[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 73 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN DAVE WALKER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. C.L. ``BUTCH'' OTTER

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2001

  Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
American, Dave Walker, who today will be laid to rest in Arlington 
Cemetery. Captain Dave Walker served his country on the sea, in the 
sky, and among the stars.
  Captain Walker graduated from the United States Naval academy in 
1966, completed his flight training, and became an F-4 Phantom Pilot. 
He led many combat missions over Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam, 
Dave became a test pilot and helped the Navy transition from the F-4 to 
the F-14 Tomcat that is still flown today. During his naval career, he 
was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, six Air Medals, and the 
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, among others.
  In 1978 Dave was selected by NASA for astronaut training and 
graduated in 1979. He served in many important support roles, including 
chase plane pilot for STS-1, and mission support leader for STS-5 and 
6. Dave first went into space aboard the Space Shuttle discovery during 
Mission STS 51-A in 1984--the first salvage operation completed in 
space.
  Dave Walker returned to space in 1989 as commander of STS-30 aboard 
the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Dave and his crew again contributed to 
scientific knowledge by launching the Magellan space probe to Venus. He 
also commanded the Space Shuttles Discovery and Endeavour on important 
missions in recent years.
  After leaving NASA in 1996 Dave Walker entered the private sector, 
and he and his wife purchased a home in McCall. Dave quickly advanced 
as President of the Idaho Aviation Assocaiton and the Idaho Aviation 
Foundation, and worked tirelessly to promote and protect the aviation 
community. He was particularly interested in working to reopen Cascade 
Reservoir Air Strip, one of the most beautiful fields in Idaho.
  Sadly, Dave will never get the chance to fly into Cascade Reservoir 
airstrip again. He was diagnosed with cancer in March and passed away 
on April 23rd. He is survived by his wife Paige, his children Michael 
and Mathieson, and a grateful nation. Heroes are buried in Arlington 
Cemetery, but heroes like Dave Walker will live on in the lives of the 
people he fought to protect in Vietnam, the knowledge he contributed to 
space technology and aviation, and the friendships he made in Idaho.

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