Walton Walker

Walton Harris Walker (born December 3, 1889 in Belton , Texas , † December 23, 1950 in Seoul ) was an American Army officer in the First and Second World Wars and first commander of the 8th US Army in the Korean War .

Life

Childhood, education, first world war

Walker was born in Belton, Texas , and graduated from West Point in 1912. His nickname "Johnnie" comes from this time after his favorite scotch, Johnnie Walker (also a reference to his last name). As a lieutenant, he served on the Veracruz expedition under Brigadier General Frederick Funston . On the border between the United States and Mexico , he became friends with Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1916 .

During World War I , Walker fought in France in the 5th Infantry Division (the so-called Red Devils). He was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery .

Second World War

During World War II , Walker initially served on the General Staff and was given command of the 3rd Armored Division in early 1942 before being appointed commanding general of the XX Corps in George Patton's 3rd Army in September of the same year . After landing in France, he commanded the corps during Patton's rapid advance through France, the battle for Metz and the fighting in the Saar-Moselle triangle. In April, troops under Walker's command liberated Buchenwald concentration camp . On May 8, 1945, he accepted the surrender of the Slovak government in Kremsmünster, Austria . As a 3-star general, he served as one of Patton's most valued officers at the end of the war.

Korean War and Death

After the end of the war he was first commander of the 5th US Army in Chicago and in 1948 the 8th US Army in occupied Japan .

Shortly after the North Korean invasion of South Korea began in June 1950, the poorly trained and equipped 8th US Army was supposed to repel the invaders over the 38th parallel. To complicate matters was MacArthur's order from Tokyo not to back off an inch. Before any significant American reinforcements could arrive in Korea, the North Koreans had overrun the border defenses and conquered Seoul . Walker was then also given command of the troops of South Korea, but was eventually pushed back to a bridgehead around Busan , among other things because of a poor command structure and the inexperience of his commanders . It wasn't until MacArthur landed at Incheon with strong formations in September that the situation turned. As part of the first UN counter-offensive, the 8th Army crossed the border into North Korea and advanced further north, which led to China intervening in the form of a “volunteer army” in October.

Before the Sino-North Korean counter-offensive began, Walker had to retreat to Pyongyang and later vacated it to move to a new defensive position south of the 38th parallel.

Walker died during an inspection drive in an accident of his Jeep with a civilian truck north of Seoul on December 23, 1950. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in the USA. General Matthew B. Ridgway took command of the 8th Army , who replaced MacArthur as US commander in the Far East in April 1951 .

Walker's son Sam S. Walker, who served as an officer in the Korean War, was later promoted to general.

Awards

Selection of decorations, sorted based on the Order of Precedence of Military Awards :

• Distinguished Service Cross (2 ×)
• Army Distinguished Service Medal (2 ×)
• Silver Star (3 ×)
• Legion of Merit
• Distinguished Flying Cross (2 ×)
• Bronze star
• Air Medal (14 ×)

The M41 tank named after Walker

The following were also named after him:

• the US tank M41 Walker Bulldog
• one street in dallas
• a hotel of a recreation center of the US armed forces in Berchtesgaden (meanwhile largely demolished)

South Korea honored Walker by naming a hill on the northeastern outskirts after him. Walker Hill is now a top leisure center with ice rinks, amusement parks and several luxury hotels, including one of the best hotels in Seoul, the Walker Hill Sheraton .

literature

• Clay Blair Jr .: The Forgotten War , Reprint Edition. Edition, Naval Institute Press, 2003, ISBN 1-59114-075-7 .
• TR Fehrenbach: This Kind of War: A Study in Unpreparedness , 50th Anniversary edition. Edition, Macmillan, New York 2001, ISBN 1-57488-334-8 .
• Spencer C. Tucker (Ed.): Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social and Military History , New Edition. Edition, Checkmark Books, Santa Barbara 2002, ISBN 0-8160-4682-4 (English).

Web links

Commons : Walton Walker  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• General Walker Hotel, AFRC hotel, Obersalzberg (English WP)