Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    Foreign

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    2/7 Infantry Battalion

    Regiment:

    17th Infantry Brigade

    Division:

    32d Infantry Division (Attached)

    Action Date:

    December 5, 1942

    Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 7 (January 15, 1943)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Ian William Walker (SN: VX-4674), Australian Imperial Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 2/7 Infantry Battalion, 17th Infantry Brigade, attached to the 32d Infantry Division, near Buna, New Guinea, on 5 December 1942. During an attack on strongly-held enemy positions in which a Bren Gun Carrier Section was put out of action, Lieutenant Walker went forward under heavy enemy fire to the disabled carriers, which were located about half way between the enemy and our own lines, to remove the guns and ammunition from the disabled carriers. After he had reached the first three carriers and removed the guns and ammunition, he ordered nearby gunners to keep up their fire and told the enlisted men, who had accompanied him, to return to our lines. Lieutenant Walker then went forward, armed with a submachine gun and under heavy enemy fire, in an attempt to reach a fourth gun carrier to save the guns and ammunition from it. He was mortally wounded during this action and died shortly after returning to our lines. The intrepidity and unselfish devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Walker reflect highest credit upon himself and the Allied Forces.