Photo By Staff Sgt. Candice Funchess | Brig. Gen. Flem B. Walker Jr. (centered), commanding general of the 3rd Sustainment...... read more read more
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FORT KNOX, Ky. - The 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and senior leadership came out to honor Brig. Gen. Flem Bowen “Donnie” Walker Jr., commanding general of the 3d ESC, for his promotion to brigadier general at a ceremony held here at the Saber and Quill on Aug. 2.
The ceremony was to celebrate a magnificent officer's accomplishments, as stated by the host of the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Allen W. Batschelet, commanding general of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Ky.
"His tactical and technical abilities, his warrior ethos and his commitment to our nation, all distinguished him amongst his peers for selection to brigadier general," said Batschelet. "Today all that hard work, dedication to duty and service to country pays off."
Batschelet also spoke on the emphasis Walker placed on family, which was evident as the entire Walker family, who took up the first three rows of seats on the right side of the room, went to the stage for their special parts in the ceremony.
Walker stood in the center of the stage while his wife Hope, stood to his right and exchanged his colonel epaulette with the one star epaulette. His parents, Sgt. 1st Class (Retired) Flem B. Walker Sr. and Mrs. Charlene Walker, did the same on the left shoulder of his ASU jacket.
As Walker removed his jacket, with the help of his aide-de-camp, 1st Lt. Matt Dirisio, his wife and mother stepped back into the line of Family members, so his three children could also take part in the ceremony. Walker's daughters, Hannah and Holly, stood to his left and right side and switched out the shoulder boards on his white dress shirt as his son, Trey, took the colonel rank off his beret and replaced it with the Silver Star.
After reciting the oath of office, as a newly promoted general, Walker was presented with a general officer belt by his two sisters, Darline Carr and Donna Burton, a Model M9 9mm GO pistol by Ray Latham and Larry Burton, and his one-star GO flag that was unfurled and posted by Command Sgt. Maj. Karl A. Roberts, senior enlisted advisor of the 3d ESC. Batschelet deferred his presentation and honors to Walker, allowing him to receive one ruffle, one flourish and an eleven gun salute. To commemorate his first honors salute as a brigadier general, a ceremonial shell was presented by Master Sgt. Don Chandler of the 3d ESC.
Standing behind the podium, with the flags of the 50 states aligning the walls behind him, the stage to his right with the Army colors, the 3rd ESC colors, a general officer flag with two stars, and lastly, the flag closest to him- his red general officer flag with one star, Walker addressed the guests and thanked the host.
"Sir, I do appreciate you presiding and hosting the ceremony today. It means a great deal to me, not only personally, but for my Family as well," said Walker.
Walker went on to thank his entire staff for their hard work and let it be known the day was really all about family.
"Here is the bottom line: None of us in uniform could do the things we do or serve to our greatest potential without the support of our Family, the true and absolute ‘strength of any soldier,'” said Walker.
Walker began his salute to his family by first speaking of his "true" heroes - his mother and father. His father gave over 22 years of honorable service and completed two tours in Vietnam. From there he continued to mention every out-of-town guest that came to share in the celebration and ended the family salute by speaking about his wife and three children. Walker stated he was their biggest fans and they were his, and they truly were the reason he got up each and every day.
He gave a special tribute to his wife who he said had been at his side for every ceremony since commissioning at Auburn University. Walker said, "Every rank I have ever attained is as much due to her sacrifice and hard work. More importantly, none of it would mean nearly as much if she hadn't been with me for the ride."
In closing, Walker referenced his favorite anonymous quote as he ended his speech, "I truly have been blessed to have stood on the shoulders of so many giants, throughout not only my career in this Army, but throughout my lifetime."
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2013 10:06 |
| Story ID: | 111566 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KY, US |
| Web Views: | 238 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Walker promoted to brigadier general during a 'Family First' Ceremony, by SSG Candice Funchess, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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