Van R. Walker - Private to Private First Class.

Served with distinction in the Hq1 81mm Mortar Platoon from September 1943 to January 15, 1945 when he was evacuated.  

Van Walker was a courageous soldier, everlastingly friendly, exceedingly good-humored, and always willing to carry more than his share of the workload.  

Van’s habitual coolness under fire and overall industrious attitude clearly identifies him as a distinguished member of the “Greatest of the Greatest Generation.”  

Van R. Walker says.

“I entered the service from Hattiesburg, MS in July 1940. After basic training and several uninteresting assignments, I volunteered for parachutist training.  Upon qualifying as a parachutist, I was assigned to the 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment (508^th PIR) at Camp Mackall, NC.  I spent the remainder of my Army career in the regiment – albeit an ‘olio’ career.

Initially, I was assigned to Service Company,  508^th PIR. In September 1943, I was transferred to Hq1, and we moved to Tennessee for the Second Amy maneuvers.

After countless days of maneuvering in rain and Tennessee mud, the weather cleared, and the regiment moved to an airfield near Tullahoma, TN and prepared for a practice combat jump.

The 508^th PIR dropped the night of October 5, 1943 near Gallatin, TN.

As planned, the regiment in C-47s approached the drop area in three serials. However, the ‘green light’ was turned on prematurely.  At that moment, not all of the planes in the serial had ‘closed up.’  Therefore, the battalion was dropped over an area miles from the drop zone.

After we located our equipment bundles and stray jumpers, the Battalion joined the regiment and established a defensive position.

Hq1 sustained several casualties (mostly broken bones) but the word came down that the high command was pleased with the performance. 

After several days of maneuvers, the 508^th PIR returned to Camp Mackall and began preparing to go overseas.

The 508^th PIR left New York, December 28, 1943, aboard the James Par-ker and eleven days later landed in Belfast, Ireland.  After a few weeks of