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MAJ Mark E Cooper
to remember
Shumate, Walter Lee (Walt), SGM.
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SGM Walter L. Shumate was born in Pocahontas, Virginia on September 20, 1934. He began his military career in February 1952 as an Airborne Infantryman and was assigned to the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team (Rakassans), serving in the Korean War.
He later served in the 11th Airborne Division (ABN DIV) (Germany), in the Pathfinder Platoon and as an Airborne / Jumpmaster School instructor. Next, he was assigned to the 82nd ABN DIV where he served as a Squad Leader in the 504th PIR. In January of 1962 he volunteered for Special Forces, completed the SFQC as a Light Weapons Sergeant and was assigned to SFOD-A 323, C co, 1st SFG (A), Okinawa. Between 1962 and 1964 he and his detachment deployed to Vietnam twice.
In 1963 SGM Shumate completed a dive course taught by a U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team and embarked on a program he would continue throughout much of his military career, teaching Combat Diver & Maritime Operations. In 1964 SGM Shumate completed HALO training in Okinawa prior to being assigned to the 7th SFG (A) at Ft. Bragg, NC, where he was subsequently attached to the Special Warfare Training Group in support of advanced infiltration training. During this period he was responsible for gaining the approval from the U.S. Navy to allow the Army to utilize their facilities in Key West, FL in support of SF dive training. SGM Shumate designed and implemented a program of instruction that became the nucleus of what is known today as the Special Forces Underwater Operations Course. In 1966 SGM Shumate returned to Vietnam where he served for a year as a Recon Team Leader in Project Delta. The following year he was reassigned to Ft. Bragg and served for over two years as an instructor on the HALO Committee. In 1969 SGM Shumate was assigned to the 46th Special Forces Company (A) in Thailand where he ran an Underwater Operations Course. In 1970 he returned to the Special Warfare Training Group and helped stand up a permanent SCUBA School in Key West, FL. In 1971 he returned to Vietnam and served a year in MACV SOG-CCC. In 1972 he was assigned to Okinawa and served 2.5 years as the Operations Sergeant of a SCUBA Team in the 1st SFG (A) and often ran a Combat Diver Course for the Group. In 1974 he returned to Ft. Bragg where he once again served as a Team Sergeant and later a Company SGM in 2/7th SFG (A). From 1977 to 1982 SGMShumate served in 1st SFOD-D where he ran Selection & Training and also participated in Operation Eagle Claw, the attempt to rescue Americans taken hostage in the wake of the Iranian Revolution.
SGM Shumate Retired in 1982 and continued to serve in Delta as a civilian until his death in 1993. In 1994 the Free Accent Dive Tower at the Special ForcesUnderwater Operations School was named in honor of SGM Shumate.
SGM Shumate’s awards and decorations include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star; Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm; Korean Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars; United Nations Service Medal; Vietnamese Campaign Medal; Master Parachutist Badge; Combat Infantry & Expert Infantry Badges; Combat Diver Badge; Master Freefall Badge; and the Special Forces & Ranger Tabs.
SGM Shumate is survived by his wife Helen, daughter Joanne, son Alan, and
grandsons Samuel and Alex Shumate.
Other Comments:
Korean War/Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
From Month/Year
May / 1952
To Month/Year
November / 1952
Description In May the enemy became bolder, increasing his probing attacks and patrols, intensifying his artillery fire, and aggressively interrupting U.N. patrols. In May 1952 an estimated total of 102,000 artillery and mortar rounds fell in Eighth Army positions.
As a result of increased Chinese ground action in the 45th Division sector, the division planned an operation to establish eleven patrol bases across its front. Operation COUNTER began on 6 June. By the 7th, ten of the eleven objectives had been taken. The last one (Hi11 191, eight miles west of Ch'orwon) was captured after a 48-hour battle on 14 June. The Chinese immediately launched counterattacks along the entire division front, climaxing their efforts on the night of 28-29 June with an unsuccessful 4-hour attack. The division sustained over 1,000 casualties during the month of June; Chinese losses were estimated at more than 5,000.
Throughout the first half of 1952, the U.N. forces waged a. war of containment. The frontline soldier, meanwhile, hoped that the armistice negotiators would soon reach an agreement.
As the Korean War went into its third year, in June 1952, the deadlock continued. July began with a series of small-scale attacks by both sides. Torrential rains restricted activity in the last week of July and through most of August. For some time the enemy had gradually increased the volume of mortar and artillery fire in support of his attacks, and in September fired a total of 45,000 rounds against the Eighth Army's front.
During the summer of 1952 the air war over Korea intensified. In addition to striking at supply centers, troop concentrations, power plants, factories, and rail and road networks, U.N. aircraft rendered valuable assistance to frontline troops by bombing, or searing with napalm, enemy bunkers, trenches, gun positions, and communications lines. On 29 August the largest U.N. air raid of the Korean War was carried out on P'yongyang, the North Korean capital. During the month of September alone the U.S. Fifth Air Force shot down 64 MIG-15's at a cost of seven Sabrejets.
A series of enemy attacks in October 1952 produced some of the heaviest fighting in more than a year. Most of it centered around two key heights, Hills 281 and 395, northwest of Ch'orwon. The attacks were opened on 6 October with the largest volume of mortar and artillery fire received by the Eighth Army during the war. By 15 October the disputed ground was held firmly by U.N. forces, and the enemy withdrew. Over 2,000 Chinese dead were counted on these two hills after the 10-day battle.
