This Remembrance was originally based upon and credited to research performed by USMF member "KASTAUFFER" (user name) which may be seen at this link: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=114853&hl=
Quitman Charles Walker was the eldest of five siblings born June 21, 1919 in Tillman, Mississippi to Mr. Arthur R. Walker and Mrs. Ida Burns Walker.
He attended the public schools of Indianola, Mississippi. His senior year of high school was spent at the Cohoma County Training School near Clarksdale. He graduated in 1937.
Quitman continued his education at Alcorn A & M College (now Alcorn State University), and in 1941 received a B. S. degree in Science. After graduation he went to Los Angeles, California seeking employment. Shortly after his arrival he enlisted in the Regular Army and was sent to Tuskegee, Alabama for flight training.
On January 25, 1943, Lt. Walker graduated from pilot training and was commissioned as an officer in the Army Air Corps. After additional flight training and a transfer to Selfridge Army Air Field in Michigan, Lt. Walker was posted overseas. Arriving by ship at Naples, Italy. He was assigned to the 99th. Fighter Squadron, 332nd. Fighter Group.
Tuskegee Airmen-Class 43A (left to right): Clinton Mills, Quitman Walker, Andrew Maples, Chas. Stanton, George McCrumby, and Armour McDaniel
For 22 months, Lt. Walker flew a P-51D Mustang. He named his personal aircraft, "The Coordinator". On November 19, 1944, Lt. Walker and Lt. Robert Gaither were returning from a strafing mission over Hungary. Lt. Gaither's plane was hit by enemy fire, he bailed out and was able to evade the Nazis for four days before being captured. Lt. Walker, however, was never heard from again and was reported "Missing in Action". June 29, 1949, the War Department changed the status to "Killed in Action". While in service to his country, Lt. Walker was awarded The Purple Heart, The Distinguished Flying Cross, and The Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters.
In February of 1995 a hangar, "The Walker Center", was named in his honor at Columbus Air Force Base (Mississippi).
On May 9, 2003, during a ceremony held in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Lt. Walker was awarded the university's second highest honor- posthumous induction in Alcorn University's Hall of Fame.
Concurrently in May 2003, the U. S. Army posthumously issued three additional awards due Lt. Walker...The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal With 1 Bronze Service Star, The World War II Victory Medal, and The Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII. They were sent to his eldest sibling in California.
In November 2003, the U.S. Army authorized and issued posthumously in Lt. Quitman C. Walker's honor The American Campaign Medal, including reissuing The Purple Heart w/Bar and Ribbon.
--found at http://www.artsonwheels.com/quitman_c_walker.htm
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