Honoring Veterans: Justin Tyler Walsh

This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Marine Corps Veteran Justin Tyler Walsh, who served in Al Anbar province, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Walsh was born in September 1982 in Akron, Ohio. He grew up in a very welcoming community, and he played four years of football at Cuyahoga Falls High School while also being a wrestler and a member of Student Council, Latin Club, National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was determined to join the Marine Corps since his freshman year, even though he “could’ve gone anywhere,” as he excelled academically. 

Walsh was well known by his peers for his leadership abilities and technical expertise. He was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He served during the Invasion of Iraq, where he worked as an explosive ordnance disposal technician. He was wounded by an explosive device while defusing a roadside bomb during his third tour in Iraq, and ultimately saved his team leader from major injuries due to the way he positioned his body when the device detonated.

Walsh was awarded many medals, including a Combat Action Ribbon, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Expeditionary Medal, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, a National Defense Service Medal, a Certificate of Commendation and, posthumously, a Purple Heart.

Walsh died in October 2006. He was 24. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. 

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for Honoring Veterans

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s Honoring Veterans social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Writer: Trinity Green

Editors: Tayler Rairigh, James Bisceglia

Researchers: Raphael Romea, Jonathan Lee

Graphic Designer: Maura Joyce