WALKER W. LAMBERT, LCDR, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Walker Lambert '54

Date of birth: February 25, 1931

Date of death: April 10, 1967

Age: 36

Lucky Bag

From the 1954 Lucky Bag:

1954 Lambert LB.jpg

Walker Winston Lambert

Holly Grove, Arkansas

To call him by his nicknames would certainly provide a task with variety. Bo and Blanky are just a couple of the many tags acquired, although not all at the Academy. Being an all-state football star for Hollygrove High in Arkansas, Walker found batt football no strain. Fieldball occupied his time during the winter months with tennis accompanying the monsoons. A congenial manner, a slight amount of shyness, and a modest sense of chivalry all serve to make up this real Southern gentleman. Prior to Academy days Walker received a suitable taste of military life at Marion Military Institute. Destined to become a capable officer and leader, Walker will be a definite asset in the service of the United States.

FOOTBALL—4,3,2,1. WATER POLO—4,2. PHOTO CLUB—4. FOREIGN LANGUAGES CLUB—4,3. FIELDBALL—3,2,1. TENNIS—3. SOCCER—3. ENGINEERING CLUB—2.

1954 Lambert LB.jpg

Walker Winston Lambert

Holly Grove, Arkansas

To call him by his nicknames would certainly provide a task with variety. Bo and Blanky are just a couple of the many tags acquired, although not all at the Academy. Being an all-state football star for Hollygrove High in Arkansas, Walker found batt football no strain. Fieldball occupied his time during the winter months with tennis accompanying the monsoons. A congenial manner, a slight amount of shyness, and a modest sense of chivalry all serve to make up this real Southern gentleman. Prior to Academy days Walker received a suitable taste of military life at Marion Military Institute. Destined to become a capable officer and leader, Walker will be a definite asset in the service of the United States.

FOOTBALL—4,3,2,1. WATER POLO—4,2. PHOTO CLUB—4. FOREIGN LANGUAGES CLUB—4,3. FIELDBALL—3,2,1. TENNIS—3. SOCCER—3. ENGINEERING CLUB—2.

Loss

Walker was killed April 10, 1967 when his A-4D Skyhawk jet crashed in the desert 10 miles east of Fallon, Nevada, while on a night training flight.

Other Information

From the June-July 1967 issue of Shipmate:

LCdr. Lambert, veteran of 115 combat missions over North Vietnam off the carrier CORAL SEA in 1965, was a 1954 graduate of the Naval Academy. He earned his Master's degree in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1963. He was designated a naval aviator in 1955 and then served as a pilot with VF-173 and VF-62. After three years at Monterey he attended the Aviation Safety Officers' School at the University of Southern California and in 1964 joined VA-153, "the Blue Tail Flies," at NAS Lemoore. Since January 1966 he had served as Safety Officer and Assistant Jet Training Officer on the staff of the Commander, Fleet Air Alameda.

He held 12 Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with " V " and bronze star, American Defense Medal with bronze star, the Vietnamese Service Medal and the Republic of South Vietnam Medal. He was a Life Member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association.

He is survived by his widow, Mary; twin sons, Stephen Winston and Theodore Neils, of the home address 10 Del Rey Court, Lafayette, Calif.; his mother, Mrs. Joel Lambert, Sr., of Holly Grove, Ark.; two brothers, Cdr. Joel Lambert, Jr., USN (Ret.), of Memphis, Tenn., and Robert J. Lambert of Newport, Ark.

Walker is buried in Arkansas.

Photographs


Class of 1954

Walker is one of 37 members of the Class of 1954 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

QR code

The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.