Sam S. Walker
Encyclopedia
Sam Sims Walker United States Army
, is a retired General
who served as the Commanding General of Allied Land Forces, South East Europe (COMLANDSOUTHEAST) from 1977 to 1978.
, and is the son of General Walton Walker
, himself a four star general; they are one of only two pairs of fathers and sons to achieve the rank of four-star general in U.S. Army history. He enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute
in 1941, but transferred to the United States Military Academy
the next year. Upon graduation from West Point in 1946, he was commissioned into the infantry, and his initial assignment was with the 11th Airborne Division on occupation duty in Japan. He served in the Korean War, during which, as a company commander in the 24th Infantry Division, he earned a Silver Star
. Also during his time in Korea, his father, then commanding the Eighth Army, was killed in a vehicle accident, and Walker escorted his body back the U.S. Returning to the United States at the end of his combat tour in 1951, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Infantry School as an instructor.
After graduating in 1957 from the Command and General Staff College
, Walker served in a variety of assignments, to include aide-de-camp to the Chief of Staff of the Army, tactical officer at his alma mater, and Secretary of the General Staff of the United Nations Command/US Forces, Korea. He was a Distinguished Graduate from the National War College
in 1963, and then assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment
. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam, serving as G-3, 1st Infantry Division, and took command of a brigade as a lieutenant colonel, earning a second Silver Star.
After Vietnam, Walker attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard, followed by an assignment in the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
as Chief of Force Readiness, Force Planning, and Analysis. After that position he was chosen to represent the Army on the Council of Foreign Relations.
He received his first star in 1968, and became the Assistant Division Commander, 82nd Airborne Division, before being selected as the 54th Commandant of Cadets at West Point in 1969. Promoted to Major General, he took command of the 3rd Infantry Division, followed by selection as the U.S. Commander in Berlin.
As a Lieutenant General
, Walker served as the Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command
at Fort McPherson
, Georgia from 1975 to 1977. In 1977 he selected for promotion to General
, at the time the youngest four-star general in the army, and appointed to his final position as Commanding General, Allied Land Forces Southeast, headquartered in Turkey. His time in Turkey
was a tumultuous one, coinciding with the U.S. arms embargo against Turkey for deploying troops to Cyprus
in 1974. At the end of this assignment he was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
and the Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service
. The Army was either unable or unwilling to place him in another four star slot, so facing non-punitive demotion to three star rank, he opted to retire from the army in 1978.
Unit awards
Foreign awards
Badges
in Lexington, Virginia
, which he served as from 1981 to 1988. He has also served as a board member of the Advisory Council of the U.S.-Korea Foundation, the Council on U.S.-Korea Security Studies, the National D-Day Museum, and American Friends of Turkey. He received the 2005 Distinguished Graduate Award from the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, is a retired General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
who served as the Commanding General of Allied Land Forces, South East Europe (COMLANDSOUTHEAST) from 1977 to 1978.
Military career
Walker was born at West Point, New YorkWest Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, and is the son of General Walton Walker
Walton Walker
Walton Harris Walker was an American army officer and the first commander of the U.S. Eighth Army during the Korean War.-Biography:...
, himself a four star general; they are one of only two pairs of fathers and sons to achieve the rank of four-star general in U.S. Army history. He enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
in 1941, but transferred to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
the next year. Upon graduation from West Point in 1946, he was commissioned into the infantry, and his initial assignment was with the 11th Airborne Division on occupation duty in Japan. He served in the Korean War, during which, as a company commander in the 24th Infantry Division, he earned a Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
. Also during his time in Korea, his father, then commanding the Eighth Army, was killed in a vehicle accident, and Walker escorted his body back the U.S. Returning to the United States at the end of his combat tour in 1951, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Infantry School as an instructor.
After graduating in 1957 from the Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
, Walker served in a variety of assignments, to include aide-de-camp to the Chief of Staff of the Army, tactical officer at his alma mater, and Secretary of the General Staff of the United Nations Command/US Forces, Korea. He was a Distinguished Graduate from the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in 1963, and then assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 1st Battalion 30th Infantry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army, notable for service in both World War II and most recently during Operation Iraqi Freedom.-History:...
. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam, serving as G-3, 1st Infantry Division, and took command of a brigade as a lieutenant colonel, earning a second Silver Star.
After Vietnam, Walker attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard, followed by an assignment in the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army is the principal advisor and assistant to the Army Chief of Staff, the second-highest ranking officer in the US Army. He handles the day to day administration of the Army bureaucracy, freeing the Chief of Staff to attend to the interservice...
as Chief of Force Readiness, Force Planning, and Analysis. After that position he was chosen to represent the Army on the Council of Foreign Relations.
He received his first star in 1968, and became the Assistant Division Commander, 82nd Airborne Division, before being selected as the 54th Commandant of Cadets at West Point in 1969. Promoted to Major General, he took command of the 3rd Infantry Division, followed by selection as the U.S. Commander in Berlin.
As a Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
, Walker served as the Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command
United States Army Forces Command
United States Army Forces Command is the largest Army Command and the preeminent provider of expeditionary, campaign-capable land forces to Combatant Commanders. Headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, FORSCOM consists of more than 750,000 Active Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and Army National...
at Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson was a U.S. Army military base located in East Point, Georgia, on the southwest edge of the City of Atlanta, Ga. It was the headquarters for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Southeast Region; the U.S. Army Forces Command; the U.S. Army Reserve Command; the U.S...
, Georgia from 1975 to 1977. In 1977 he selected for promotion to General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
, at the time the youngest four-star general in the army, and appointed to his final position as Commanding General, Allied Land Forces Southeast, headquartered in Turkey. His time in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
was a tumultuous one, coinciding with the U.S. arms embargo against Turkey for deploying troops to Cyprus
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...
in 1974. At the end of this assignment he was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
and the Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service
Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service
Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service was first created on July 27, 1967 and took its current form on July 29, 1983.-General:Five large and five small stars on dark blue background circling an insignia of a crescent moon and a star on red background, the symbol of the Turkish flag,...
. The Army was either unable or unwilling to place him in another four star slot, so facing non-punitive demotion to three star rank, he opted to retire from the army in 1978.
Awards and decorations
Individual awards
Army Commendation Medal
Unit awards
Presidential Unit Citation
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Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry
Civil Actions Medal>
Foreign awards
Gallantry Cross of Vietnam
Badges
Army Aviation Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Post military career
After retiring from the Army, Walker accepted the position of Superintendent of the Virginia Military InstituteVirginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
in Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
, which he served as from 1981 to 1988. He has also served as a board member of the Advisory Council of the U.S.-Korea Foundation, the Council on U.S.-Korea Security Studies, the National D-Day Museum, and American Friends of Turkey. He received the 2005 Distinguished Graduate Award from the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy.