At the age of 27, Walker commanded an M4 Sherman tank in November 1944 during a fierce battle against German forces near Hücheln, Germany. Tragically, his tank was struck by an anti-tank round, resulting in his untimely death. While the other crew members managed to survive the attack, they were unable to retrieve Walker's body from the tank due to the intense fighting. In April 1945, the War Department issued a presumptive finding of death for Walker.
The breakthrough in identifying Walker's remains came when a DPAA historian discovered a set of unidentified remains recovered from a burned-out tank in Hücheln in December 1944. After exhuming these remains from the Henri-Chapelle U.S. Military Cemetery in Hombourg, Belgium, in August 2021, they were sent to the DPAA laboratory for analysis. Through anthropological analysis, circumstantial evidence, and an examination of mitochondrial DNA, Walker's remains were positively identified.
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In early 2024, Walker will be laid to rest in San Diego, California. Currently, his name is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery in Margarten, Netherlands. To signify that he has been accounted for, a rosette will be placed next to his name.
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The identification of Walker's remains brings closure to his family and honors his sacrifice. It serves as a reminder of the dedication and bravery displayed by soldiers during World War II, and the ongoing efforts to bring closure to families of the fallen.
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