Emmett H . Walker , Jr . Lieutenant General Emmett H . ' Mickey ' Walker ( March 16 , 1924 – December 11 , 2007 ) was a retired U . S . Army officer who served as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from 1982 to 1986 . Early life . Emmett Hudson Walker , Jr . was born in Abbott , Mississippi on March 16 , 1924 . He graduated from Starkville High School in 1942 and began studies at Mississippi State University , but left college in order to enlist in the military for World War II . World War II . Walker enlisted in December , 1942 , completed Officer Candidate School and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry . Initially assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division during its pre - combat training at Camp Gruber , Oklahoma , he subsequently transferred to the 95th Infantry Division . Walker was a platoon leader in Cannon Company , 378th Infantry Regiment and took part in combat in France , including the Battle of Metz , the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhineland campaign . In addition to the Combat Infantryman Badge , Walker earned the Silver Star and the Bronze Star Medal with " V " for Valor . Post World War II . Walker resumed his college studies after the war , graduating from Mississippi State in 1947 with a bachelor of science degree in Agricultural Economics . In 1949 he joined the Mississippi Army National Guard as a First Lieutenant in Battery C , 932nd Field Artillery Battalion . Korean War . Walker was activated for the Korean War , joining the 31st Infantry Division as a Captain and serving as a liaison officer at the Far East Command . Post Korean War . After returning to the United States , Walker continued his National Guard service , carrying out command and staff assignments in the 31st Division . In 1961 he became commander of 4th Battalion , 114th Field Artillery Regiment as a Lieutenant Colonel . From 1968 to 1972 he was a Colonel and commander of the 631st Artillery Group . In 1965 Walker graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and he completed the United States Army War College in 1973 . Walker served as Mississippi ' s Assistant Adjutant General from 1972 to 1976 , earning promotion to Brigadier General . National Guard Bureau . In 1976 Walker was appointed Deputy Director of the Army National Guard , succeeding Joseph R . Jelinek . He held this position until 1978 , when he was promoted to Major General and succeeded Charles A . Ott , Jr . as Director of the Army National Guard . Walker was appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau in 1982 and promoted to Lieutenant General . He served in this position until his 1986 retirement . A longtime friend of Congressman Sonny Montgomery , Walker worked with him on the creation of the Montgomery G . I . Bill of 1984 , which expanded educational benefits and helped improve recruiting of new service members and retention of existing ones . Retirement and death . In retirement Walker was one of the organizers of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby . He also served as Treasurer of the National Guard Association of the United States . Walker died at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson , Mississippi on December 11 , 2007 . He is buried at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland , Mississippi . Awards and decorations . In addition to his valor awards for World War II , Walker was also a recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , Army Distinguished Service Medal , Air Force Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit , Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal . At his retirement , Walker received from Governor Bill Allain a state promotion to full General ( four stars ) as recogniton of the sustained superior performance he rendered throughout his career . During World War II , Walker ' s entire Reserve Officer Training Corps class at Mississippi State University left school to enlist . Recalling his leadership and military abilities , during a reunion in 1993 Walker was belatedly named the class Honor Graduate . Legacy . The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby is named for him , as is the Mississippi National Guard ' s complex in Jackson . In addition , the Jackson chapter of the Military Order of World Wars is also named for him .