'I matter'
Joel Walker remembers his fallen friend, Romey Earl Hughart Jr. The two men served together during the Vietnam War, and paying tribute to his friend's memory was the part of the Quilt of Valor ceremony Walker was most worried about.
CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press
Joel Walker raises his beer, wrapped in his new Quilt of Valor.
Giannine O'Connor presented Joel Walker with his Quilt of Valor. Walker and his son-in-law, Michael Hinz, hold up the completed quilt to show O'Connor's hard work to those in attendance.
A bracelet commemorating Romey Earl Hughart Jr. was placed with symbolic items at the “fallen comrade table” during Joel Walker's Quilt of Valor ceremony.
Giannine O’Connor holds back tears after presenting Joel Walker with his quilt. The Quilts of Valor ceremony Friday had many tearing up after hearing Joel Walker’s experiences in Vietnam and the story of close friend Romey Earl Hughart Jr., who was killed in action Aug. 11, 1966.
Patti Walker speaks about her husband, Joel Walker, and how his military service left him with many scars of war, both while in combat and after his return to civilian life. She calls him, "the boy who went to war."
Joel Walker's son-in-law, Michael Hinz, retired USAF describes the meaning behind his father-in-law's medals and military honors during a Quilt of Valor presentation Friday at the Walker residence in Post Falls.
During his service in the Vietnam War, Joel Walker received the national defense service medal, good conduct medal, Vietnam service medal, Vietnam campaign medal, Navy unit commendation medal and the Purple Heart.
POST FALLS — At his Quilt of Valor ceremony, the empty table in the corner was first and foremost on Joel Walker’s mind.
It was a place set for Romey Earl Hughart Jr., who was killed in action Aug. 11, 1966.
“That’s going to be a tough one, he was a good friend,” Walker said.
Among the symbolic items on the “fallen comrade table,” lemon slices remind the living of their bitter fate. A glass is inverted to show the fallen soldier’s inability to share a toast. Salt reminds of the tears of family and loved ones.
Joel Walker's son-in-law, Michael Hinz, retired USAF, read a roll call of veterans in attendance, beginning with Joel Walker and concluding with Romey Earl Hughart Jr.
"You are gone but not forgotten," Hinz said of Hughart.
Walker was nominated by Deb Saunders for the honor of receiving a Quilt of Valor after his service as a Vietnam veteran. After being drafted in the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the U.S. Army in 1965, he arrived at Long Binh, commonly known as Camp LBJ Junction, they encountered hostile gun fire and Walker was hit in his right upper leg.
He recovered and was reassigned to the 716th Military Police Battalion, Company C in Saigon. On Aug. 11, 1966, two mines detonated and two of his fellow soldiers were killed. Walker was one of 18 wounded in the explosion.
Walker once again recovered and returned to perform burial duties for fallen soldiers, something he took very much to heart.
Joel entrusted the telling of his personal journey beyond his military history to his wife, Patti Walker, who called him “the boy who went to war.”
Patti said when the Walkers were notified of Joel being honored with a quilt for his service, he had to be talked into receiving the appreciation for his service.
“You will never meet a more humble person than him,” Patti said.
He left behind a burgeoning business and a year of college to serve his country. She recalled how Vietnam was called “the conflict” and that for years, her husband tried to recover from the physical and emotional scars of war he had received abroad in combat and at home when he felt his country didn’t acknowledge the time and pain he had experienced.
“It was a different time in 1967,” Patti said.
During his time overseas, he sent back money to help his family and as a result, began civilian life without money for a car, experienced PTSD and wasn’t comfortable returning to college after the anti-veteran sentiment he received there.
Giannine O'Connor of Quilts of Valor North Idaho expressed hope that the quilt she made for Joel Walker would begin to thank him for his service to America.
“This quilt is meant to say thank you for your sacrifice. This quilt is meant to offer comfort to you,” O’Connor said.
She was also given another military honor to bestow upon Walker by the U.S. military.
“You need another medal,” she said with a chuckle as she added a Vietnam veteran lapel pin to his shirt.
When she tearfully bestowed the quilt to Joel and wrapped him in his new quilt, he didn’t want to take it off.
“Isn’t it incredible? This is such a treasure,” Joel said.
Though it has taken time to heal, he spoke words of affirmation in reflection after the Quilt of Valor ceremony concluded.
“I matter,” Joel said.
Joel Walker raises his beer, wrapped in his new Quilt of Valor.
Giannine O'Connor presented Joel Walker with his Quilt of Valor. Walker and his son-in-law, Michael Hinz, hold up the completed quilt to show O'Connor's hard work to those in attendance.
A bracelet commemorating Romey Earl Hughart Jr. was placed with symbolic items at the “fallen comrade table” during Joel Walker's Quilt of Valor ceremony.
Giannine O’Connor holds back tears after presenting Joel Walker with his quilt. The Quilts of Valor ceremony Friday had many tearing up after hearing Joel Walker’s experiences in Vietnam and the story of close friend Romey Earl Hughart Jr., who was killed in action Aug. 11, 1966.
Patti Walker speaks about her husband, Joel Walker, and how his military service left him with many scars of war, both while in combat and after his return to civilian life. She calls him, "the boy who went to war."
Joel Walker's son-in-law, Michael Hinz, retired USAF describes the meaning behind his father-in-law's medals and military honors during a Quilt of Valor presentation Friday at the Walker residence in Post Falls.
During his service in the Vietnam War, Joel Walker received the national defense service medal, good conduct medal, Vietnam service medal, Vietnam campaign medal, Navy unit commendation medal and the Purple Heart.