THE GALLANT GEORGE WALKER
George “Bubber” Walker, Jr. was a graduate of Dublin High School and attended Georgia Military College. At an early age, George joined the local unit of the Georgia National Guard, headquartered in Dublin. The full tag is Col. K, 3rd Battalion, 30th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.
George Walker, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. George Walker, Sr., joined hands with Julia Webb, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. J.J. Webb, of Dudley, Georgia. Trained at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. Walker was one of the first group of soldiers sent to the North Atlantic at beginning of World War II.
The U.S. Army’s 3rd Division was the division in the entire army to fight the Germans on all European fronts. The 3rd Infantry Division saw combat in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany and Austria for 531 consecutive days.
The 3rd Division first saw action during the war as a part of the Western Task Force in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa, landing at Fedala on 8 November 1942, and captured half of French Morocco.
On 10 July 1943, the division made another amphibious assault landing on the island of Sicily. The division, serving under the command of Lieutenant General George S. Patton's U.S. 7th Army, fought and scratched its way into Palermo. During the campaign, the 3rd Division gained a reputation as one of the best divisions in the Seventh Army.
After a short pause, the division was part of the a legendary amphibious landing at Anzio, staying there more than four months and repelling several powerful counterattacks. The brutal action included World War I style trench warfare. The Third held its position and forced three entire German divisions to retreat on February 29, 1944. In a solitary day of fighting at Anzio, the 3rd Infantry Division suffered more than 900 casualties, more than any other American division on one day in World War II. Walker was wounded in the Battle of Luxembourg in 1944.
In the latter weeks of May, the VI Army Corps moved out of the Anzio with the 3rd Division in front. In a terrible military blunder, Lieutenant General Clark moved the division to Rome, allowing the 10th German Army to escape capture and prolong the war in Italy.
For gallantry in action while serving in action against the enemy Master Sergeant Walker’s gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army. For his heroism, Walker was awarded the Silver Star, the U.S. Army’s third highest award for heroism.
Walker joined twenty six native Laurens Countians or residents have received the Silver Star for their extraordinary heroism. With three multiple award recipients, the total number of Silver Stars awarded to Laurens Countians remains at the phenomenal number of thirty. Six of these men lost their lives in action. became an elite group of heroes.
Walker remained in the Army after the war. He spent several years in Columbia, S.C. and Japan during the Korean War in the administrative field. Walker served in the army for a total 14 years. When Walker fell ill at Formosa, Mrs. Walker was flown at the highest military priority speed from Dublin to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. Mrs. Walker hopped aboard a new plane and was flown across the Pacific Ocean, 6 ,106 miles to an air base at Okinawa. He died on March 11, 1957 just six, short, futile and gut wrenching hours before an exhausted Julia Walker arrived at Fort Buckner in Okinawa.
Master Sergeant Walker’s funeral was held at the First Baptist Church. His body was escorted by his classmates, friends, fellow soldiers along with a full military escort. Included in the line was fellow Silver Star awardee, Thurman Wyatt, of Laurens County. The service was one of the largest military church services held in Dublin since the end of World War II. His body lies in rest in Dublin Memorial Gardens. So hip hip hooray to George, George “the gallant” Walker.
Dublin Courier Herald, April 12, 1957, Macon Telegraph, April 26, 1957. The Hall of Valor Project.
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