Home of Record: Pacifica, CA
Date of birth: 02/26/1947

MILITARY DATA:
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E3
Rank: Private First Class
ID No: 18912018
MOS: 11B10: Infantryman
Length Service: 01
Unit: D CO, 1ST BN, 7TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
CASUALTY DATA:
Start Tour: 03/23/1968
Incident Date: 04/29/1968
Casualty Date: 04/29/1968
Age at Loss: 21
Location: Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire

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" Posted by Newspaper Transcriber on Saturday, April 01, 2006 at 21:33:46:

PFC JAMES WALKER

Funeral services were conducted yesterday in Pacifica for PFC James E. Walker Jr., 21, who was killed in action in Vietnam.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Mrs. James E. Walker Sr. of Pacifica, James was the brother of Robert Coghlan of Daly City, Elmer Coghlan of SF, and Mrs. Jacqueline Laton of Concord.

A Coastside resident for 14 years, he was a member of the 1966 graduating class from Terra Nova High School.

Final rites for the San Francisco native were under the direction of Nauman-Lincoln's Chapel by the Sea. Requiem Mass from St. Peter's Catholic Church preceded interment at Golden Gate National Cemetery.

The Record & Westlake Times, Page 6, Wednesday, May 8, 1968
"


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Notes From the Wall:

In Tribute to Pfc James Edward Walker, A First Team Hero, with so much Gratitude for his Courage, Service and Dedication to our Country and for Freedom. Rest well James and know that you will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. I am the sister of Sgt. David Dickinson, another young 1st Cav. Hero, who also paid the Ultimate Price in Vietnam in 1967....."OUR DEBT TO THE HEROIC MEN AND VALIANT WOMEN IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY, CAN NEVER BE REPAID, THEY HAVE EARNED OUR UNDYING GRATITUDE. AMERICA WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES" ~ President Harry S. Truman ~
Dec 14, 2007


Linda Tremonti
[email protected]
next door neighbor and friend
S.F. CA 94121 USA
"Remember to duck"!
There in a glass-covered dome coffin from the waist up Jimmy lay.
Seemingly sound asleep as if only for a day.

Olive green was now the apparent color of his face
that matched his army uniform in such an ominous place.

There he was, the boy who used to live right next door
I remembered then the memories of all the days we shared before.

We were just normal everyday kids growing up in the city
Who would have thought back then that all our laughter would one day turn to sorrow and pity.

He had a secret crush on me. I knew his mom knew too
but I loved him like a brother, and through the years our friendship grew.

He liked to catch bees and butterflies, and then set them free;
find snakes and snails to try and scare the dickens out of me.

I remember the day when all us kids went looking for rocks
in an area where houses were being constructed up the block.

My foot slipped and I stepped on a giant nail,
but Jimmy was there to whisk me home on his scooter without fail.

He moved away a few years later, but not so very far
and soon we would all be driving back & forth visiting each other by car.

Jimmy signed up for the Army to serve
while the war in Vietnam was taking an evil turn.

Before leaving for Boot Camp he said he met a girl and fallen hard
he wanted to come back soon and marry her, but it wasn't meant to be in the cards.

My parents, brother, and I were at home
when Jimmy came to pay what would be his last visit by himself alone.

He was always very lanky and tall at six feet four
and the last thing I remember: my dad lovingly advising him while he started out the door...

were the last words from the house on 38th Ave. that Jimmy would ever hear,
"Remember to duck"! while my own eyes filled up with tears.

Jimmy laughed then as he walked down the steps to the street
thinking that papa said something else sounding the same, but not too discreet.

Papa thought Jim's height might get him into trouble
because he said "the short and sneaky enemy would see Jim coming through the rubble".

When the phone call came from Jimmy's parents
I stood there trying not to believe, and incoherent.

Forty years have passed, and I've raised a family,
but the sound of Jimmy's laughter is still fresh in my memory.

He stands as tall today as he did then
a man, a brave soldier, and my "brother" my friend.

For all those young soldiers who went to war
Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps,

We salute you, and honor your lasting memory
that you who lived or died did sacrifice yourselves to keep us free!
Your sister next door
Linda


Apr 1, 2007


Dolores Gomez
[email protected]
none-just by marriage
Ca
Sorry that there is no picture. His sister lives in Grass Valley, Ca. My mother was married to James' father, who served in the Navy in WWII. Heard he was a nice kid. Paperboy, scout etc. When I went to the wall I felt very sad seeing his name. Unfortunately we didn't get to know him but felt deeply about his loss. Guess there are many "nice" kids like he was who faught in Viet Nam. Bless 'em.
Tuesday, April 13, 1999


Grateful American
Fellow Californian
American Hero
Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. Rest well brave soldier. You are not forgotten.
Thursday, April 29, 2004


mark kapinos
[email protected]
rest well my cav brother
Wednesday, February 26, 2003


Manuel Pino 2/8 Bco 1st Cav-68-69
[email protected]
Fellow Cav Brother
D co 1/7th 1st Cav
"They grow not old, as we who remain grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them. We shall remember them."
Sunday, April 23, 2006

James, Although we never met, I just want you to know you are not forgotten. You gave the ultimate sacrifice, your life for what you believed in. Sleep well and thank you.
Posted by: Dave Kruger, 196th LIB. 66-67
Relationship: Fellow vet
Friday, April 29, 2005