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<em>Ralph Bamford Walker II</em> was born in Nacogdoches, TX, the eldest of three children, to COL and Mrs. Paul K. Walker, an active duty Air Force family. Through his early years, Ralph experienced the rigors of military relocations, a lack of roots, and teenage uncertainties about his life’s ambition. That all changed in 1953 when he started high school in Arlington and Fairfax, VA. It was during 1956-58, that the Bullis School encouraged Ralph's formulation of his life’s plan.</p>
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Bullis, a renowned secondary school in Potomac, MD, offered an educational program of excellence in a community that valued integrity, respect, responsibility, diversity, and service, and helped Ralph Bamford Walker II become “Tex” Walker. With the adoption of his informal name, his Texas swagger, and active participation in school activities, Tex set his sights on becoming a “hot-rodder”— or Air Force officer. The die now was cast. Ralph’s future calling involved a momentary detour through the “Fish Year” at Texas A&M that facilitated his meeting Linda Paige Alderman, with whom he would begin a lifelong relationship. He entered West Point in 1959 with the Class of ’63.</p>
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Right from the beginning, in July 1959, it became evident that four adjectives would characterize Tex Walker—the cadet, the soldier, and the man—fearless, tenacious, caring, and unashamedly gung-ho. Long before the advertising industry’s adoption of the “No Fear” marketing symbolism, Tex Walker lived its reality. Only 5' 8" tall and less than 150 pounds, he willingly faced challenges that most mortals hastened to avoid. In one memorable incident, Tex confronted an oversized villain who had insulted his date after an Army football game. Squaring off against the social adversary, Tex restored dignity to the situation, but not without sustaining a few bumps, scratches, and bruises, which he sought, unsuccessfully, to mask during the return trip formation and Tactical Officer inspection. In less dramatic encounters with the Academic and Tactical Department titans, his two bathrobe stars and the stacks of “Two Dash Ones” bore further testimony to his fearlessness and unwavering tenacity to succeed against top-heavy odds. Comfortable and interactive in tactical field exercises, and armed with the acquired Texas A&M spit and polish routines, Tex would, nevertheless, lose an occasional morning inspection challenge. Through it all, Tex openly shared his humor, actively participated in Catholic Chapel activities, strummed his guitar in evening harmony sessions with other Spanish Club enthusiasts, undertook topographical projects within the historic Ft. Putnam ruins, and participated in weekend typing classes somewhere in the vicinity of Flirtation Walk. Despite the quandary facing others throughout the four-year USMA experience, Tex Walker had a very clear vision of how things should unfold for him, and his choices were clear—he would marry Linda and branch Infantry—the rest were mere details. With spring 1963 came Tex’s Infantry selection, the final Tactical and Academic Department encounters, graduation, and the exchange of marriage vows with Linda in the West Point Catholic Chapel. 2LT Ralph B. Walker II had proven his mettle and left West Point for the further challenges of the Basic Course and Airborne School at Ft. Benning, en route to the “real” Army experiences of USAREUR.</p>
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The vast array of duties in the 2d Battalion, 15th Infantry, USAREUR, were but a transition and respite. LT Walker had determined the greater need for his professional talents existed within the combat environs of Viet Nam, a determination that led him to volunteer and, ultimately, serve with the 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry, a 3rd Brigade element of the 25th Infantry Division. Arriving in the Republic of Viet Nam in July 1966, Tex Walker quickly climbed the performance ladder, earning command of B Company, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry. That was the unit he led on the early morning of 29 May 1967. While serving as an operational element of Task Force Oregon, a portion of CPT Walker’s company engaged enemy forces in the battle of Tan Phong Hamlet, in the Duc Pho District, Quang Ngai Province. Though other details are slowly emerging in published historical accounts, the words accompanying the posthumously awarded Silver Star Medal are most illustrative of Tex Walker, the soldier and the man: “CPT Walker distinguished himself by valorous actions near Duc Pho. Early in the morning, the company command group was attacked by heavy enemy mortar and automatic weapon fire. CPT Walker was seriously wounded in the first few moments of the battle. By valiant exertion, he was able to reach his radios and alert the remainder of his company and the battalion command post. Though incapacitated by his wounds, CPT Walker guided the remaining platoons to his location, relayed the tactical situation to the battalion commander, and directed the defense of his perimeter. As the battle raged and the enemy closed within feet, CPT Walker’s calm instructions and outstanding leadership inspired his men to regain the initiative and defeat the numerically superior enemy force. With complete disregard for his own safety, he remained in an exposed position, directing the evacuation of the wounded and coordinating the re-supply of his company, and he succumbed to his wounds.”</p>
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On 8 Jun 1967, CPT Ralph B. Walker II, survived by his wife and soul mate, Linda; sister Maggie; brother Buddy; father, Paul K. Walker; and mother, Peggy Walker, returned to the West Point Catholic Chapel with his wife and both his parents for interment within the hallowed ground of the West Point Cemetery. For his classmates and friends who remained actively engaged in Viet Nam hostilities, unable to bid “Tex” the final farewell, and saddened by his untimely departure, we are nevertheless buoyed by the legacy he left us in his daughters— Christine Polli and Mary Kutz, and his six grandchildren— Sarah, Lauren, J. Ryan, Eric, Samuel, and Jesse.</p>
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“And when our work is done, our course on earth is run, may it be said ‘Well done’ [Tex]. Be thou at peace.” Linda Walker, a classmate, Christine Polli, Mary Kutz, and Gamma Dos ’63</p>