In the Army on and off since the year after high school, Don Walters, 33, had misgivings about going back to the Persian Gulf.
His father, Norman Walters of Salem, Ore., said his son was traumatized by his experience guarding Iraqi prisoners in 1991. “He didn’t want to go,” his father said. “But he didn’t have a choice. He had his orders. He felt it was his duty.”
Before he left for overseas, he told his mother he had a feeling he might not be coming back. Over the weekend the family learned that his premonition had come true.
“We want to thank the entire community for their thoughts and prayers and everything they’ve done for us,” the family said in a statement.
Walters grew up in Colorado where his father was a trombone player at the Air Force Academy. The family moved to Salem in 1981 where he graduated from North Salem High School.
During the 1991 Gulf War, “he was very traumatized,” his father said. “He was a changed person when he returned. He was nervous and suffered from terrible thoughts and nightmares.”
He left the Army in 1992 and joined the Reserves. He got married, had two daughters and moved to Kansas City, Mo. He remarried and had another daughter. To give his family greater stability, Walters re-enlisted last year and became a cook. He left for Kuwait in February.
I am in awe....because I fully realize.....he has fully elevated my freedom...by his tragically, astonishing, sacrifice.