Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Sergeant, United States Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. He was born one of eight children (he also had three brothers and four sisters) to George P. Singleton and his wife Lucy Elizabeth Kirk Singleton in Memphis, Tennessee, on December 7, 1944. His father had served as a Private in the United States Army and had been a Prisoner of War in Germany during World War II. He was educated locally and attended Nicholas Blackwell High School (or Bartlett High School) in Bartlett, Tennessee, where he graduated from in June of 1963. While growing up and attending school he enjoyed track and field, hunting, and fishing, especially with his father who was a member of the Future Farmers of America (or FFA). Following his education, he enlisted in the military with his brother Bobby Jo at the United States Marine Corps Reserve in Memphis, Tennessee, on August 1, 1963. Following his enlistment, he was quickly ordered to report to the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, for his basic training which he completed with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion in February of 1964. He was then promoted to the rank of Private First Class (or PFC) on March 1, 1964. He was eventually transferred to the United States Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and he was assigned as an ammo-carrier with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, until November of 1965. He was promoted twice while stationed at the United States Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, first as a Lance Corporal on October 1, 1964, and then to full Corporal on August 1, 1965. Following his leave from the United State Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, he returned to the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, and while there served as an instructor with the Weapons Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, with the duties of training marksmanship to midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. For these duties, he was given a letter of appreciation and a trophy for qualifying 100 percent of the officers-to-be. He then served in Okinawa, Japan, with his brother Bobby Jo and it was here that both men were promoted from the rank of Corporal to Sergeant on September 1, 1966. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and then was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as a Supply Sergeant on November 13, 1966. A month later on December 11, 1966, he was with his unit when they arrived from Okinawa, Japan, to South Vietnam. His brother Bobby Jo was unfortunately not allowed to join him due to the under service regulations that says only one brother was allowed to go to Vietnam. On March 24, 1967, the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines began Operation Prairie III in the Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam. His Company A came under intense enemy fire at the village of Phu An, Vietnam. He became mortally wounded while advancing from his relatively safe position in the rear to help his company's lead platoon's medical corpsmen evacuate numerous wounded men away from the enemy kill zone. He bravely managed to make a single-handed assault with a machine gun on the enemy's position and destroy it, killing eight and driving the remainder away. He was then killed by enemy fire while a Machine Gunner in the Military Region 1. He was just 22 years old. For his bravery and service to his country of the United States, he was awarded the Medal of Honor (or CMOH). His Medal of Honor was awarded to him posthumously by President Lyndon B. Johnson for service at Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, on March 24, 1967. His Medal of Honor citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Singleton's company was conducting combat operations when the lead platoon received intense small arms, automatic weapons, rocket, and mortar fire from a well entrenched enemy force. As the company fought its way forward, the extremely heavy enemy fire caused numerous friendly casualties. Sensing the need for early treatment of the wounded, Sgt. Singleton quickly moved from his relatively safe position in the rear of the foremost point of the advance and made numerous trips through the enemy killing zone to move the injured men out of the danger area. Noting that a large part of the enemy fire was coming from a hedgerow, he seized a machine gun and assaulted the key enemy location, delivering devastating fire as he advanced. He forced his way through the hedgerow directly into the enemy strong point. Although he was mortally wounded, his fearless attack killed 8 of the enemy and drove the remainder from the hedgerow. Sgt. Singleton's bold actions completely disorganized the enemy defense and saved the lives of many of his comrades. His daring initiative selfless devotion to duty and indomitable fighting spirit reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and his performance upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. His body was eventually recovered from Vietnam and he was returned to the United States for a full military funeral and burial. He was buried in Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Bartlett, Tennessee. He is also remembered at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., with his name on Panel 17E, Line 39. His Medal of Honor was presented to his parents posthumously on September 4, 1968, by Secretary of the Navy Paul Robert Ignatius during ceremonies at the Capital's Marine Corps Barracks, in Washington, D.C. His parents both passed away in 2000 and 2005 and they buried near their son. Besides, the Medal of Honor he was also awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross) w/ Palm and Frame, Purple Heart Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Military Merit Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions) w/ Palm and Frame, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/1960-device. His other honors include having several places named for him including the Sgt. Walter K. Singleton Park on Castleman Street in Memphis, Tennessee, the Sgt. Walter K. Singleton Tennessee Commission Historical Marker at the Singleton Community Center in Bartlett, Tennessee, the Sgt. Walter Singleton Display at Bartlett High School in Bartlett, Tennessee, the Sgt. Walter K. Singleton Marine Corps League Detachment 476 in Memphis, Tennessee, the Walter K. Singleton Gate at Naval Support Activity Mid-South (formerly Naval Air Station Memphis) in Millington, Tennessee, Singleton Avenue at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, in Yuma, Arizona, the Sgt. Walter K. Singleton Parkway which runs from Memphis, Tennessee, to the Naval Support Activity Mid-South (formerly Naval Air Station Memphis) in Millington, Tennessee. A historical marker has been erected at the southern terminus of Singleton Parkway at Austin Peay Highway, and Singleton Hall, the women's Marine barracks (Building 2003) on the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia.