Walter D. Campbell, Jr., Awarded Eighth Annual Southeastern Massachusetts Veteran of the Year

November 5, 2006
Walter D. Campbell, Jr., was selected as the Eighth Annual Southeastern Massachusetts Veteran of the Year, it was announced by the Board of the Directors of the Southeastern Massachusetts Veterans Housing Program, Inc., Veterans Transition House.
A Past Commander of Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion, Walter has served in many capacities in the leadership of the Post.
A 26 year career United States navy veteran, Mr. Campbell earned many military citations and medals. For action during the TET offensive in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star with combat “V.” The citation for that medal reads:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal to:
………………………. ……………. WALTER D. CAMPBELL, JR., SENIOR CHIEF BOATSWAIN’S MATE
……………………………………………” For meritorious service while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communist aggressors in the Republic of Vietnam from 7 February 1968 to 9 February 1969. As patrol Officer of River Patrol Boats, Senior Chief Petty Officer Campbell participated in one hundred sixty one combat patrols along the enemy infested Bassac River in the Mekong Delta.
…………………………………………….He engaged the enemy in combat on twelve occasions and came under hostile sniper fire over fifty times. His courage and cool resolve while under enemy fire resulted in successful destruction of many enemy soldiers and their material.
……………………………………………... On 18 June 1968, while escorting a Landing Craft adapted for rocket strikes, his unites came under intense automatic weapons fire from an enemy island stronghold. Because of an earlier propulsion casualty, his cover boat was under tow. Quickly judging that the fast flood tide would assist in moving all craft from the “kill zone,” Senior Chief Petty Officer Campbell disengaged the towed boat and directed the Landing Craft to take it under tow.
……………………………………………….He then placed his own boat between the slower craft and the enemy position and directed accurate fire into the enemy positions. Completely exposed, he bravely took the brunt of the attack while the slower disabled craft safely cleared the “kill zone” without damage or injury.
………………………………………………Senior Chief Petty Officer Campbell’s initiative, quick thinking and personal courage throughout his tour in the Republic of Vietnam were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
………………Senior Chief Petty Officer CAMPBELL is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.
His citation was signed: “For the President-
………………………………………………………E. R. Zumwalt, Jr., Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy
……………………………………………………….Commander U. S. Naval Forces, Vietnam

In addition to the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, Senior Chief Campbell earned the following awards:
Gallantry Cross with Palm (Vietnam), Combat Action Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze stars, Navy Expeditionary Medal, China Service Medal,, Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Presidential Unit Citation.
Also, United Nations Medal, Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Navy Achievement Medal and the Good Conduct Medal with 7 bronze stars.
In addition to his leadership roles in the American Legion, he is also active in the John Glass, Jr., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2188, the Middleboro Veterans Council and the Middleboro Veterans Memorial Park Committee.
After retiring from the Navy, he served with the Massachusetts State Police, Troop D in Middleboro for 23 years. He and his wife Marilyn live in Middleboro and have been married for 46 years.
Walter gived credit to Legion member Perry Little for submitting his name to the Veteran of the Year board. "It was very niceof him to do that for me," said the newly honored Navy man.
(Compiled by Bob Lessard Post Historan 2014)