Phantom Blooper
11-21-07, 07:50 PM
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class="Large Heading TopPadSmall" vAlign=bottom width="55%">Theodore Walker Sr</TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD class=TopPadSmall align=right width="44%"></TD></TR><TR><TD class="Notice TopPadSmall" colSpan=3><!-- Sgt. Maj. Theodore Walker, Sr.-->http://mi-cache.legacy.com/legacy/images/Cobrands/JDNews/Photos/11-22%20A2%20Ted%20Walker%20obit_20071119.jpgJACKSONV ILLE - Sgt. Maj. Theodore (Ted, Theo, TJ) Jennens Walker Sr., USMC (Retired), 78, died Nov. 18, 2007.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, at Jones Funeral Home in Jacksonville with the Rev. Tom Penny officiating. Burial will follow at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors.
The family will receive friends, Saturday between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m., and 6 and 9 p.m.; Sunday between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m., and 6 and 8 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home, Jacksonville.
Effective Nov. 18, 2007, Sgt. Maj. Walker reported to guard the heaven's gate the Marine Corps Way! He was born April 16, 1929, in Little Creek, Del., to Joel Sterling and Lola Marie (Young) Walker. He entered the Corps from Baltimore, Md., on July 16, 1946, and went to boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., and was trained as an infantryman.
He proudly served a total of 29 years, one month, and two days of active service to God, Country and Corps, and was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
During his illustrious career, Sgt. Maj. Walker had many experiences that shaped the professional Marine that he became. He served in Inchon, Korea, with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. During this tour of duty, he was awarded the Purple Heart from wounds received on Jan. 26, 1951, in the Wonju area, Korea. After recovering from his injuries, he returned to combat and again suffered wounds a second time at the Chosin Reservoir.
Sgt. Maj. Walker was assigned and served in a variety of locations and duties. Among them were Quantico, Va., Marine Barracks at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, served as a military policeman at Marine Barracks Annapolis, Md., where he met Mary, his bride of 55 years. He also served at HQBN 2nd Marine Division, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii as a 8mm Mortar Platoon Sgt., Marksmanship Instructor at Recruit Depot San Diego Calif. One of his most memorable assignments while assigned aboard the USS Kearsarge (CVS-33)in 1962 as the Detachment Gunny, was participating in the escort of astronauts upon recovery from splash down of Project Mercury Test MA-9. While assigned to the USS Kearsarge, Gunnery Sgt. Walker also received the "Blue Jacket Award".
After reporting to I&I Orlando, he was promoted to sergeant major, where he was instrumental in coordinating Toys for Tots each Christmas as well as "Operation Help" for victims of Hurricane Camille, when over 20,000 pounds of food were collected and distributed.
He participated in operations against communist insurgent forces in Danang, Operation Dewey Canyon II/Lam Son 719, and Operation Scott Orchard. His next assignment took him to MAG 31 at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., and then on to his final assignment with 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He was a battalion sergeant major until his reassignment as the regimental sergeant major in December 1972. As the regimental sergeant major he completed 1,000 miles with the 2nd Marine Division Jogging Program. He was placed on the retired list on Aug. 1, 1976.
Upon retirement Sgt. Maj. entered college to study police science to be a probation officer. He also worked as a security guard at Grant's Department store for a number of years. Afterward, he went to work at McDonald's, where he started as a crew person and progressed to district manager. It was his personal decision to start at the bottom and work his way up. He was with McDonald's for 11 years when he quit for more money to work at Burger King. Again he started as a crew person and worked his way to district manager for 16 stores. In his 18 years at Burger King he provided supervision and guidance for newly opening stores in the Virginia area. He finally retired again at age 63.
Another thing he and Mary started when he retired from the Marine Corps was elaborately decorating their yard at Christmas in celebration of the many Christmases he had missed from being deployed. For 30 years they were known for their myriad Christmas decorations in the yard. Most years they received newspaper and television coverage; it was that grand. Mary would bake cookies each day to give out to the many passersby. "The electric bill went up exponentially during December because of all the Christmas lights," states Mary.
He is preceded in death by his parents; one sister; three brothers; and one son. Sergeant Major and Mary Grace Walker have six children: Theodore Jennens Walker Jr., (deceased), Joel Sterling Walker, Robert Glenn Walker and wife Carol, Darryl Patrick Walker, Johana Marie Rummings and husband Wayne, and Jon Mario Walker. They also have 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
During his illustrious career, Sgt. Maj. Walker was awarded the Purple Heart with a Gold Star, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat "V", Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation with "3" bronze stars, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with a silver star and "2" bronze stars, China Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Medal with Asia Clasp, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Korean Service Medal with "3" bronze stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with "3" bronze stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with a Silver Star, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Sgt. Maj. was also a Rifle Expert (10th Award) and Pistol Expert (10th Award).
Sgt. Maj. Walker was also a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Fleet Reserve Association, Disabled American Veteran's and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
A reception will follow the funeral service at the DAV. Food will be accepted prior to services at the DAV.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Pentecostal FWB Church in Beulaville. :flag:
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A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, at Jones Funeral Home in Jacksonville with the Rev. Tom Penny officiating. Burial will follow at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors.
The family will receive friends, Saturday between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m., and 6 and 9 p.m.; Sunday between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m., and 6 and 8 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home, Jacksonville.
Effective Nov. 18, 2007, Sgt. Maj. Walker reported to guard the heaven's gate the Marine Corps Way! He was born April 16, 1929, in Little Creek, Del., to Joel Sterling and Lola Marie (Young) Walker. He entered the Corps from Baltimore, Md., on July 16, 1946, and went to boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., and was trained as an infantryman.
He proudly served a total of 29 years, one month, and two days of active service to God, Country and Corps, and was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
During his illustrious career, Sgt. Maj. Walker had many experiences that shaped the professional Marine that he became. He served in Inchon, Korea, with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. During this tour of duty, he was awarded the Purple Heart from wounds received on Jan. 26, 1951, in the Wonju area, Korea. After recovering from his injuries, he returned to combat and again suffered wounds a second time at the Chosin Reservoir.
Sgt. Maj. Walker was assigned and served in a variety of locations and duties. Among them were Quantico, Va., Marine Barracks at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, served as a military policeman at Marine Barracks Annapolis, Md., where he met Mary, his bride of 55 years. He also served at HQBN 2nd Marine Division, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii as a 8mm Mortar Platoon Sgt., Marksmanship Instructor at Recruit Depot San Diego Calif. One of his most memorable assignments while assigned aboard the USS Kearsarge (CVS-33)in 1962 as the Detachment Gunny, was participating in the escort of astronauts upon recovery from splash down of Project Mercury Test MA-9. While assigned to the USS Kearsarge, Gunnery Sgt. Walker also received the "Blue Jacket Award".
After reporting to I&I Orlando, he was promoted to sergeant major, where he was instrumental in coordinating Toys for Tots each Christmas as well as "Operation Help" for victims of Hurricane Camille, when over 20,000 pounds of food were collected and distributed.
He participated in operations against communist insurgent forces in Danang, Operation Dewey Canyon II/Lam Son 719, and Operation Scott Orchard. His next assignment took him to MAG 31 at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., and then on to his final assignment with 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He was a battalion sergeant major until his reassignment as the regimental sergeant major in December 1972. As the regimental sergeant major he completed 1,000 miles with the 2nd Marine Division Jogging Program. He was placed on the retired list on Aug. 1, 1976.
Upon retirement Sgt. Maj. entered college to study police science to be a probation officer. He also worked as a security guard at Grant's Department store for a number of years. Afterward, he went to work at McDonald's, where he started as a crew person and progressed to district manager. It was his personal decision to start at the bottom and work his way up. He was with McDonald's for 11 years when he quit for more money to work at Burger King. Again he started as a crew person and worked his way to district manager for 16 stores. In his 18 years at Burger King he provided supervision and guidance for newly opening stores in the Virginia area. He finally retired again at age 63.
Another thing he and Mary started when he retired from the Marine Corps was elaborately decorating their yard at Christmas in celebration of the many Christmases he had missed from being deployed. For 30 years they were known for their myriad Christmas decorations in the yard. Most years they received newspaper and television coverage; it was that grand. Mary would bake cookies each day to give out to the many passersby. "The electric bill went up exponentially during December because of all the Christmas lights," states Mary.
He is preceded in death by his parents; one sister; three brothers; and one son. Sergeant Major and Mary Grace Walker have six children: Theodore Jennens Walker Jr., (deceased), Joel Sterling Walker, Robert Glenn Walker and wife Carol, Darryl Patrick Walker, Johana Marie Rummings and husband Wayne, and Jon Mario Walker. They also have 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
During his illustrious career, Sgt. Maj. Walker was awarded the Purple Heart with a Gold Star, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat "V", Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation with "3" bronze stars, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with a silver star and "2" bronze stars, China Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Medal with Asia Clasp, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Korean Service Medal with "3" bronze stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with "3" bronze stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with a Silver Star, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Sgt. Maj. was also a Rifle Expert (10th Award) and Pistol Expert (10th Award).
Sgt. Maj. Walker was also a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Fleet Reserve Association, Disabled American Veteran's and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
A reception will follow the funeral service at the DAV. Food will be accepted prior to services at the DAV.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Pentecostal FWB Church in Beulaville. :flag:
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