Emmett H. Walker, Jr.

Emmett H. Walker, Jr.

Walker as Lieutenant General and Chief, National Guard Bureau
Nickname(s) Mickey
Born (1924-03-16)March 16, 1924
Abbott, Mississippi
Died December 11, 2007(2007-12-11) (aged 83)
Jackson, Mississippi
Place of burial Parkway Memorial Cemetery, Ridgeland, Mississippi
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1942-1986
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held 4th Battalion, 114th Field Artillery Regiment
631st Artillery Group
Director of the Army National Guard
Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Battles/wars World War II
*Battle of Metz
*Battle of the Bulge
*Rhineland Campaign
Korean War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
Army Commendation Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Lieutenant General Emmett H. 'Mickey' Walker (March 16, 1924 – December 11, 2007) was a retired U.S. Army officer who served as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from 1982 to 1986.

Early life

Emmett Hudson Walker, Jr. was born in Abbott, Mississippi on March 16, 1924. He graduated from Starkville High School in 1942 and began studies at Mississippi State University, but left college in order to enlist in the military for World War II.[1]

World War II

Walker enlisted in December, 1942, completed Officer Candidate School and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. Initially assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division during its pre-combat training at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, he subsequently transferred to the 95th Infantry Division. Walker was a platoon leader in Cannon Company, 378th Infantry Regiment and took part in combat in France, including the Battle of Metz, the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhineland campaign. In addition to the Combat Infantryman Badge, Walker earned the Silver Star and the Bronze Star Medal with "V" for Valor.[2]

Post World War II

Walker resumed his college studies after the war, graduating from Mississippi State in 1947 with a bachelor of science degree in Agricultural Economics.[3]

In 1949 he joined the Mississippi Army National Guard as a First Lieutenant in Battery C, 932nd Field Artillery Battalion.[4]

Korean War

Walker was activated for the Korean War, joining the 31st Infantry Division as a Captain and serving as a liaison officer at the Far East Command.[5]

Post Korean War

After returning to the United States, Walker continued his National Guard service, carrying out command and staff assignments in the 31st Division. In 1961 he became commander of 4th Battalion, 114th Field Artillery Regiment as a Lieutenant Colonel.[6]

From 1968 to 1972 he was a Colonel and commander of the 631st Artillery Group.[7]

In 1965 Walker graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and he completed the United States Army War College in 1973.[8]

Walker served as Mississippi's Assistant Adjutant General from 1972 to 1976, earning promotion to Brigadier General.[9]

National Guard Bureau

In 1976 Walker was appointed Deputy Director of the Army National Guard, succeeding Joseph R. Jelinek. He held this position until 1978, when he was promoted to Major General and succeeded Charles A. Ott, Jr. as Director of the Army National Guard.[10]

Walker was appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau in 1982 and promoted to Lieutenant General. He served in this position until his 1986 retirement.[11]

A longtime friend of Congressman Sonny Montgomery, Walker worked with him on the creation of the Montgomery G.I. Bill of 1984, which expanded educational benefits and helped improve recruiting of new service members and retention of existing ones.[12]

Retirement and death

In retirement Walker was one of the organizers of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby. He also served as Treasurer of the National Guard Association of the United States.[13]

Walker died at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi on December 11, 2007. He is buried at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland, Mississippi.[14]

Awards and decorations

In addition to his valor awards for World War II, Walker was also a recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal.[15]

At his retirement, Walker received from Governor Bill Allain a state promotion to full General (four stars) as recognition of the sustained superior performance he rendered throughout his career.[16]

During World War II, Walker's entire Reserve Officer Training Corps class at Mississippi State University left school to enlist. Recalling his leadership and military abilities, during a reunion in 1993 Walker was belatedly named the class Honor Graduate.[17]

Legacy

The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby is named for him, as is the Mississippi National Guard's complex in Jackson.[18][19] In addition, the Jackson chapter of the Military Order of World Wars is also named for him.[20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Clarion Ledger, Obituary, Emmett H. Walker, Jr., December 14, 2007
  2. ↑ Jim Greenhill, National Guard Bureau, Former National Guard Bureau chief, Lt. Gen. Emmett Walker, Jr. Dies, December 13, 2007
  3. ↑ Association of the United States Army, Army magazine, Volume 28, 1978, page 80
  4. ↑ U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for 1980, Biographical sketch, Emmett H. Walker, Jr., 1979, pages 499-500
  5. ↑ U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, Operation and Maintenance, Title III, Biographical sketch, Emmett H. Walker, Jr., 1982, page 256
  6. ↑ Office of Public Affairs, National Guard Bureau, General Officers of the Army and Air National Guard, 1978, entry for Emmett H. Walker, Jr.
  7. ↑ U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Hearing Record, Department of Defense Appropriations for 1984, Biographical sketch, Emmett H. Walker, Jr., 1983, page 49
  8. ↑ Office of Public Affairs, National Guard Bureau, General Officers of the Army and Air National Guard, 1978, entry for Emmett H. Walker, Jr.
  9. ↑ Clarion Ledger, Obituary, Emmett H. Walker, Jr., December 14, 2007
  10. ↑ Office of Public Affairs, National Guard Bureau, General officers of the Army and Air National Guard, Volume 1, 1972, entry for Emmett H. Walker, Jr.
  11. ↑ U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, Nomination of Emmett H. Walker, Jr., to be Chief, National Guard Bureau, biographical sketch, Emmett H. Walker, Jr., 1982, pages 4-6
  12. ↑ Mississippi House of Representatives, House Concurrent resolution Number 4, 2008, page 2
  13. ↑ Emmett H. Walker, Jr., Annual Treasurer's Report, National Guard Association of the United States, 1998, title page
  14. ↑ Clarion Ledger, Obituary, Emmett H. Walker, Jr., December 14, 2007
  15. ↑ Mississippi House of Representatives, House Concurrent Resolution 4, 2008
  16. ↑ Mississippi State University Reserve Officer Training Corps, Cadets and Distinguished Alumni, Emmett H. Walker, Jr., 2012
  17. ↑ Jim Greenhill, National Guard Bureau, Former National Guard Bureau Chief, Lt. Gen. Emmett Walker, Jr. Dies, December 13, 2007
  18. ↑ Holbrook Mohr, Associated Press, Rutland Herald, Camp Shelby military museum dedicated to retired Mississippi general, December 22, 2005
  19. ↑ Mississippi House of Representatives, House Concurrent Resolution 4, 2008
  20. ↑ Jim Greenhill, National Guard Bureau, Former National Guard Bureau chief, Lt. Gen. Emmett Walker, Jr. Dies, December 13, 2007
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Military offices
Preceded by
LTG La Vern E. Weber		 Chief of the National Guard Bureau
1982 - 1986 		Succeeded by
LTG Herbert R. Temple, Jr.
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