Captain Allen Walker

When Allen Walker died on September 11, 1953, at age 87, he was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Indian Campaigns, and the last surviving recipient to have earned the Medal of Honor for actions prior to 1900.

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Allen Walker, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 30 December 1891, while serving with Company C, 3d U.S. Cavalry, in action at Texas. While carrying dispatches, Private Walker attacked a party of three armed men and secured papers valuable to the United States.

General Orders: Date of Issue: April 25, 1892

Action Date: December 30, 1891

Service: Army

Rank: Private

Company: Company C

Division: 3d U.S. Cavalry

Allen Walker, Medal of Honor recipient, was born in Patriot, Indiana, on January 19, 1866, the son of William and Eveline Walker. He enlisted in the army at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1884 and served in the Nineteenth United States Infantry Regiment in South Texas. He was discharged at San Antonio in 1889 and promptly reenlisted in Company C, Third United States Cavalry. In December 1891 he was involved in a series of skirmishes during the Garza War in southwest Texas. On December 30 he was acting alone as a courier from Fort Langhorne when he saw three armed Mexicans ahead of him. After they refused to stop, he fired, killing one of their horses. The riders escaped, but left behind papers including a proclamation inciting revolution. Capt. John Gregory Bourke stated, "This man exhibited so much courage, efficiency, coolness, and self-reliance while away from his command that I feel constrained to recommend he be awarded the Medal of Honor."

Walker married Alvina Fuentes at Fort Ringgold in 1891. This couple had two daughters before Alvina Fuentes died at Fort Sam Houston in 1898.

Walker was later commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Philippine Scouts during the Philippine Insurrection and was awarded the Silver Star. He was promoted to captain in the scouts on August 14, 1908. He retired from the military soon after the scouts were disbanded in 1911, and resided in Laredo. Walker became a deputy U.S. marshal for the Southern District of Texas in 1914 and went on to serve as marshal for the same district. 

Allen Walker was married to Enriqueta Peña in 1926; they had seven children. He died at Brooke Army Hospital on September 10, 1953. He is buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Laredo. Walker was inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame, as well as the Indiana Military Hall Of Fame.