Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Walker, Simpson
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/25/2015
Legion Recognizes Bernard Walker for His Military Service (2 March 2015)
Walker to be Recognized for his Military Service
Bernard Walker, 87, of Neillsville is being recognized for his military service, Monday, March 2, during a special supper program beginning at 6 p.m. Walker served in the U. S. Army from 1945-1947.
(Photo by Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press)
By Todd Schmidt
Bernard ‘Bernie’ Walker, 87, of Neillsville is being recognized for his service to the country Monday, March 2, 2015, during a special program at Neillsville American Legion Post 73, A supper in his honor begins at 6 p.m., with the award presentation to follow.
Bernie was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1945. He served in the 88th Blue Devil Division of the 350th Infantry, 4th Platoon.
After eight weeks of basic training at Ft. Sheridan, IL, and Camp Wolters, TX, the unit was deployed to Italy to patrol the border with the Yugoslavia called the Morgan Line.
‘The first thing in basic training was giving everybody a haircut,’ Bernie recalled. ‘There were five barbers in a row, and they jokingly asked us how we would like it cut. Then it was just like shearing sheep.’
Most of the recruits wore leggings. When the whistle blew early in the morning, the groggy soldiers jumped right in them and got in line. ‘The main thing you learn is how to take orders,’ Bernie said.
His unit trained in light mortars, light machine guns, rifles and bazookas.
‘The general lined us up and told us we were all going overseas,’ Bernie said. ‘He said some of us might not be coming back.’
Bernie remembers a kid who came around at basic training asking for $5 so he could go home on furlough. Bernie gave him the money, and the other guys in camp said he would never get it back because the kid came out of reform school.
‘After he returned from home, the kid woke me up about midnight and gave me the $5 back,’ Bernie smiled.
Approximately 400 enlisted men and officers shipped out on the U.S.S. General S. D. Sturgis troop transport ship. It was 11 days at sea going over and 15 days at sea coming back.
‘We talked to several sailors, and they advised us to get on KP duty, because there would be food available anytime,’ Bernie said. ‘If you kept your stomach somewhat filled you wouldn’t get seasick so bad.’
Some got terribly seasick anyway. Bernie and others got a nasty case of hives.
‘We hit a big storm going over,’ he said. ‘The ship just shook. It wasn’t so bad then, but now I would be scared to death to go through something like that.’
The ship landed in Naples, Italy. Troops, traveled inland by train and trucks. The got educated in various diseases at local hospitals.
The unit went on patrols in the mountainous area of Italy and Yugoslavia, controlling traffic in the disputed Venezia Giulia region.
‘People there were very poor,’ Bernie said. ‘We weren’t really safe, but out duty wasn’t as dangerous as the guys on the front line. When we went on night patrol the guy behind kept a hand on your shoulder. I guess the guy in front and the guy in the rear were in the most danger. Around building we kept our back to the wall and our eyes on the door.’
He said he had his fill of K-rations. ‘For sure, I don’t eat tuna anymore,’ he said.
Bernie had the opportunity to visit many historical and scenic spots of Italy, including Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Lido, Pisa and Cortina. He had the distinction of representing his company at an honor guard parade held at Casita, Italy.
Bernie was discharged Jan. 18, 1947. He received the following medals: MTO (service overseas), Victory, Occupational and Good Conduct.
The soldiers were given $13 each. After being discharged, most of them traveled home on the train.
‘When I got home, I decided I never wanted to cold or hungry again and that I would never complain about anything else,’ Bernie said.
Bernie and his wife Delores were married March 10, 1951 at the Fairchild United Methodist Church. They raised two sons, Dennis and Donald and one daughter Diane. The Walkers have seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Bernie has been a Neillsville American Legion member for 50 years. Delores has been a member of the Neillsville American Legion Auxiliary for 21 years. They have been very active in Legion activities.
Bernie has volunteered as Sergeant of Arms since 1990. He has organized men for participation at parades, funerals and other events. For many years, he carried the American flag at many functions.
Bernie also serves once per month as a volunteer greeter at The Highground.
He was born and raised in Neillsville and attended the Blackberry School at Tioga through the eighth grade. He started out at Neillsville High School, dropping out at age 15 to work on a farm in the Osseo area. He worked there until being drafted at age 18.
‘I actually wanted to enlist in the Navy when I was 17,’ Bernie said. ‘Mon said no. She said I should wait to be drafted.’
Bernie’s two brothers also served in the military; Harold (U.S. Army tank division, 1942-1945) and Dewey (U. S. Army, 1951-1953).
When he came home from serving his tour of duty, Bernie purchased a 120-acre farm, near Neillsville. He farmed there for 18 years, milking up to 26 cows daily. He also got into raising feeder pigs, getting up to $18 for each 35-lb pig.
Bernie also worked part-time at a local feed mill and invested in several rental properties.
After Bernie and Delores sold the farm, he began a second career at Nelson Muffler in Neillsville. He retired in 1989 after working at Nelson Muffler for 21 years.
In 2013, Bernie and fellow Legion member Don Simpson participated in an Honor Flight to Washington, DC.
‘I waited 60 years to take a trip like this,’ Bernie said. ‘It might have been the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m glad I served my time in the military and that I got out of it as good as I did. I am proud to be a veteran.
Bernie Walker was inducted into the U. S. Army in 1945, at Ft. Sheridan, IL, and he completed boot camp at Camp Wolters, TX, serving with the 88th Blue Devil Division of the 350th Infantry, 4th Platoon (Contributed photo)
