World War II In 1941, Walker received his commission as a
second lieutenant of
Infantry. He was promoted to
first lieutenant in 1942,
captain in 1943,
major in July 1944, and
lieutenant colonel in August 1944. Walker entered active duty for
World War II in 1942 as a member of the
22nd Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 4th Infantry Division. He received a commission, completed training with his unit in the United States and England, and commanded a company. He took part in the
Utah Beach assault during the
Normandy landings as executive officer of the regiment's 3rd Battalion. By the time of
Operation Cobra, Walker was in command of a battalion, and he continued to lead his unit until he was wounded during the
Battle of Hürtgen Forest. Walker remained hospitalized until June 1945.
Post-World War II After the war, Walker remained in the army and served as an
Infantry School instructor at
Fort Benning,
Georgia. He then served with the Army Advisory Group in
Nanjing, and on the staff of the
Far East Command in
Tokyo. Walker graduated from the
United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1951, and after graduation remained at the school as a faculty member for three years. He was promoted to
colonel and graduated from the
United States Army War College in 1955. Walker then served in
West Germany, first as deputy chief of staff for intelligence (G-2) at
Seventh United States Army and then as commander of the
6th Infantry Regiment.
Vietnam War In 1965, Walker was promoted to
brigadier general and assigned as assistant division commander of the
4th Infantry Division, and deployed with the division to
South Vietnam. From April to October 1966 he commanded the 3rd Brigade Task Force, which was subsequently organized as 3rd Brigade,
25th Infantry Division. In October 1966, Walker returned to the 4th Infantry Division as assistant division commander, and he continued to serve in Vietnam until August 1967. After returning to the United States, Walker was assigned to the
Continental Army Command as deputy chief of staff for military operations and reserve forces. He was promoted to
major general in November 1967. In November 1969, Walker returned to Vietnam, this time as commander of the 4th Infantry Division. He led the Division until June 1970, when he was relieved by Major General William A. Burke.
Senior commands Walker returned to the Pentagon in 1970 as assistant deputy chief of staff for military operations in the office of the Army's deputy chief of staff for operations (G-3). In July 1971, Walker was appointed commander of
I Corps in South Korea and promoted to lieutenant general. In August, 1972 he returned to the United States as a special assistant for training in the office of the Army
Chief of Staff. Walker was assigned as commander of
First United States Army at
Fort Meade, Maryland in August 1973. He served until August 1974, when he retired from the army.
Mississippi Adjutant General From 1974 to 1976, Walker lived in retirement on a farm in
Union, Mississippi. In February 1976, he returned to military service when he was appointed
adjutant general of the
Mississippi National Guard. He served in this post until retiring again in 1980. ==Awards and decorations==