By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

William Walton, local veterinarian, didn’t expect to be home until December, but was lucky someone sent some of the U.S. military troops home early.

Walton, a Colonel in the U.S. Reserves, spent the last few months overseas in the war zones of the Middle East.

“I was visiting my parents in Florida, when I got the call that my unit (719 Medical Detachment) was mobilizing,” he said as he took a break at his clinic at 114 S. 11th St.

After saying it was his unit, he clarified his statement. He said he was actually promoted to the Brigade, but when he was informed that they needed vets for the 719, he agreed to go.

It was in January that he had to head for Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin for training. It was his third time in three years to go overseas.

“Vets go all over,” he said as he began listing all the places he has visited on his various tours. In 2001 and 2002 his primary duties were for humanitarian purposes. He and other veterinarians helped Nomads tend their animals.

The most recent tour, while still humanitarian, was to inspect the foods to be consumed by U.S. soldiers and to care for the military animals used by our forces.

He was in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and in Djibouti, Africa.

“Djibouti is a huge port,” he said. On the first tour they went to remote villages to tend to goats and sheep and show the Nomads medical techniques, provide supplies and cared for abscesses in camels and wounds on the goats and sheep.

“The U.S. embassy doubled when we visited,” he said.

This time he was first flown to Kuwait. His main base was in Oman.

“You know it (Oman) is listed as one of the three most beautiful cities in the world,” he said agreeing with the evaluation.

Walton, who has vast experience in food inspection, was responsible during this tour for inspecting the food prepared for U.S. soldiers. He has numerous stories (possibly hundreds) of his inspections for foods in this country. It is evident he earned the reputation of being a tough inspector. One can’t help but wish all inspectors would be as tough as him.

“We also check the military animals. There are about three dogs in each station,” he said.

The dogs find drugs, ammunition, and people. Various species of dogs have various duties.

He shared the story of one dog that gave its life to save the soldiers. The dog was pawing the sand to show a buried mine and just the slight motion ignited the mine and killed the dog.

“The soldiers should be smart enough not to try to fool the dogs when it comes to carrying drugs,” he said.

While he was overseas, he got to visit his son for eight days. He had not seen his son, an Airman in the U.S. Air Force, for a couple of years.

All the time he was away, three area veterinarians took care of Walton’s clients.

“Dr. Donald Tursman, who runs the Valparaiso Animal Hospital, gave up his lunch hours and evenings,” Walton said. “I didn’t know Dr. Christy had quit until I was already in Kuwait. Don jumped right in to help. He didn’t charge me anything.

“Also Dr. Edwin O’Dell and Dr. Harold Okone worked at reduced rates to help me out.”

“I really appreciate what they did for me and my clients,” he said.

Walton, who said he is going to retire from the Reserves in December, said he is looking forward to staying at the clinic here in Chesterton.

“I started out at Indian Oak Mall 25 years ago,” but left there because there wasn’t parking to accommodate my clients,” he said. For four months he was located at a small temporary shop on 15th Street and finally at the current location. I no sooner got settled in here and had to leave for Desert Storm.

“It’s great to be home,” he said.

Posted 8/21/2003