Dick passed away on 3 October, 2026. He was my friend and mentor, helping me navigate my mother's passing, as well as the depths of MDNTs politics. We bonded over Lionel trains, and we spent many days together going to train shows and railroad museums. We also celebrated his 80th birthday in Oak Ridge, Tenn, where we went to view the eclipse.
A group of individuals (both men and women) all played a significant role in maintaining Nuclear Deterrence over the past 75 years. Not just the obvious military personnel who served as crews of the nuclear deterrence forces (bombers, ICBM silos and nuclear submarines, as well as tactical weapon platforms) but also those who provided supporting efforts in the production of these forces, the training needed, and, like me, the war planning for our nuclear forces.-– Col Richard L Walker, USAF (retired)
