Green Beret dies at special forces dive school in Key West

A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier died July 27 while training at the Special Forces Underwater Operations School in Key West.

Staff Sgt. Micah E. Walker, 31, of Peyton, Colorado, had been assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, Colorado since March 2021.

Walker was a student in the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course.

On July 27, he was in the pool taking part in a conditioning exercise that stresses the students’ cardio, respiratory and muscular endurance when he “submerged and did not resurface,” according to a statement from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

Walker was taken to the Lower Keys Medical Center in Key West where he was pronounced dead.

The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker in Alabama initially called the death a “drowning mishap” at Naval Air Station Key West.

But an autopsy report has ruled out drowning as the cause of death, according to Janice Burton, the spokeswoman for the Special Warfare Center and School.

“There were no mistakes made in the training that caused his death,” Burton said Tuesday. “They’re still doing other testing to try and determine what actually killed him. We don’t have that information back yet.”

Burton said it could take weeks to get the test results.

“We do not know at this point why he died,” Burton said.

The Combat Diver Qualification Course is one of the most physically demanding courses within the Army, the Special Warfare Center and School said in a statement after Walker’s death.

“In accordance with Army policy, this accident will be investigated to determine cause of death and in hopes of preventing future accidents,” according to the statement.

Walker was a medical sergeant who joined the Green Berets earlier this year, the Stars and Stripes reported.

He left a wife and three children.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children, his parents and his teammates,” said Col. Lucas VanAntwerp, commander of the 10th Special Forces Group. “Micah was an exceptional Special Forces Operator, a loving husband and father. We grieve with the family and stand ready to honor Micah’s service and his legacy.”

Walker joined the Army in April 2017 and did entry training and airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in January 2021 as a special forces medical sergeant.

His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab and the Army Basic Parachutist Badge.

This story was originally published July 29, 2021 at 8:51 PM.

Gwen Filosa

Miami Herald

Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She graduated from Indiana University.