1st Lt. Jackie Carroll Walker was born on September 9th, 1947, in Corryton, Tennessee. Lt. Walker spent his childhood in East Knox County and attended high school at Holston High School. Lt. Walker graduated in 1966 and went on to attend The University of Tennessee – Knoxville where he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. With the Vietnam War in full swing, Lt. Walker left The University of Tennessee and enlisted in the Army Reserves. Lt. Walker graduated from Basic Combat Training, at Fort Cambell, on March 17th, 1967, and Officer Candidate School on January 15th, 1968. He attended Defense Language Institute, at Fort Bliss, where he completed twelve weeks of language training in Vietnamese, graduating on December 19th, 1968. From there he was assigned to the Military Assistance Command – Vietnam and deployed to South Vietnam on January 13, 1969. Lt. Walker was assigned to MAC-V Advisory Team 87, located in Xuan Loc. Lt. Walker served as the Assistant Battalion Advisor for the 4th Battalion, 52nd, Regiment and later as the Assistant Battalion Advisor for the 48th Regiment, 18th, Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). During his time in Vietnam, Lt. Walker was involved in several confrontations with the enemy. On one such occasion, Lt. Walker was awarded the South Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, the highest South Vietnamese award for valor given to U.S. troops. The citation reads as follows:
“This is worthy of special recognition during operation 22C/52 on 28 May 1969 when the 4/52d Infantry Regiment made savage contact with the enemy at YT 537006, southeast of Xuan Loc, Long Khanh Province. The numerically superior enemy launched vicious assaults against the battalion’s perimeter. 1LT Walker, cooly and side by side with ARVN soldiers, maneuvered the units counterattack. Additionally, subject officer guided in effective Allied air and artillery support which repulsed the enemy assaults, inflicting heavy casualties on them and forced them to withdraw. Results: 23 enemy soldiers KIA, 1 82 mm, 2 60mm mortars, 8 BARs, 2 B-41’s, 1 B-40, 7 AK’s, 9 Thompson submachineguns, and 20 CKC’s were captured.”
On November 9th, 1969, Lt. Walker was wounded, in an ambush, by B-40 rockets and small-arms fire, reportedly suffering severe wounds to the left side of his body. Lt. Walker was hospitalized in Vietnam before he was evacuated to Japan, where he succumbed to his wounds. Lt. Walker was admired by the soldiers he led, as well as his fellow U.S. troops. Lt. Walker received 3 Bronze Star Medals, 1 with “V” device; Purple Heart; 2 Army Commendation Medals, 1 with “V” device; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Silver Star; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Lt. Walker is buried in Oak Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. (Thanks to his nephew-in-law, Tyler Ballard, for this information!)
Jackie Carroll Walker died of wounds. He was the son of Jack Walker and Lavern Harmon.
He entered via Reserve Military and served during the Vietnam War. Start of tour or enlistment date was January 13, 1969. Walker had the rank of First Lieutenant. Occupation or specialty was Infantry Unit Commander. Service number was 415780626. Served with Macv, Adv Tm 87.
Jackie Carroll Walker was my brother-in-law. My sister, Nancy Sheets, was his wife at the time of his death. We are currently working on the dedication of a memorial bridge.
I would be honored to sponsor his memorial.
-Submitted by Kathy Donaldson Sullivan
Picture from the Holston High School in Knoxville, yearbook 1965
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 9 September 1947
- Date of death: 20 November 1969
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Corryton
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: Advisory Team 87
- Conflict: Vietnam
- Awards: 3 Bronze Star Medals, 1 with “V” device; Purple Heart; 2 Army Commendation Medals, 1 with “V” device; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Silver Star; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and Combat Infantryman’s Badge
- Burial/Memorial Location: Oak Ridge Memorial Park, Oak Ridge, Anderson County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XXIII, Middle Panel
- Sponsored by: Kathy Donaldson Sullivan
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