The United States Navy is set to name a vessel in honor of Don Walsh, a veteran Aggie who left an enduring mark as a marine explorer. Walsh passed away in 2023 at the age of 92.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro shared the announcement on January 10 during a ship-naming event at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland. The future USNS Don Walsh will be classified as a T-AGOS 25, marking the Navy’s latest class of ocean surveillance vessels, newly designated as the Explorer class.
The USNS Don Walsh will rank among seven of these surveillance vessels that the Navy intends to acquire. Del Toro mentioned that each vessel would pay tribute to individuals who made significant discoveries beneath the sea, on solid ground, and high above in the skies. He emphasized that these ships will be crucial for strategic deterrence and maritime operation awareness.
“There’s no better individual to honor for the first vessel than Capt. Don Walsh, whose life and career exemplify the very spirit of exploration, ingenuity, and dedication to our Navy and our nation,” Del Toro remarked.
A History of Service and Exploration
Walsh enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1948 and completed his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954. He participated in the initial amphibious forces and subsequently undertook submarine operations aboard the USS Rasher, USS Sea Fox, and USS Bugara, eventually taking command of the USS Bashaw.
While stationed in San Diego in 1958, he volunteered for a groundbreaking deep-dive initiative, becoming U.S. Navy Submersible Pilot No. 1 — a choice that would solidify his place in history.
On January 23, 1960, Walsh, alongside engineer Jacques Piccard, made history by becoming the first individuals to reach Challenger Deep, the deepest recorded point in the ocean. Navigating the Trieste bathyscaphe, they descended almost 36,000 feet below the ocean’s surface into the Mariana Trench. Their dive is widely regarded as one of the most significant milestones in marine exploration.
In acknowledgment of this accomplishment, President Dwight D. Eisenhower honored Walsh with the Legion of Merit.
Walsh’s Enduring Legacy
Even as his fame as an explorer flourished, Walsh remained devoted to education. While still serving in the Navy, he obtained a doctorate in oceanography from Texas A&M in 1968.
“His historic dive to Challenger Deep as a navy lieutenant was merely a part of what transformed into a life dedicated to the country, the oceans, and the global community,” his son, Kelly Walsh, mentioned in a U.S. Navy news release after the announcement.
Upon retiring from the Navy in 1975, Walsh continued his contribution as an educator, researcher, and marine explorer, earning numerous awards and recognitions for his work in the field.
Joan Walsh and Liz Walsh, the widow and daughter of Don Walsh, will serve as the sponsors of the ship, preserving a lifelong connection to the vessel and its crew.
“Don often reminisced about being a child in the San Francisco Bay area, fantasizing about where all those vessels were heading as they sailed beyond the horizon; that young boy would undoubtedly marvel that one day his legacy would be honored in such a lasting manner,” Liz Walsh stated in the Navy’s news release.
The article US Navy Honors Legendary Aggie Veteran With Namesake Ship first appeared on Texas A&M Today.