Allen Walker U.S. Army Private - A PATRIOT FROM PATRIOT

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BY DUANE ALLEN VACHON, PH.D.   Allen Walker was born in Patriot, Indiana, on January 19, 1866, the son of William and Eveline Walker. He enlisted in the army at Indianapolis in 1884 and served in the Nineteenth United States Infantry Regiment in South Texas. He was discharged at San Antonio in 1889 and promptly reenlisted in Company C, Third United States Cavalry. In December 1891 he was involved in a series of skirmishes during the Garza War in southwest Texas. On December 30 he was acting alone as a courier from Fort Langhorne when he saw three armed Mexicans ahead of him. After they refused to stop, he fired, killing one of their horses. The riders escaped, but left behind papers including a proclamation inciting revolution. Captain John Gregory Bourke stated, “This man exhibited so much courage, efficiency, coolness, and self-reliance while away from his command that I feel constrained to recommend he be awarded the Medal of Honor.” Walker married Alvina Fuentes at Fort Ringgold; she died in 1898. Walker was later commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Philippine Scouts during the Philippine Insurrection and was awarded the Silver Star. He was promoted to captain in the scouts on August 14, 1908. He retired from the military soon after the scouts were disbanded in 1911, and resided in Laredo. Walker became a deputy U.S. marshal for the Southern District of Texas in 1914 and went on to serve as marshal for the same district. Allen Walker was married to Enriqueta Peña in 1926; they had seven children. He died at Brooke Army Hospital on September 10, 1953. He is buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Laredo.

When Allen Walker died on September 11, 1953, at age 87, he was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Indian Campaigns, and the last surviving recipient to have earned the Medal of Honor for actions prior to 1900.

Medal of Honor

Awarded for actions during the Indian Campaigns
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Allen Walker, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 30 December 1891, while serving with Company C, 3d U.S. Cavalry, in action at Texas. While carrying dispatches, Private Walker attacked a party of three armed men and secured papers valuable to the United States.

General Orders: Date of Issue: April 25, 1892 Action Date: December 30, 1891 Service: Army Rank: Private Company: Company C Division: 3d U.S. Cavalry

// Benjamin Harrison// President

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