Jerry Doyle Walker entered the armed forces on October 18, 1962 from Jackson, Mississippi. He then received military education, including training in light/heavy truck driving, personal carrier driving, rifle shooting, CBR training, Geneva Convention training, and military justice training. After training, he served on the U.S. National Guard from January 15, 1962, to December 8, 1962. A four year gap then ensued, where no records depict Walker's whereabouts. He then joined the Vietnam War service on August 9, 1966 at the age of twenty-two. His service number was 428860299.
Upon entering the Vietnam War Service, Walker served as a driver for his first month in office at the end of 1966. He was a rifleman for much of the remaining winter and spring of 1967, when he transitioned to a lieutenant truck driver in May '67. He remained in this position for a year to the date, where he was promoted to heavy truck driver. Six months later in December '68, he was demoted back to Lieutenant Vehicle Driver, a job he maintained until he died of a vehicular accident while transporting medium truck cargo for the 572nd Transportation Company on December 3, 1970 in the Vietnamese city of Phuoc Toy (located in Vietnam Conflict Military Zone 3). The vehicle accident was not booby-trapped.
Walker earned numerous commendations and awards during his time in Vietnam as a member of both the 572nd Transportation Company and the 1st Logistic Command, including the :
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal, with one silver service star
Vietnam Campaign Medal, with 60 device
Marksman Badge, with one auto rifle bar
Army Commendation Medal
three overseas service bars.
Walker's body was recovered and returned to Louisville, MS, where it is buried in Memorial Park near Legion State Park. His row and panel indicator on the Vietnam Wall is 06W 105.
Walker drove a vehicle that likely looked something like this.
Walker's National Defense Service Medal likely looked like this.