Walter Henderson

Walter Henderson July 14, 1931 – May 25, 2021 Originally born Walter Turner Candler III in Kansas City, MO, to his mother, the former Mary Catherine Peirce and father, Walter Turner Candler Jr, grandson of Asa Griggs Candler. His mother would later remarry Morris King Henderson, an Army officer and the man he considered to be his father, whose name he later took as his own. Walter grew up in a military family around Army posts such as Fort Benning, GA, Fort Davis in Panama, and West Point. Eventually his father was assigned to Japan during the occupation, where Walter graduated from Yokohama High School. After his dad’s tour in post-war Japan, Walt attended Kent School, a prep school in Connecticut. Upon graduation, Walter entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1949. While at West Point, Walter was assigned to company G-2. He participated in the Glee Club, performing on the Ed Sullivan Show on several occasions. He also was a member of the Dialectic Society and Cadet Pistol Team. He drew cartoons for The Pointer magazine, many of which made the cover and inside pages. Walter was full of determination and grit, much of which was forged and tested at West Point. During his cadetship, he was diagnosed with polio and hospitalized. He was discharged from the post hospital in time to represent Company G-2 in the Intramural Boxing Tournament. Walter graduated from West Point in 1953 with a BS degree in Engineering, and was commissioned as an infantry officer, following in his dad’s footsteps. At Fort Benning, he earned his jump wings. The Ranger course was still new then, and Walt won the coveted tab. His first assignment was at Fort Myer with the Third Infantry Regiment. The Old Guard. He later moved on to serve with the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Walt had many interests. In addition to being a soldier, he was renaissance man who pursued many athletic, creative, and adventurous endeavors. He enjoyed drawing, painting, calligraphy, photography and sculpture. He was well read, in literature and history. He was a member of the Army pistol team and placed at the National Matches in 1954. He fenced foil and saber in Amateur Fencing League competition. He enjoyed sports car racing, and established the Armed Forces Foreign Car Club, where he raced an MG and Corvette. He was certified in SCUBA and was an experienced diver. Walter was also conversant in several languages, to include French, Spanish, Japanese, and other languages he would pick up during his time working the Embassy circuit, while at the Pentagon. Upon leaving active duty, during the late 1950’s, Walt got an offer from the General Electric Company and handed in his regular commission to work at GE. He worked in manufacturing and then in company legal services while he attended law school at night at the George Washington University Law School. He was the Vice Dean of Delta Theta Phi, and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1961. He was admitted to the Bar in Maryland the following year. Walt worked briefly for a law firm in Washington in the early 1960s, then as an attorney for the Air Force. He went on to join the Army General Counsel, the legal advisor to the Secretary of the Army. While serving as a civilian in the Pentagon, Walt stayed active in the Army Reserve. As the war in Viet Nam began to heat up, and while still working full time in the Army General Counsel’s office, he joined a Reserve group of Army Special Forces, and later became Special Forces qualified. He was subsequently assigned to a Reserve billet in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence. In 1983, he retired from the Army in the grade of Colonel with 30 years active and Reserve service. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the Senior Parachutist Badge. After the Army General Counsel’s Office, his civilian career took him to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he worked as an analyst in defense acquisition and procurement policy. He was the U.S. member of a standing NATO working group on acquisition practices and was the lead negotiator of defense trade agreements with several NATO and allied governments. He retired from the Department of Defense in 1999, receiving the Civilian Career Service Award. Over the years, Walt was active in his West Point Class. He served as Class President for two years, Treasurer for nine years, and General Counsel continuously since 1992. He represented the Class of ’53 several times at the annual Leaders’ Conference at West Point. During and after his service in the Pentagon, Walt was active in the Federal Bar Association, in which he served as Chairman of the International Procurement Committee. In that capacity, he organized and chaired conferences at the embassies of Finland, France, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition to his professional activities, Walt was also active in the Special Forces Association, where he served as Vice President of the National Capital Chapter. For over 30 years, Walt was a faithful member of Christ Church, Georgetown, Washington, DC, where he served as a member of the Ushers’ Guild. Of all his accomplishments and accolades, Walter was first and foremost a loving son, husband and father. He is survived by his brother, George Henderson, daughter, Gwen Parsons, and sons Ian and Kevin Henderson. His beloved wife of 38 years, Anne, daughter Sheila and grandson Phillip Sorrells, preceded his passing. Walter leaves eight grandchildren, one of whom is his namesake, as well as one great grandchild. Walter’s memorial service will be held on Wed, June 16 at 10:30am at Christ Church Georgetown. His body will be interred, alongside his beloved wife, Anne, at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers and in reverence to his time in Army Special Forces, donations may be made in Walter’s name to the SOF Warrior Foundation.