Image: Walker Family
Image: Framingham High
Image: Framingham High
Bronze Star Medal
James Stuart “Jim” Walker was born in Framingham on 24 November 1942.He lived on Berry Street, which is a short walk to Lake Waushakum. He graduated from Framingham High School (FHS) in 1960.He was both a class leader and star athlete.He was the Class Vice President and the President of the Student Council. He excelled in sports.Jim was the Co-Captain of the FHS Varsity Football team and the Captain of the Varsity Baseball team.His yearbook entry describes him as “gentle in manner,strong in performance.” In 1964,Jim earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University.This was followed by a Master in Education degree from Boston University in 1966.
Jim graduated from the Transportation Corps Officers Candidate School (OCS) in 1967.He was designated a Highway Transportation Officer.Shortly thereafter,he was attached to the 352 Transportation Company (Light Truck) of the 6th Transportation Battalion and headed off to Vietnam where he would spend just under a year.The 352nd’s Vietnam service stretched from 08 January 1968 to 20 October 1969.It had an authorized strength of 179 men and operated from Long Binh.During the war,Long Binh was the US Army’s largest base in South Vietnam.It was situated between Bien Hoa,the location of a large American airbase,and Saigon,the capital of South Vietnam.US Transportation supply convoys were frequently the subjects of automatic weapons and sniper fire,and even North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Vietcong company size ambushes.For his efforts in Vietnam,Jim was awarded a Bronze Star Medal.
Jim returned from the army to Ashland to raise a family and to serve the Framingham community through a career in education.For more than two decades,he taught 8th grade social studies at Walsh Middle School.He also coached freshman football and JV lacrosse at Framingham South High School.Jim passed away on 12 February 2024.
Image: Walker Family
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