I wrote an obituary today for the Army Civilian Human Resources Bulletin.

Here it is:

It is with sadness and regret that we note the passing of Mr. Walter E. Washington, Deputy Director, Directorate of Human Resources Management, Eighth United States Army. Mr. Washington died 29 October 2007 following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Mr. Washington had served as the DHRM Deputy Director since 2003. His outstanding leadership, dedication, and technical expertise will be sorely missed throughout the command. His many contributions were recently recognized by the 8th Army Commanding General with the presentation of the Superior Civilian Service Award.

Mr. Washington began his civilian personnel career at San Diego, California as a Department of the Navy Intern with Naval Air Station, North Island. After completing his internship, he served as a Position Classification Specialist with Commander U.S. Naval Forces, Japan in 1985. Between 1986 and 1999, Mr. Washington held the positions of Chief, Integrated Wage and
Classification Branch; Chief, U.S. Staffing Branch; and Chief, Operations Division, Human Resources Office, Commander U.S. Naval Forces, Japan. In October 1999, Mr. Washington transferred to the Korea Region Civilian Personnel Operations Center, Taegu, Korea as a Personnel Staffing Specialist and in March 2001, he transferred to the Directorate of Human Resources Management, Eighth US Army as a Human Resources Management Specialist.
Mr. Washington was promoted to Deputy in November 2003.

Mr. Washington’s legacy lives on through the many people he helped and mentored throughout his long and successful career. His peers and coworkers will always remember him for his professionalism, honesty, guidance, and friendship.

Walt was my boss. He had the confidence to select me to work in an important position even though I had no Army or DoD experience. We worked closely together on many issues and he really helped me learn and understand military culture and protocol.

When I first arrived in Korea he and his lovely wife Miseon had me to their home for dinner and really helped me feel welcome. I also attended his “Korean” wedding (they had been married several months earlier in the States). Here’s a picture from those happier days:

Walt had first been diagnosed with bone cancer about ten years ago. He had a successful bone marrow transplant and had been in remission. Last year the cancer came back. We all encouraged him to return to the U.S. for treatment, but he was a stubborn cuss. So, he began treatment at a Korean hospital and it wasn’t pretty. Lots of communication issues and drug therapy with side effects that sometimes seemed worse than the cancer. Even as we watched his condition steadily deteriorate, he and Miseon were convinced that he would beat the cancer. Yes, they were in complete denial, but the strength of their faith was quite inspirational. Walt was no quitter, that’s for sure. Whenever he could manage it he kept coming to work, despite his obvious pain and discomfort.

I don’t know why he kept holding on. He was eligible to retire. He had a beautiful young wife who all but worshiped him, but maybe work was his lifeline and he wasn’t ready to let it go.

I was in Busan in early October and got a call on my cellphone from Miseon. Walt had taken a turn for the worse and the drugs were making him hard to control. The doctors said there was nothing more they could do and suggested he return to the States for treatment that was not available in Korea.

It turns out it is very difficult to get a civilian medically evacuated. After several days of dead ends we finally found a “legal” to fly him and Miseon to North Carolina for treatment at Duke University Hospital. I saw them the day before they flew and they both were optimistic that this new drug program would work or that he could get a second marrow transplant. Miseon called after they arrived and was very excited because the Duke people were so caring and had assigned a team of doctors just for him. They had run many tests and she was certain he would be getting better soon.

Two days later she called after getting the test results. The cancer had spread throughout his body and there was nothing they could do for him. They said at most he had days or weeks to live. Miseon was devastated.

Walt died less than two weeks later, one month shy of his 57th birthday. Corine (a coworker who took a job in DC last month) represented the DHRM staff at the funeral. His Superior Civilian Service Award citation was read during the service, and Corine pinned the medal on Walt.

So, that was that. I have been doing Walt’s job and mine these past few months and it looks like I will be “promoted” into the Deputy position permanently (I was a GS-14 before coming to Korea and can be placed non-competitively). Miseon is back in Korea and I am trying to sell Walt’s car for her. And life goes on for the rest of us.