He was notable as commander of the 4th Infantry Division, First United States Army, I Corps, and adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard.

After high school, Walker attended East Central Junior College, and enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard.

[1] By the time of Operation Cobra, Walker was in command of a battalion, and he continued to lead his unit until he was wounded during the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.

After the war, Walker remained in the army and served as an Infantry School instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Walker then served in West Germany, first as deputy chief of staff for intelligence (G-2) at Seventh United States Army and then as commander of the 6th Infantry Regiment.

After returning to the United States, Walker was assigned to the Continental Army Command as deputy chief of staff for military operations and reserve forces.

In August, 1972 he returned to the United States as a special assistant for training in the office of the Army Chief of Staff.

Walker was assigned as commander of First United States Army at Fort Meade, Maryland in August 1973.