Photo By Chief Petty Officer David Kolmel | KILLEEN, Texas (Sept. 26, 2019) - Navy Medicine Education, Training and Logistics...... read more read more
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KILLEEN, Texas – Sailors assigned to Navy Medicine Education, Training and Logistics Command (NMETLC); Navy Medicine Training Support Center (NMTSC); and Navy Recruiting District San Antonio (NRD-SA) attended the graveside service of a Navy veteran, Sept. 26, 2019.
Sonar Technician (Submarine) 3rd Class Mark Lyle Walker served on the Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631) during the late 70’s and early 80’s and had no family or next of kin, prompting the San Antonio-area Sailors to make the two-hour drive from Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) to honor Walker's Navy service.
“Mr. Walker honored his country through his service to the Navy,” said NMETLC Command Master Chief Richard Putnam. “Honoring Mr. Walker is our way to celebrate our country’s values. Honor, courage and commitment are the Navy’s core values, and Mr. Walker’s service to his country exemplifies those values.”
For those attending, it was a chance to show that those who served in the Navy will always have family behind them.
“We are going to celebrate this Sailor’s life and pay homage to him for his service to our country,” said NMETLC Chief Hospital Corpsman Shante Morris. “He is my family.”
Morris said the experience was a chance to reiterate the team spirit that represents the Navy.
“The first thing that came to my heart was ‘One Team, One Fight!’” said Morris. “It’s a chant that you often hear to motivate a team, but for me it’s a way of life. Think about this. There is someone leaving their family right now to serve our country. That member will always be my brother or sister in arms. I am ultimately standing in the gap as they are away from their family. In life and in death, we have to make it our business to continue to standing in the gap.”
About 200-300 people throughout the south Texas area came out to honor Walker, including county officials, retired military members, military veteran organizations, motorcycle groups and other community members who wanted to pay their respects for his service.
Perhaps local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) member Terry Craig, described the graveside service best.
“Mark is surrounded by his family that he never knew he had.”
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2019 08:43 |
| Story ID: | 344071 |
| Location: | KILLEEN, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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