By It wasn’t the most spectacular way to have died in battle, but former 8th US Army commander during the Korean War General Walton Walker’s place of death has been memorialized:
The 59th memorial ceremony for former 8th U.S. Army Commander Gen. Walton H. Walker took place in Seoul Dec. 3 to pay tribute to his sacrifice and courage during the Korean War.
The ceremony was held in the middle of the street near Dobong Subway Station, the site where Walker was killed in a jeep accident in 1950.
Many Korean War veterans and U.S. and Republic of Korea Soldiers attended the ceremony, including veterans who fought together with Walker. They mourned the general during the ceremony, recalling the Korean War 58 years ago when they were fighting at the last line of defense at the Naktong River. [USFK]
As morbid as they may seem General Walker’s death ended up being a good thing because he was replaced by General Matthew Ridgeway who completely changed the course of the Korean War by going on the offense against the Chinese who had entered the war and pushing them back to the present day DMZ location. However, General Walker will always be known for his dogged defense of the Pusan Perimeter during the early stages of the Korean War they saved the country from being completely taken over by the North Koreans.
1:07 pm on December 16th, 2009 1
I think his memorial would be better placed near the Naktong river, or at least in Busan. Near a subway entrance/exit in Seoul? Naw.
1:11 pm on December 16th, 2009 2
Can senior leaders EVER wear the beret correctly?
5:25 pm on December 16th, 2009 3
Why are the Koreans in the photograph somber faced, while the Americans are smiling gleefully?
7:03 pm on December 16th, 2009 4
I read Old Iron Tits had fake ones (they were dummies).
12:01 pm on December 17th, 2009 5
The Koreans are smiling.
12:56 pm on December 17th, 2009 6
I want mine on the entrance/exit of Itaewon. Or in front of the Olympia club, at Humphreys.
Seriously, an entrance/exit is a great place. They have to see it. Like it or not.
12:57 pm on December 17th, 2009 7
Who is Old Iron Tits?
3:59 am on December 18th, 2009 8
Look it up. I hear there's this cool new invention called the internet.
10:51 am on December 18th, 2009 9
Old Iron Tits was not Walker you jagoff!
10:52 am on December 18th, 2009 10
The name is spelled Ridgway NOT Ridgeway. This a common mistake. He was called "old Iron Tits" because he wore a harness with a grenade on one side and on the other side a first aid packet. He did not wear two grenades as many state. General Walker, during WW II, commanded the XX Corps in Europe. Both fine officers.
4:08 pm on December 20th, 2009 11
I never said he was.
"As morbid as they may seem General Walker’s death ended up being a good thing because he was replaced by General Matthew Ridgeway who completely changed the course of the Korean War…"
11:17 pm on December 20th, 2009 12
Yes, you’re right about the one on his left chest being a first aid kit.
As for Korean War officers go, I have a lot of respect for “Lieutenant Colonel” Monclar.
http://rokdrop.com/2006/12/21/heroes-of-the-korean-war-ltc-ralph-monclar/
Unlike most other officers, he marched to battle with his men.
12:14 pm on December 21st, 2009 13
"Unlike most officers"? I have a lot of respect for 'most' combat officers. 'Most' do lead their men well, and do what is expected of them in battle. "Some" do not, and recieve credit for making the others look bad.
12:20 pm on December 21st, 2009 14
“When things go wrong in your command, start searching for the reason in increasingly larger concentric circles
around your own desk.”
––GEN Bruce Clarke