SELLING MEDALS OF HONOR OVERSEAS

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V23 2020 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 23, Number 3, January 19, 2020, Article 12

In the past few weeks there has been some discussion about medals of honor. It is my understanding that they neither be bought or sold. That being said, I just received Künker's (Germany) latest catalog and the last lot of the first catalog, lot 1077 is a Medal of Honor awarded to a Air Force General for his actions in World War II. I do not know who to contact about this but feel very strongly that anyone who puts his life at risk and receives a Medal of Honor should not be able (even if the awardee is deceased) to sell this.

It is against the law in the US to sell Medals of Honor. As such, many times the seller goes overseas to do the so deed.

I checked the Künker web site, and the lot has been withdrawn. Here's the auction lot description, which is still online. Great medal! -Editor

Congressional Medal of Honor for the Army [Army Congressional Medal of Honor] (awarded posthumously!). 5. Model (1943-1964), gold, partially enamelled, on the lapel award engraving "THE CONGRESS / TO" "KENNETH N.WALKER / BRIG GEN. / AIR CORPS / COMMANDER / OF V BOMBER / COMMAND / FOR CONSPICIOUS / LEADERSHIP ABOVE AND / BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY / 5 / JAN. / 1943 / RABAUL, NEW BRITAIN / GO / NO.13 "on the laterally cut off collar.

Kenneth Newton Walker was born in Los Cerillos, New Mexico, in the United States on July 17, 1898 and joined the US Army in 1917, shortly after the United States entered World War I. In 1929, he completed his flight training in the Tactical School of the US Air Corps. After the outbreak of World War II, he was promoted to brigade general and commanded to the southwestern Pacific as commanding general of the Fifth Bomber Command of the Fifth U.S. Air Force. As commanding general, Walker himself flew aerial operations over the Japanese-occupied New Guinea. On January 5, 1943, Walker was shot down and killed at the age of 44 during a daytime attack on Rabaul / Papua New Guinea. To date, neither his body nor his plane has been found. With GO No. 13 of 11 March 1943, American President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) personally conferred the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously on Walker at the White House. The reason for the award is as follows:

"For conspicious leadership above and beyond the call of duty involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme hazard to life. As commander of the V Bomber Command during the period from 5 September 1942, to 5 January 1943, Brigadier General Walker repeatedly accompanied his units on bombing missions deep into enemy-held territory. From the lessons personally gained under combat conditions, he developed a highly efficient technique for bombing when opposed by enemy fighter airplanes and by antiaircraft fire. On 5 January 1943, in the face of extremely heavy antiaircraft fire and determined opposition by enemy fighters, he led an effective daylight bombing attack against the shipping in the harbor at Rabaul, New Britain, which resulted in direct hits on 9 enemy vessels.During this action his airplane was disabled and forced down by the attack of an overwhelming number of enemy fighters. "

On December 7, 2001, a gravestone was built in the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to commemorate Walker. In addition to the Medal of Honor of the Congress, he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Legionnaire's Decoration of the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart. In 1948, the Roswell Army Air Field in Roswell, New Mexico was renamed Walker Air Force Base in his honor. The base was deactivated in 1965 and closed in 1967. Walker Hall at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama was also named after him.