James J Walker

Mass for James J. Walker Jr., 83, formerly of Hoboken and Union City, will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Holy Innocents Church, Neptune. He died January 30, 2006 at Medical Center of Ocean County, Brick Hospital.

Born in Hoboken, Walker lived in Union City for many years before moving to Lakewood in 1991. He worked as a carpenter for the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, Hoboken, for 25 years.  Walker was an Army veteran of World War II, serving with the Bushmasters 158^th Regimental Combat Team. He received the Silver Star and Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat in the Philippines and was the founder of the Silver Star Association. He was a communicant of St. Dominic's Church, Brick.

Surviving are a daughter, Kathleen Cody; two sons, James and Dennis; four brothers, Dennis, of Secaucus, and Barney, George and John; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. O'Brien Funeral Home, Wall, is in charge.

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Additional tribute by Hal Braun:

Jim Walker was a very good friend. He was in L Company and won a Silver Star. He was very active in veteran affairs. He had New Jersey issue cost free Silver Star license plates to those having won the medal. New Jersey also awarded New Jersey's Meritorious Service Medal to veterans having a Silver Star. Several New Jersey Bushmasters  received theirs through Jim's efforts In The Nation's Parade November 11,1995. Jim rode with the Philippine section as he had gotten a selection of Philippine medals due Bushmasters and gave those out. He did much charity for homeless vets. Jim collected tons of clothing and food and had it shipped to the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Unfortunately he was never thanked for this, When Bushmaster Peak was dedicated in 1989 a non combat 158ther was telling a reporter how he had the mountain named. The reporter asked for a combat experience and Jim stepped up to the bat saying to ask a Bushmaster who's been in combat and was then interviewed. We stayed in touch through the years and Jim will be sorely missed by those of us who knew him.