Changes

William Thomas and Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Stovall Walker​

William Thomas and Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Stovall Walker​

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate for [[United States House of Representatives]], 8th congressional district, 1964​

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate for [[United States House of Representatives]], 8th congressional district, 1964​

|alma_mater=[[Northwestern State University]]​}}

|alma_mater=[[Northwestern State University]]

|branch=[[United States Army]]​

Rescued 380 fellow soldiers from behind enemy lines in [[Belgium]]}}

'''William Stewart Walker,''' usually known as '''Stewart Walker''' (October 6, 1914 – February 6, 1999), was a lieutenant colonel froom Winnfield [[Louisiana]], who during [[World War II]] as a [[United States Army]] major, rescued 380 of his fellow soldiers from behind enemy lines in [[Belgium]] in December 1944. In 1964, he ran unsuccessfully as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] for Louisiana's since disbanded 8th congressional district seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]].​

'''William Stewart Walker,''' usually known as '''Stewart Walker''' (October 6, 1914 – February 6, 1999), was a lieutenant colonel from Winnfield, [[Louisiana]], who during [[World War II]] as a [[United States Army]] major, rescued 380 of his fellow soldiers from behind enemy lines in [[Belgium]] in December 1944. In 1964, he ran unsuccessfully as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] for Louisiana's since disbanded 8th congressional district seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]].​

==Background==

==Background==

On December 23, 1944, pilots in unarmed C-47s attempted unsuccessfully to fly in supplies. On December 24, three German officers appeared in half-tracks bearing a white flag. They told Hogan that the Allied position was hopeless. The men saluted when Hogan replied that he had been ordered to fight to the finish. Lieutenant Harold L. W. Randall of White Cloud, [[Kansas]], led an exploratory patrol. On [[Christmas Day]], the force was ordered to try to make a run for it.  The men blackened their faces and removed their helmets to confuse enemy patrols. They damaged their armored vehicles to make them useless to the enemy. Hogan's men hiked over terrain so rugged that the Nazis had not thought it necessary to man the areas. Finally, on December 26, all but twenty of the four hundred men returned in triumph.<ref name=dixon/>​

On December 23, 1944, pilots in unarmed C-47s attempted unsuccessfully to fly in supplies. On December 24, three German officers appeared in half-tracks bearing a white flag. They told Hogan that the Allied position was hopeless. The men saluted when Hogan replied that he had been ordered to fight to the finish. Lieutenant Harold L. W. Randall of White Cloud, [[Kansas]], led an exploratory patrol. On [[Christmas Day]], the force was ordered to try to make a run for it.  The men blackened their faces and removed their helmets to confuse enemy patrols. They damaged their armored vehicles to make them useless to the enemy. Hogan's men hiked over terrain so rugged that the Nazis had not thought it necessary to man the areas. Finally, on December 26, all but twenty of the four hundred men returned in triumph.<ref name=dixon/>​

Walker's subsequent activities were thereafter reported by ''The New Orleans Times Picayune'' under the headline "'Task Force Hogan' Back from New Armored Raid Deep into Germany".<ref>"'Task Force Hogan' Back from New Armored Raid Deep into Germany", ''New Orleans Times-Picayune'', January 9, 1945.</ref>

Walker's subsequent activities were thereafter reported by ''The New Orleans Times Picayune'' under the headline "'Task Force Hogan' Back from New Armored Raid Deep into Germany".<ref>"'Task Force Hogan' Back from New Armored Raid Deep into Germany", ''New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' January 9, 1945.</ref>

There is no evidence that Walker received any medals or commendation for his work in the relief of the soldiers in Belgium.​

There is no evidence that Walker received any medals or commendation for his work in the relief of the soldiers in Belgium.​

==Republican congressional campaign, 1964==

==Republican congressional campaign, 1964==

On returning to Louisiana after his military career ended in compulsory retirement, Walker taught military science for a time at his ''alma mater'', Northwestern State University, where his brother, George T. Walker, was then the dean.<ref>Statement of Ellen Walker Stephenson of Lancaster, [[Pennsylvania]], a niece of William S. Walker, September 2008.</ref>​

On returning to Louisiana after his military career ended in compulsory retirement, Walker taught military science for a time at his ''alma mater,'' Northwestern State University, where his brother, George T. Walker, was then the dean.<ref>Statement of Ellen Walker Stephenson of Lancaster, [[Pennsylvania]], a niece of William S. Walker, September 2008.</ref>​

He soon became active in the budding movement to establish a competitive Republican Party in Louisiana, having first been a candidate for the Louisiana State Senate in the [[general election]] held on March 3, 1964, the same contest in which [[Charlton Lyons]] of [[Shreveport]], who also had Winn Parish ties, carried the Republican banner for governor. Walker was defeated, 81-19 percent, by the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[nominee]], former state Representative [[W. L. Rambo]] of Georgetown in Grant Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election returns, Louisiana State Senate, March 3, 1964.</ref> who was allied with the [[Earl Long|Long]] political faction and was even to a member of the Long family.​

He soon became active in the budding movement to establish a competitive Republican Party in Louisiana, having first been a candidate for the Louisiana State Senate in the [[general election]] held on March 3, 1964, the same contest in which [[Charlton Lyons]] of [[Shreveport]], who also had Winn Parish ties, carried the Republican banner for governor. Walker was defeated, 81-19 percent, by the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[nominee]], former state Representative [[W. L. Rambo]] of Georgetown in Grant Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election returns, Louisiana State Senate, March 3, 1964.</ref> who was allied with the [[Earl Long|Long]] political faction and was even to a member of the Long family.​