“The Greatest Generation”
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Posted by: PA1 Lauren Jorgensen
Tom Brokaw described them as “The Greatest Generation”—the American men and women who endured the Great Depression, then went on to support World War II efforts through military or civilian service. These men and women not only characterized a generation, but also defined a nation.
As time passes, first-hand accounts of service and sacrifice during this heralded generation become as rare as they are vital.
DETROIT - David Walker frequently visits Sector Detroit and celebrated his 93rd birthday there Nov. 1, 2011. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Ezra Graham)
Coast Guardsmen at Sector Detroit have an increasingly-unique opportunity to swap stories with David Walker, a Coast Guard veteran and living example of “The Greatest Generation,” on a fairly regular basis.
The decorated World War II vet served a combined total of 15 years in the Naval Reserve and on active duty in the Coast Guard, with almost five years afloat.
During World War II, Walker served aboard the USS Hunter Liggett where he met Signalman 1st Class Douglas Munro, who would later become the Coast Guard’s only Medal of Honor recipient.
Walker was a watch supervisor in the communications department aboard the ship and was responsible for all inbound and outbound radio, light, and semaphore signaling. On March 1, 1943, he was part of a landing party on Guadalcanal and spent 30 days on the island as a unit radioman. While there he saw heavy combat and multiple airstrikes. Keeping survivors calm as they traveled home from island battles kept Walker moving forward during the war, he said.
More than 68 years later, Walker remains close to the Coast Guard. He frequently visits Sector Detroit and had an especially momentous day there Nov. 1, 2011, when he celebrated his 93rd birthday alongside his friends and shipmates.
Sector Detroit is incredibly lucky to have a true Coast Guard hero amongst the crew to honor, learn from and share memories with, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Charles Walsh, III, of Sector Detroit.
Leave a Comment
We welcome your comments on postings at all Coast Guard sites/journals. These are sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard to provide a forum to talk about our work providing maritime safety, security and stewardship for the American people to secure the homeland, save lives and property, protect the environment, and promote economic prosperity.
The information provided is for public information only and is not a distress communication channel. People in an emergency and in need of Coast Guard assistance should use VHF-FM Channel 16 (156.8 MHz), dial 911, or call their nearest Coast Guard unit.
All comments submitted are moderated. The Coast Guard retains the discretion to determine which comments it will post and which it will not. We expect all contributors to be respectful. We will not post comments that contain personal attacks of any kind; refer to Coast Guard or other employees by name; contain offensive terms that target specific ethnic or racial groups, or contain vulgar language. We will also not post comments that are spam, are clearly off topic, or that promote services or products.
The U.S. Coast Guard disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from any comments posted on this page. This forum may not be used for the submission of any claim, demand, informal or formal complaint, or any other form of legal and/or administrative notice or process, or for the exhaustion of any legal and/or administrative remedy.
If you have specific questions regarding a U.S. Coast Guard program that involves details you do not wish to share publicly please contact the program point of contact listed at http://www.uscg.mil/global/mail/
The U.S. Coast Guard will not collect or retain Personally Identifiable Information unless you voluntarily provide it to us. To view the U.S. Coast Guards Privacy Policy, please visit: http://www.uscg.mil/global/disclaim.asp
Please note: Anonymous comments have been disabled for this journal. It is preferred that you use your real name when posting a comment. WE WILL POST THE NAME YOU ENTER WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT. Also, you are welcome to use Open ID or other user technologies that may be available.
