Walker was named for Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker, first in his Naval Academy class. Bath laid her down on 31 August 1942, launched her on 31 January 1943, and commissioned her on 3 April under Commander O. F. Gregor.
She spent the Pacific war on escort, screen, and bombardment duty and entered Tokyo after occupation air-rescue work. She reached San Pedro on 1 November 1945 and decommissioned at San Diego on 31 May 1946. Six battle stars.
Reclassified an escort destroyer in 1949, she recommissioned on 15 September 1951 and that winter joined the blockade off Korea, screening carriers. She reverted to a straight destroyer in 1962, served into the Vietnam years, and decommissioned on 2 June 1969. Italy took her the next month, on 2 July, as Fante. The Italians retired her in 1977 and she was scrapped. Two Korean battle stars and three for Vietnam.