTACHED TO THE WASHINGTON PROVISIONAL BRIGADE WITH THE MISSION TO GUARD WASHINGTON, D.C. HIS UNIT WAS RELIEVED FROM ASSIGNMENT TO THE 29TH DIVISION ON MARCH 11, 1942 AND ASSIGNED TO GENERAL HEADQUARTERS. HIS REGIMENT SERVED AS WHITE HOUSE HONOR GUARD, PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL GUARD, GUARD FOR THE CAPITOL AND OTHER GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND FOR THE COMBINED CHIEFS OF STAFF. PERFORMED CEREMONIAL AND ESCORT FUNCTIONS AND ENGAGED IN PROTECTIVE SECURITY FOR VITAL CAPITOL-AREA FACILITIES. RELOCATED WITH HIS UNIT TO A.P. HILL MILITARY RESERVATION AT FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINA ON FEBRUARY 20, 1943. ASSIGNED TO THE REPLACEMENT AND SCHOOL COMMAND ON APRIL 1, 1943. ARRIVED AT FORT BENNING AT COLUMBUS, GEORGIA ON APRIL 11, 1943 FOR DUTY AS SCHOOL TROOPS WITH THE INFANTRY SCHOOL. HIS REGIMENT WAS INACTIVATED ON JULY 10, 1944 AT FORT BENNING. REASSIGNED TO THE 10TH MOUNTAIN 'MOUNTAINEERS' DIVISION. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN ITALY. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTH APENNINES AND PO VALLEY CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. CONTINUED IN SERVICE AFTER THE WAR, GRADUATED FROM COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF SCHOOL AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS IN DECEMBER, 1945 AND THEN SEPARATED FROM SERVICE WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND WAS ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.