- Date Of Birth: January 27, 1946
- Date Of Death: January 23, 2017
- State: Illinois
Ken Walker, 70 years old, of Millstadt, IL went to Fiddler’s Green on January 23, 2017. Ken was born in Princeton, IN on January 27, 1946, but was raised in the St. Louis Metro-East area. Ken was a proud 2-tour combat Veteran of the Vietnam War. He served 16 months with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment and 8 months with the 1st Field Forces. Among his awards are the CIB, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Ribbon and various service and campaign ribbons.
He also served overseas in South Korea and West Germany. Ken was a life member of the 11th Armored Calvary’s Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia, the Blackhorse Association and VFW. Ken held various jobs after his service time which includes Police Officer, sales and Truck Driver. He enjoyed riding Harley motorcycles and taking care of his four-legged kids.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruth Schmidt and his brother, Ronnie Schmidt. He is survived by four brothers, Mike (Vicki) Walker of Collinsville, IL, J.R. (Carol) Schmidt of Freeburg, IL, Ricky Schmidt of Cuba, MO and Mark Schmidt of Caseyville, IL; five sisters, Marcia (Larry) Latkovich of Millstadt, IL, Nancy (David) Bryson of Hawk Point, MO, Mary Ann (Bill) Mulconnery of Punta Gorda, FL, Judy (Sonny) Glass of Conroe, TX and Linda Kae Schmidt of Swansea, IL; and many nieces and nephews. Ken will be missed by family and friends.
The following poem is in honor of all veterans who have died: “A Veteran Died Today” (Author Unknown) He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past. Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done, in his exploits with his buddies, they were heroes, everyone. And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke. But we’ll hear his tales no longer for ‘olKen has passed away, and the world’s a little poorer, for a Veteran died today. No, he won’t be mourned by many, just his children and his wife; for he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life. He held a job and raised a family quietly going on his way, and the world won’t note his passing, ‘tho a Veteran died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their life stories, from the time that they were young, but the passing of a Veteran, goes unnoticed, and unsung. Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man? Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life? The politician’s stipend and the style in which he lives, are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Veteran who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension small. It’s so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago, that Ken went to battle, but we know. It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys, who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys. Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out with his every waffling stand? Or would you want a Veteran who had sworn to defend, his home, his kin and Country, and would fight until the end? He was just a common Veteran, and his ranks are growing thin, but his presence should remind us, we may need his likes again.
For when the countries are in conflict, then we find the Military’s part, is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start. If we cannot do him honor while he’s here to hear the praise, then at least let’s give him homage, at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline, in the paper that might say: OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING FOR A VETERAN DIED TODAY.
