
During World War II, Louis Walker, a Rogersville native, fought in the Asian-Pacific campaign. During his time there, he received numerous medals including a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. After the war he married Helen Spears and they raised five children together. Over the years, his medals were lost.
On Sunday, May 5, Walker was presented with a set of replacement medals by his eldest son, Raymond, and daughter-in-law, Cathy.
Cathy had become involved in the We Honor Vets program in the course of her work for Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice, and learned of their efforts to obtain replacement medals for their veteran patients.
With the help of Smoky Mountain’s social workers and the U.S. Army, Walker received his medals surrounded by his family including his son, grandson Brent, great-grandson Aida, granddaughter Leah and his wife Helen.
“I thought I’d never see them again,” he said. Of the Bronze Star, he would only say, “You had to be in a pretty tough battle to get that one.” His family is so proud of him and so thankful that he survived that “tough battle” to tell his stories to them today.