▁for ▁next ▁ 1 0 ▁hours . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁Island ▁Head quarters ▁of ▁Japanese ▁Army ▁was ▁conquer ed , ▁Walker ▁radio ed ▁to ▁the ▁Commander ▁of ▁Am ph ib ious ▁Group ▁Two , ▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁Harry ▁W . ▁Hill : ▁" I ▁present ▁you ▁with ▁the ▁island ▁of ▁Par ry ". ▁Walker ▁was ▁subsequently ▁decor ated ▁with ▁the ▁military ' s ▁second - high est ▁decor ation ▁awarded ▁for ▁valor ▁in ▁combat , ▁Navy ▁Cross . ▁He ▁also ▁received ▁the ▁Navy ▁Unit ▁Comm end ation . ▁ ▁When ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Pro vis ional ▁Marine ▁Brigade ▁under ▁Brig ad ier ▁General ▁Lem uel ▁C . ▁She ph erd ▁Jr . ▁was ▁react iv ated ▁at ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁Walker ▁had ▁been ▁appointed ▁its ▁chief ▁of ▁staff . ▁Walker ▁participated ▁with ▁his ▁new ▁command ▁in ▁the ▁Rec apt ure ▁of ▁Gu am ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁and ▁was ▁decor ated ▁with ▁the ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Mer it ▁with ▁Com bat ▁" V " ▁and ▁second ▁Navy ▁Unit ▁Comm end ation . ▁ ▁The ▁ 1 st ▁Pro vis ional ▁Brigade ▁was ▁dis band ed ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁and ▁its ▁units ▁were ▁used ▁to ▁form ▁ 6 th ▁Marine ▁Division ▁with ▁She ph erd ▁in ▁command ▁and ▁Walker ▁as ▁chief ▁of ▁staff . ▁Walker ▁remained ▁in ▁this ▁capacity ▁until ▁ 1 6 ▁November , ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁rel ieved ▁by ▁Colonel ▁John ▁C .