Emmett H. Walker Jr.

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.Clarion Ledger, Obituary, Emmett H. Walker Jr., December 14, 2007

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.Jim Greenhill, National Guard Bureau, [https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article-View/Article/573132/former-national-guard-bureau-chief-lt-gen-emmett-walker-jr-dies/ Former National Guard Bureau chief, Lt. Gen. Emmett Walker, Jr. Dies], December 13, 2007

Walker resumed his college studies after the war, graduating from Mississippi State in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics.Association of the United States Army, [https://books.google.com/books?id=0DBEAQAAIAAJ&q=emmett+h.+walker+mississippi+state+1947 Army magazine], Volume 28, 1978, page 80

In 1949 he joined the Mississippi Army National Guard as a first lieutenant in Battery C, 932nd Field Artillery Battalion.U.S. House Appropriations Committee, [https://books.google.com/books?id=SZS2AAAAIAAJ&q=emmett+h.+walker+mississippi+national+guard+1949 Hearing Record], Military Construction Appropriations for 1980, Biographical sketch, Emmett H. Walker Jr., 1979, pages 499-500

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.U.S. House Armed Services Committee, [https://books.google.com/books?id=EYDHhxJ1o_wC&q=emmett+h.+walker+31st+infantry+division+korean+war Hearing Record], Operation and Maintenance, Title III, Biographical sketch, Emmett H. Walker Jr., 1982, page 256

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.Office of Public Affairs, National Guard Bureau, [https://books.google.com/books?id=inc8AAAAMAAJ&q=emmett+h.+walker+114th+field+artillery General Officers of the Army and Air National Guard], 1978, entry for Emmett H. Walker Jr.

From 1968 to 1972, he was a colonel and commander of the 631st Artillery Group.U.S. House Appropriations Committee, [https://books.google.com/books?id=qUuzdMfbQjAC&q=emmett+h.+walker+631st+artillery+group Hearing Record], Department of Defense Appropriations for 1984, Biographical sketch, Emmett H. Walker Jr., 1983, page 49

In 1965, Walker graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He graduated from the United States Army War College in 1973.

Walker served as Mississippi's assistant adjutant general from 1972 to 1976, earning promotion to brigadier general.

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.Office of Public Affairs, National Guard Bureau, [https://books.google.com/books?id=VZkwx8Z3XI8C&q=emmett+h.+walker+deputy+director+army+national+guard General officers of the Army and Air National Guard], Volume 1, 1972, entry for Emmett H. Walker Jr.

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.U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, [https://books.google.com/books?id=uhESAAAAIAAJ&q=emmett+h.+walker+deputy+director+army+national+guard Hearing Record]{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Nomination of Emmett H. Walker Jr. to be Chief, National Guard Bureau, biographical sketch, Emmett H. Walker Jr., 1982, pages 4-6

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.Mississippi House of Representatives, [http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2008/pdf/HC/HC0004SG.pdf House Concurrent resolution Number 4], 2008, page 2

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.Emmett H. Walker Jr., [https://web.archive.org/web/20160410001600/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-35462943.html Annual Treasurer's Report], National Guard Association of the United States, 1998, title page

Walker died at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi on December 12, 2007. He is buried at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

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.Mississippi House of Representatives, [http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2008/html/HC/HC0004IN.htm House Concurrent Resolution 4], 2008

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.Mississippi State University Reserve Officer Training Corps, [http://www.armyrotc.msstate.edu/battalion/alumni.php Cadets and Distinguished Alumni] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601134456/http://www.armyrotc.msstate.edu/battalion/alumni.php |date=2015-06-01 }}, Emmett H. Walker Jr., 2012

During World War II, Walker's entire Reserve Officers' 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.

The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby is named for him, as is the Mississippi National Guard's complex in Jackson.Holbrook Mohr, Associated Press, Rutland Herald, [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MCNP&p_multi=RHDB&p_theme=mcnp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10EAB434DD36D220&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Camp Shelby military museum dedicated to retired Mississippi general], December 22, 2005 In addition, the Jackson chapter of the Military Order of World Wars is also named for him.

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title= Chief of the National Guard Bureau|

before= LTG La Vern E. Weber|

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after= LTG Herbert R. Temple Jr.

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090728094414/http://www.ng.mil/ngbgomo/history/bio/walker_eh.htm Emmett H. Walker, Jr.] at [http://www.nationalguard.mil/ National Guard Bureau]

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Category:1924 births

Category:2007 deaths

Category:United States Army generals

Category:National Guard (United States) generals

Category:United States Army personnel of World War II

Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War

Category:Chiefs of the National Guard Bureau

Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)

Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Silver Star

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:Mississippi State University alumni

Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni

Category:United States Army War College alumni

Category:People from Clay County, Mississippi

Category:People from Jackson, Mississippi

Category:Starkville High School alumni