Lincoln Chafee: “I rise to note the recent death of Marine Corps COL Anthony Walker, a Rhode Islander who served his country with the…”

“I rise to note the recent death of Marine Corps COL Anthony Walker, a Rhode Islander who served his country with the highest distinction. After graduating in 1939 from Yale College, Mr. Walker enlisted in the Marine Corps, was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1941 and was deployed to the South Pacific during World War II. As a Raider Company commander, he led part of the successful attack on Viru Harbor, New Georgia. He was wounded in New Georgia at the battle for Bairoko. Returning to combat, he fought in the campaigns of Emirau, Guam, and Okinawa. In Okinawa, he commanded the 6th Marine Division's Reconnaissance Company, leading numerous night patrols and attacks. The end of the war marked 30 continuous months for him in the Pacific Theater. Colonel Walker later served tours of duty as a U.N. observer in Kashmir, as a battalion and regimental commander in the Fleet Marine Force, as a commander of Marine Barracks at Fort Campbell, KY, and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was a student and an instructor at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, and in 1971 concluded 32 years of active duty, including a year in South Vietnam as the Operations Officer of the Joint Military Assistance Command. In the Marine Corps, this Vietnam War veteran was known as 'Cold Steel' in recognition of his particular skill in close combat and small unit tactics. Colonel Walker was highly regarded for his tactical and leadership skills.”