Butler County has a new Veteran of the Year.
Dave Walker has been chosen for the annual honor awarded by Butler County Veteran Services.
He served with the U.S. Army beginning in 1949 and retired from active duty in 1973 as a Sergeant First Class. He also earned a Purple Heart when he was wounded by shrapnel the day he was scheduled to leave Vietnam.
Walker will speak at Saturday’s Veterans Day ceremony to be held at noon at American Legion Post 778.
“I started out with the 112th infantry. My last duty was with the 325th station hospital over in Munich, Germany. In wartime, I was the acting first sergeant of the 95th evacuation hospital. We went into country and into Vietnam and I got there just in time for Tet of 1968,” Walker said. “And it was a rough time. I don’t think I slept for the three of four days.”
Walker is currently the Senior Vice Commander for the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 64 and has led fundraising efforts for the annual Forget-Me-Not campaign as well as a Purple Heart Memorial in Clearfield.
