""Our entire Corps will greatly miss this great Marine." V.R. Don Gardner Major General, USMC Ret President, Marine Corps University"
In loving memory of
Col. Anthony Walker, USM
February 24, 1917 - November 5, 2004
Middletown, RI - Col. Anthony Walker, USM, 87, of 409 Wolcott Avenue, Middletown, died Friday, November 5, 2004 at Forest Farm Health Care Center Middletown, RI.He was the husband of Judith D. Davidson Walker. Born in Baltimore, MD on Feb. 24, 1917, he was the only child of the late John Read Walker and Virginia McBlair Walker.His aunt Cornelia McBlair, cared for him in Norfolk, VA while his parents served in France during World War I. Col. Walker graduated from the Berkshire School in 1935 and Yale College in 1939 where he boxed, played football and majored in economics.After college he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served at sea, then was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1941 and deployed to the South Pacific in World War II. As a Raider company commander he led part of the successful attack upon Viru Harbor, New Georgia and was later wounded on New Georgia at the battle for Bairoko. Returing to combat, he fought in the campaigns of Emirau, Guam and Okinawa. On Okinawa he commanded the 6th Marine Division?s Reconnaissance Company, leading numerous night patrols and attacks. The end of the War marked 30 continuous monts for him in the Pacific Theater.After the War, Col. Walker served tours of duty as a U.N. observer in Kashmir, a battalion and regimental commander in the Fleet Marine Force, a commander of Marine Barracks at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and a student and instructor at the U.S. Naval War College. He concluded 32 years of active duty in 1971 with a year in South Vietnam as the Operations Officer of the Joint Military Assistance Command.Widely known in the Marine Corps as ?Cold Steel? for his expertise in bayonet and hand-to-hand combat, Col. Walker was most highly regarded for his tactical and leadership skills. His decorations include two Silver Stars, the Purple Heart, a Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Commendation and the Legion of Merit.Col. Walker published two books and numerous articles on mainly military history, especially the Revolutionary War. One of his books, So Few the Brave, is the definitive history of the Rhode Island regiments in the R evolution.Col. Walker was a President of Middletown?s Little League, a volunteer for the Sachuest Point Wildlife Sanctuary and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Middletown Historical Society and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Judith Davidson Walker of Middletown, RI, three sons William W. Walker of Winston-Salem, NC, Daniel A. Walker of Hartford, CT, and Lt. Col. Andrew D. Walker, USMC, retired, of Poolesville, MD, and six grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2004, at 11:00AM in St. Marys Episcopal Church, 324 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in St. Marys Churchyard in Portsmouth.In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to the Redwood Library, Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 or to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, PO Box 420, 307 5th Avenue, Quantico, VA 22134-0420.
Tributes
"A truly colorful Marine in the tradition of "the Old Corps", and a tribute to the meaning of the word "Marine"."
"As a Marine Corps major in 1970-71, an advisor to the Vietnamese Marines, I visted Col Walker often in the MACV operations center. He liked to hear our sea stories when we came in from the field, and in turn he arranged to have us thoroughly briefed on the larger operational picture. I saw him again when I attended the Naval War College in 1976-77, and he wrote a nice piece about my Vietnam book, The Bridge at Dong Ha, for the Naval War College Review about 1990. We always seemed to hit it off, maybe because we both were boxers at Yale, albeit 18 years apart. His superb reputation preceded him in the Corps, and will last long after his passing."
"Godrest the soul of a great Marine. An inspiration to generations of Marines"
"I knew Tony first and best after World War II when we were both at Quantico and living in bachelor quarters in Harry Lee Hall. Each night before dinner in the mess we would gather in the bar. Tony would dominate the conversation with his stentorian voice and vivid sea stories. He left no doubt as to why his nom de guerre was "Cold Steel.""
"Mrs. Walker I was saddened to hear about the passing of "The Colonel". I'm a waitress at the Glass Onion Restaurant and used to enjoy waiting on the both of you. May your faith comfort you."
"To Bill and Dan and Andy, I remember The Colonel well. In my eyes he was a great man, a friend of my dad and always a figure that stands out in the crowd. You shouldbe proud of him as he was of you."
"Dear Judy, Dut to a commitment to school children tomorrow I will not be at Tony's funeral. However, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. It has been a tough road for Tony and you, but I know your faith reassures you about the happiness that awaits Tony along with an end to his ordeal. I will be in touch with you soon. Fondly, Brbara Strasser"
"I HAVE ONLY KNOWN COL. WALKER FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, HE WAS A RESIDENT AT FOREST FARM HEALTH CARE CENTER WERE I AM EMPLOYED AS A FLOOR MAINTENANCE MAN. I ENJOYED HIS MORNING GREETING OF " HOW YOU DOING SOLDIER". BEING A RETIRED SEABEE I ALWAYS ENJOYED TALKING TO THE COL. WHEN EVER I GOT A CHANCE. HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO LET ME BORROW THE BOOKS THAT HE HAD WRITTEN WHICH I ENJOYED VERY MUCH. HE HAD MY DEEPEST RESPECT AND OUT OF MILITARY COURTESY IF HE EVER NEEDED ANYTHING I WOULD DO MY BEST TO GET IT FOR HIM . MY SINCERE SIMPERTY TO HIS WIFE AND SONS FOR THERE GREAT LOSS. I KNOW THE COL. IS WITH THE ALMIGHTY COMMANDER AN CHIEF IN THE HEAVEN'S ABOVE. "SEMPER FI" COL. RON"