Honoree: Howard Walters

Hometown: Port Huron, MI
Branch of Service: Air Force
Rank: Technical Sergeant
Player: Hunter Thomson
Technical Sergeant Howard Walters, 33, of Port Huron, Mich, was assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron out of Hurlburt Field, FL., where he was an aerial gunner providing air support for ground troops and resupplying Special Forces units. On November 23, 2003, he was on board an MH-53M helicopter when it crashed 9 miles east of Bagram AFB in Afghanistan after the engines stalled.
TSgt Howard joined the Air Force in 1988 after graduating from Port Huron High School, where he was an honor student and very active in sports. His first assignment was with the 93rd Munitions Maintenance squadron at Castle Air Force Base where he trained as a weapons load monitor. In 1995, he became an aerial gunner with the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Airbase, FL. He also spent time as an instructor for both the future MH-53 and HH-60 gunners.
TSgt Walters was very popular with his classmates because of his caring nature and sense of humor. Even as a child, he talked about going into the Air Force to become an astronaut because of his love of science and space.
TSgt Howard leaves behind his wife, Melissa and four daughters.