 walton harris walker (december 3, 1889 &ndash; december 23, 1950) was a united states army general (promoted posthumously to four-star rank) who was the first commander of the u.s. eighth army in korea at the beginning of the korean war. he died in a jeep accident in south korea on december 23, 1950. walker also was a commander in world war i and ii. ==biography== ===early life=== walker was born in belton, texas on december 3, 1889. his parents, sam and lydia walker were both college graduates whose fathers had been officers in the confederate army. his father, a merchant, taught him how to ride a horse and to hunt and shoot. he graduated from the wedemeyer academy (established 1886-1911) in belton. ===military career=== he entered virginia military institute (vmi) in 1907 and graduated from west point in 1912. as a lieutenant, he served in the vera cruz expedition under brigadier general frederick funston. patrolling on the u.s.-mexican border in 1916, he developed a close friendship with dwight eisenhower. ====world war i==== during world war i, walker fought in france with the [[5th infan
1889_births 1950_deaths American_military_personnel_killed_in_the_Korean_War American_military_personnel_of_World_War_I American_military_personnel_of_World_War_II American_military_personnel_of_the_Korean_War Burials_at_Arlington_National_Cemetery People_from_Belton,_Texas Recipients_of_the_Air_Medal Recipients_of_the_Bronze_Star_Medal Recipients_of_the_Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States) Recipients_of_the_Distinguished_Service_Cross_(United_States) Recipients_of_the_Distinguished_Service_Medal_(United_States) Recipients_of_the_Legion_of_Merit Recipients_of_the_Silver_Star United_States_Army_generals United_States_Military_Academy_alumni