In the Spring of 1980, Leonard Warren Walker told his mother he had decided which branch of the service he wanted to join--the Marine Corps--which took her by surprise, as he had been talking about the Air Force and the Navy. When asked why the Marine Corps, he stated, “for the mental and physical discipline he would learn.” He wanted to be a Marine in every sense of the word and in May he took the oath of the Untied States of America to become that Marine.

He was born in September of 1961, the only son, with two older sisters, of Julian C. and Celia Walker of Dothan, Alabama. He was an Air Force dependent and lived in 13 different places before joining the service. So to him this was the way of life. After graduating from Jeb Stuart High School in Falls Church, Virginia in 1980, he went to boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina. After boot camp he stated to his family, “It had been hard, but he enjoyed boot camp.” He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina after boot camp in a heavy artillery unit before being reassigned to Company C of the Recon Platoon at Camp Lejeune. On Mothers Day, May 1983, Leonard was part of the 1/8 Battalion of the 24th MAU Multi-National Peacekeeping Force deployed to Beirut, Lebanon. In the early hours of October 23, 1983, only two weeks before they were due to rotate back to the states, he along with many Marines and Navy personnel was asleep when a terrorist drove a bomb-laden truck into the Beirut International Airport completely destroying the building and killing 241 servicemen.

Leonard had been home due to the death of his grandfather the end of July 1983. He was in touch with his Commanding Officer stating he wanted to be with his company and buddies, but they had cut orders for him to await their return at Camp Lejeune. His Commanding Officer asked if he had the money to return on a commercial flight and he stated he did. He was told by his Commanding Officer to get on a flight and go back to Lebanon. Obeying orders he return to Beirut. He gave his life in the service of his Country and his Corps.

He was award the Purple Heart, Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and several other awards and decorations.

Submitted by Celia Walker