Navy salutes retiring SEAL credited
with developing top free-fall techniques
By Scott Schonauer,
Rota bureau
Scott Schonauer / S&S
Master Chief Petty Officer John Walker shows off a shadow box Friday during his retirement
ceremony at Naval Station Rota, Spain. Sailors with Naval Special Warfare Unit 10 gave the
gift to Walker, who retired after 30 years as a Navy Seal. |
NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain — The man Navy commandos consider the father of some of
their most effective aerial free-fall techniques has retired after 30 years of service.
Members of Naval Special Warfare Unit 10, along with family and friends, honored Master
Chief Petty Officer John Walker on Friday during a military ceremony in Rota.
Walker is well known in the Navy’s special operations for developing and teaching
the same free-fall, or skydiving, methods used today by the Navy’s elite warriors,
also known as SEALs.
Retired Army Sgt. Major Phillip Clayton said current and former commandos would never
forget his good friend.
"You are leaving behind a legacy," Clayton said.
Chief Petty Officer Ty Anthony called Walker a mentor who taught him the tricks and
techniques that allowed him to make more than 1,200 jumps. He said he also taught him
about commando brotherhood and being a warrior.
"It’s really because of him," he said. "I could not be where
I’m at in my career without him."
Other commandos also owe Walker a bit of gratitude, Anthony said. He called Walker a
"legend in the community."
Those unfamiliar with his background wouldn’t know that by the ambiguous biography
handed out at the ceremony. The pamphlet mentioned his Joint Commendation Medal with
combat valor and other awards but didn’t go into details as to how he got them.
Of course, the lack of specifics isn’t surprising, considering Navy SEALs often
perform clandestine missions.
During a brief speech, he hinted at the dangers he and his fellow SEAL teams faced in
the past three decades.
After receiving several awards and commendations, including a letter from President
Bush, he looked into the crowd and asked family and friends to recognize those who could
not make it.
"People make a lot of sacrifices," he said. "For over 30 years, I could
fill up these front two rows with friends that I have lost. I’d just like to take
this moment to acknowledge them."
The comment hushed the crowd of about 100 in the outdoor amphitheater.
Being a part of the Navy SEAL community is more than a job, it takes a great deal of
sacrifice, he added. Sailors have to be ready at all times because, "I guarantee the
guy you’re going up against doesn’t care what the per diem rate in this
country," he said.
He ended with a message to junior officers and sailors in the unit, where he served as
the command master chief.
"Stay sharp. Stay focused," he said. "Be safe."
For the former free-fall and jumpmaster instructor, it would be his last lesson in
uniform.
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