By PAT CENTNER | AFA Journal Staff Writer

When the “Shock and Awe” campaign of Operation Iraqi Freedom began with 29 planes taking off from the USS Abraham Lincoln, crew members not directly involved in the mission watched from inside the ship, via closed-circuit television. As F-14 Tomcats and F-18 Super Hornets streaked into the night sky, E-3 Yeoman Daniel Patrick Walton felt pride, excitement and apprehension for the men inside the cockpits.

Joining the U.S. Navy and having a part in protecting his country were gratifying for the 24-year-old from New Albany, Mississippi. His duties aboard the carrier included logging in the F-14 pilots’ flights and handling the paperwork for awards given to individuals recognized for valiant service.

Walton says his Navy hitch has taught him lessons in patriotism, discipline and duty that he probably would never have learned otherwise. Add to that the privilege and thrill that were his in personally meeting President George W. Bush on board the Lincoln, and you have a man whose perspectives on freedom and honor have been altered forever.

Following his tour of duty, Walton returned home in early May and was greeted by a huge sign on his front lawn declaring, “Welcome home, Dan!” More than happy to be home, he had served aboard the Lincoln for ten months, the longest deployment since the Vietnam War.

For someone who didn’t know what to do with his life three-and-a-half years ago, Walton has come a long way. Before enlisting, he had been enrolled at a local community college, but seldom attended classes. “I had a bad attitude,” he acknowledges.

His mom, Connie, adds, “We finally told him he either had to get a job and live on his own or join the military.”

“I opted for the military,” Walton smiles, “and I chose the Navy because I thought it was laid back.” He quickly learned he was wrong. The structure and discipline of Navy life, as well as the opportunity to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom, molded Walton into a man with a new-found appreciation for his country and the freedoms he now holds dear.

“I really didn’t care about anything patriotic before I joined the military,” he explains. “I used to laugh and mess around when the national anthem was played at ball games. But now I’m all about freedom.

“Some things you take for granted. One day you’re sitting at home watching TV; then suddenly you’re out there on a boat working hard as part of a team that’s protecting our freedoms back home. … It’s amazing, and it makes you appreciate things a lot more.”

Walton experienced the most meaningful day of his life on May 1, 2003, when President Bush landed a Navy jet on the Lincoln and spent the day expressing appreciation to the crew. Walton was given the honor of representing his squadron at a luncheon for the president.

“There were 40 or 50 of us, and we went down to the lunch room, and there he was,” explains Dan. “He really didn’t sit and eat. He got up and moved around, talking to everybody. He shook my hand and said, ‘Thanks. Good job.’ I really didn’t know what to say. I was just astonished that I’d gotten to meet him. It’s a day I’ll never forget.”

That evening, in a rousing speech, the president congratulated everyone aboard the ship on a job well done. “Because of you, our nation is more secure,” Bush told the thousands of cheering sailors. “Because of you, the tyrant has fallen and Iraq is free.”

His entire military experience has been valuable, says Walton. Nowadays, when he hears the Star Spangled Banner or other patriotic songs, he gets “goose bumps.” And his appreciation for the Navy has resulted in his extending his tour of duty. “All the training I’ve had has helped me grow up,” he says. “I have a different attitude about things. The Navy’s right for me. I love protecting our country.”