A native of Jacksonville, Texas and graduate of its public schools and Lon Morris College, Captain Walker attended Texas A&M College, was employed by the Humble Oil & Refining Company, and entered the Air Corps in March 1941. Captain Walker was in the first fighter plane group to head west after Pearl Harbor and won fame for the defense of Darwin, Australia, with a small American force against over 300 Japanese planes. He was shot down there and wounded, recuperated and saw continued service in the Pacific, came back to the states for a year, and had been in England only briefly as a squadron commander when he was killed.



Captain Walker's honors included the Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal with numerous clusters and battle stars, Silver Star, and Purple Heart.