2018 Memorial Day Guest Speaker Announced

Colonel Walt Shumway, United States Army (Ret)

Colonel Shumway served 32 years in the US Army, 28 years on active duty, and the rest in the National Guard and Reserve.? He enlisted in the National Guard in 1956 while in high school, and later joined ROTC in college and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.? He received his BS degree from Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama.? Other civilian education includes Master of Public Administration from Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama.

While on active duty he served in command at the Platoon, Company, Battalion, and Brigade levels.? He is a graduate of the Airborne School, Army Command and General Staff College, and the Air War College.

He has served three combat tours:

  • 1965 in Dominican Republic as an Airborne Company Commander;
  • 1967 in Vietnam as a Company Commander;
  • 1972 in Vietnam as an Advisor to a South Vietnamese Army Battalion;
  • Jan- Mar 1973, XO, POW LN Division, Four Party Joint Military Commission, Saigon, South Vietnam.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritoriuos Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, 3 campaigns, and the Meritoriuos Unit Commendation Award with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.? His Foreign Service awards include Vietnam Honor Medal and Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Other overseas tours included Command at the Brigade level in Europe with units in Germany and Northern Italy.? Colonel Shumway retired in 1989 from Ft McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia, after serving as Inspector General, Forces Command.

He and his wife, Nancy, have lived in Hiawassee, Georgia for 24 years.? Their daughter and her family live in Evansville, Indiana.