Date: 1942 - 1949 HOME OF THE ORIGINAL MONTFORD POINT MARINESVol. No.1 www.montfordpointmarines.org

Press Release

Mr. Richard H. Walker September 5, 1928 – June 30, 2019

Montford Point Marine Richard H. Walker passed peacefully on 30 June 2019 in California with his wife Vicki H. Walker by his side.

Richard was born on 5 September 1928 in Macon, Georgia. He joined the Marine Corps in Bill County Georgia on 22 July 1946. His primary reason for joining was to serve his country and secondly to escape a system of discrimination that pervaded nearly every aspect of life.

Richard was among the first African American Marines who received their basic training at Montford Point, a segregated facility at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Approximately 20,000 African American Marines received basic training at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949.

Upon completion of basic training he was assigned the duties of an Ammunition Technician. During his first enlistment he served in the Fleet Marine Corps Asiatic Pacific area from 17 January 1946 to 9 July 1946. He was discharged on 26 July 1947 having earned an Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Richard would return to his home of Macon Georgia to find that regardless of having served your country, Jim Crow discrimination was still alive and well. He would reenlist on 24 June 1948 for 3 years, a month prior to President Harry S. Truman issuing Executive Order #9981 negating segregation in the armed services.

Richard’s service was with the 7th and 8th Ammunition Companies on occupied Guam during World War II, the Vietnam War, he was one of “The Chosen Few” during the Korean War, and served with 5th Marines during the Cuban blockade.

After 24 honorable years of service Mr. Walker retired on 30 July 1970 at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant as the Supply Chief at Headquarters Battalion, Marine

Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. His awards include the Regular Service Medals, WWII Victory Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal with 5 stars. Mr. Walker went on to work for Norfolk and Southern Railroad retiring after 21 years.

Richard attended the Montford Point Marine Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony on 27 June 2012 in the U. S. Capitol Rotunda and on 28 June 2012 he received his Congressional Gold Medal with over 300 Montford Point

Marines during the U. S. Marine Corps, Marine Barracks, 8th & I ceremony.

Mr. Richard Walker was an active life member of the National Montford Point Marine Association Inc., Quantico Chapter #32, Veterans of Foreign Wars Chesty Puller Post 1503, and Marine Corps League Mickey Finn Detachment 333 where he resided in Dale City VA.

The arrangements for Gunnery Sergeant Richard H. Walker will be at Evans Brown Mortuary, 27010 Encanto Drive, Sun City, CA. 92585 on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Viewing from 11:00 – 1:00 pm followed by the service and repass. Gunnery Sergeant Walker will be buried on Monday at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside CA.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to:National Montford Point Marine Assc. Inc.Quantico Chapter #32P.O. Box 1356Stafford, VA 22555