My walk today was dedicated in honor of:
Navy BM1 Walter G Pope, Age 35 Of Carthage, TN.
KIA April 29, 1968 Vietnam
Pope enlisted in the US Navy in June 1952 and served in the Korean War.
Graduating from Underwater Demolition Team Replacement training (Class 36) in December 1965, Petty Officer Pope served with UDT-12 at NAB Coronado from December 1965 before joining SEAL Team ONE in April 1967. MIKE platoon deployed initially to the Rung Sat Special Zone, before being transferred to the Mekong .
On 29th April 1968, Boatswains Mate First Class Walter G. Pope and his platoon were loaded aboard their LCPL insertion craft enroute to an operational area. Without warning the Stoner 63 Light Machine Gun he was carrying began firing, killing Pope and seriously injuring team mate Frank Toms. The vibration of the boat’s engines had caused the takedown pin holding the trigger housing on the Stoner to vibrate out of position. When the pin fell out, the cocked bolt was released and the Stoner opened fire.
A Bronze Star with Combat “V” veteran of 15 missions, Pope took forty three rounds giving his own life to save those of his team mates, pulling the weapon to him in a final attempt to save them from the runaway weapon.
Walter Pope was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
We had an amazing 10 mile walk this morning. We took a break and talked to James a Vietnam Veteran and then we walked to the City Cemetery and visited 84 of our fallen Veterans and came back threw town and visited with a couple veterans. We had a great walk. I want to thank everyone who honked and waved in helping me honor this hero.
He will NOT be forgotten !
Oh my word, thank you so much for honoring Navy BM1 Walter Pope.and ALL of our Veterans… THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. WHAT AN HONOR YOU BESTOW ON THEM ALL TIM..GOD BLESS YOU!
Thank you for the kind words Andrea. It was an honor to walk with him.