US Army General, Political Activist. A 1931 West Point graduate, he saw combat in World War II and Korea. In 1961, while commanding the 24th Division in West Germany, Walker resigned over charges of politically indoctrinating his soldiers and distributing John Birch Society literature. Though in 1957 he had commanded troops that enforced Little Rock's school desegregation, in 1962 he led protests against African-American James Meredith's enrollment at the University of Mississippi. After a riot caused two deaths and the shooting of six marshals, Walker was arrested for insurrection, but not indicted. On April 10, 1963 Walker was in his Dallas home when Lee Harvey Oswald fired a rifle at him, but Walker survived with minor wounds because the bullet was deflected by a window frame. Oswald escaped undetected, and his role in the assassination attempt was unknown until after his arrest for killing President Kennedy. In the late 1960s, Walker filed libel suits against media outlets that were critical of him. One counter suit reached the US Supreme Court, which ruled that as a public figure, he had not been defamed unless he could prove malice. In the 1970s, Walker was twice arrested for public lewdness. In 1980, the Army restored the pension he had given up by resigning rather than retiring. He died of cancer after years of battling lung disease.
US Army General, Political Activist. A 1931 West Point graduate, he saw combat in World War II and Korea. In 1961, while commanding the 24th Division in West Germany, Walker resigned over charges of politically indoctrinating his soldiers and distributing John Birch Society literature. Though in 1957 he had commanded troops that enforced Little Rock's school desegregation, in 1962 he led protests against African-American James Meredith's enrollment at the University of Mississippi. After a riot caused two deaths and the shooting of six marshals, Walker was arrested for insurrection, but not indicted. On April 10, 1963 Walker was in his Dallas home when Lee Harvey Oswald fired a rifle at him, but Walker survived with minor wounds because the bullet was deflected by a window frame. Oswald escaped undetected, and his role in the assassination attempt was unknown until after his arrest for killing President Kennedy. In the late 1960s, Walker filed libel suits against media outlets that were critical of him. One counter suit reached the US Supreme Court, which ruled that as a public figure, he had not been defamed unless he could prove malice. In the 1970s, Walker was twice arrested for public lewdness. In 1980, the Army restored the pension he had given up by resigning rather than retiring. He died of cancer after years of battling lung disease.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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