Herbert L Walker - WWII War Heroes, World War II - Tribute site by Q Madp

Herbert L Walker

Vancouver, Washington

March 19, 2011

Age	Military	Rank	Unit/Location
92	Army

Herbert Walker served in the army during WWII, was injured landing at Normandy and again in Germany, he received the Bronze Star at age 86 for heroic acts he performed while serving in Germany.

For Memorial Service Snapshots, Click photo below:

April 2, 2011

Bronze Star No Joke to Veteran; Vancouver man speechless as he's
Columbian; Vancouver, Wash., Jul 9, 2005 | by DON JENKINS, Columbian staff writer

The World War II veteran sat and looked down at the Bronze Star medal while his son knelt beside him and looked up. "I'm very proud of you, Dad," he said softly.

A few minutes earlier, Herbert Walker, 86, of Vancouver had been cracking jokes about the government's long delay in honoring his bravery on Feb. 20, 1945.

Then U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, actually presented the medal and asked Walker if he had anything to say.

"I'm too choked up to do it," said Walker, sitting down.

Although silent, Walker held everyone's attention. Baird, family and friends watched, spoke softly and waited, and the humor returned. "If they had given this to me earlier, they might have had to stop the war," Walker cracked.

Walker was among the untold thousands of World War II soldiers who left the service after the war in 1945 without getting the medals they earned.

On Friday, at Baird's district office in the O.O. Howard House in Vancouver, Walker received the honor set aside for distinguished acts in combat.

"We've done this for a number of veterans, and it's one of the highest privileges we have," Baird said.

According to military records, Walker's unit engaged with German troops in the area of Binscheid, Germany. U.S. infantrymen were forced to withdraw, leaving 22 wounded soldiers behind.

Exposing himself to German fire, Walker fired a machine gun from a Jeep to provide cover for the evacuation of the wounded.

When Walker went to reload, the heated gun barrel fell against his left arm, searing the flesh.