Retired Coast Guard member would love to serve again

At 73 years old, retired Coast Guard serviceman Owen Walker still walks tall with the pride of a man who gave his best to his country.

Standing at the edge of a crowd during Monday's military display in Kingston, he looked on as helicopters buzzed overhead and modern ships glided across the harbour - emblems of how far the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard has come since his time. For Walker, the moment was more than a trip down memory lane - it was a reminder of why he would do it all over again, in this life or any other.

"The modernisation, the advancements - they're incredible. Back in my day, we worked with what we had, but now the opportunities are endless. If I could, I'd jump right back in," he said.

Born and raised in Kingston, Walker's journey to the Coast Guard wasn't a straight path. After studying at Denham Town Primary School, he matriculated to Kingston Technical High School but was expelled after a confrontation with another student in grade nine.

"I didn't let that stop me, I went to Westmoreland for a while and completed my education. I then returned to Kingston and got some employment at Bellevue Hospital and was later trained as a nurse," he recalled.

"I saw my opportunity to apply to the JDF and I was accepted to the National Reserve in the early '70s," said Walker. "I stayed there [but] because of my nursing experience they placed me with the medical team. I became a sick berth attendant, which meant I cared for anyone who fell ill while we were at sea." Walker was assigned to the Coast Guard vessel, Fort Charles.

The Coast Guard of Walker's era was vastly different from today. Ships were smaller, helicopters less advanced, and technology a far cry from the digital systems now in place. But what they lacked in resources, they made up for it in camaraderie and skill.

Walker fondly remembers training exercises and the occasional overseas deployments, including trips to Guantanamo Bay for ship dry-docking.

"Sometimes we stayed back to help, and other times we'd fly back to Jamaica," he said. Walker marvels at the evolution of equipment and techniques in the Coast Guard.

"Back then, we did everything manually," he said. "Now, they've got digital systems, and even the firing range is gone - it's all simulated. It's fascinating to see how technology has changed the way they operate."

Though decades have passed since his retirement in 1988, and subsequent migration to Canada, Walker's pride in his service hasn't diminished.

"When I saw the helicopters and the men in uniform, it turned back the hands of time," he admitted, while offering advice to the younger generation of Coast Guard members.

"Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you," he urged. "Technology is a tool that can help you learn and grow faster than ever before. Open your mind, embrace it, and make the most of what's available now."