Remembering Casper
Major John M. Walsh


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Major Eddie Fox, USMC:  Casper was one of the best Cobra pilots ever to wear the uniform.


It was all about flying...

[From the eulogy given by his father Larry]
"John wanted to be a fighter pilot since the age 8.  He never changed his mind.  He loved military history, building model airplanes, anything to do with planes.  We started going to airports when he was 8.  I would ask him what he wanted to do for his birthday and it would be something like, "I want to go to Wright Patterson Air Force base." That was about a 5 hour drive from Detroit.  I would go back and shake my head to my wife.  "Not again" But off we would go.  I can't begin to tell you the number of air shows we went to, and as far away as Omaha, NE.  Now, I like planes as well as the next guy but . And when John was there and got a chance to speak to a pilot, well, he was really thrilled.  And later, he became a pilot, and he was at the air shows talking to the people.  He loved that, especially talking to the kids. Sometimes the "kids" might be 23 and gorgeous, but hey."

John joined the USMC right after college and went through Basic Training (3 months) and Officer Training School (6 months). Then to Pensacola, FL and later Corpus Christi, TX for flight training, learning on T-38's. He graduated 3rd in his class – out of 20. The top guys got their pick of what they wanted to fly. The Marines had no F-18 slots (fighter jets) open when he graduated, which was a big disappointment. He got his second choice, a Cobra Gunship, a truly awesome machine. He loved flying the Cobra. Flying was everything he ever dreamed it would be. He loved it.

John's favorite Bible verse: 
 
Do you not know? Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

-Isaiah 40:28-31

John's favorite poem about flying

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