A Tribute to the American Astronauts Buried at Arlington National Cemetery
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David Mathieson Walker, a Captain in the United States Navy (Retired), was born on May 20, 1944 in Columbus, Georgia. He was an Associate Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Eagle Scout Association.

Walker died on April 23, 2001 while being treated at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

NASA Biography

Space Flights:

• Pilot, STS-51A, Discovery, November 8-16, 1984, retrieved two satellites that had been deployed during the STS-41B mission earlier in the year and had been placed into improper orbits because their kick motors malfunctioned
• Commander, STS-30, Atlantis, May 4-May 8, 1989, deployed the Magellan spacecraft to study Venus
• Commander, STS-53, Discovery, December 2-9, 1992, classified Department of Defense payload
• Commander, STS-69, Endeavour, September 7-18, 1995, Spartan 201 free-flying satellite and the second flight of the Wake Shield Facility

Total Hours in Space: 725

Astronaut Group:

Degrees: BS, United States Naval Academy, 1966

Military Service & Awards: He served in Vietnam. Awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, the Legion of Merit, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, six Navy Air Medals, the Battle Efficiency Ribbon, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Section: 66
Grave: 66 5191 front
Grid: EE-17