9 AUG--This Day in US Military History

2015-08-09T17:40:07-04:00

1985 – Arthur Walker, a retired U.S. Navy officer, is found guilty of espionage for passing top-secret documents to his brother, who then passed them to Soviet agents.

Walker was part of one of the most significant Cold War spy rings in the United States. The arrest of Arthur Walker on May 29, 1985, came just one day after the arrest of his brother, John, and John’s son, Michael. All three were charged with conducting espionage for the Soviet Union.
John Walker, also a Navy veteran, was the ringleader, and government officials charged that he had been involved in spying for the Soviets since 1968. He recruited his son, who was serving in the U.S. Navy, a short time later. Arthur Walker was drawn into the scheme in 1980 when, at his brother’s suggestion, he took a job with VSE, a Virginia defense contractor.
Over the next two years, the government charged, Arthur Walker provided John with a number of highly classified documents dealing with the construction of naval vessels. For his services, Arthur Walker received about $12,000.
A nasty divorce between John Walker and his wife eventually brought the spy ring to light when his wife, angry after their separation, went to the FBI to inform on her husband. It was revealed at their trials that the motivation of all the Walker men was the repayment of large debts they had accrued.
Arthur Walker was found guilty of seven counts of espionage on August 9, 1985. He was sentenced to life in prison and fined $250,000. John and Michael Walker later pled guilty to espionage charges, with John receiving two life sentences and Michael receiving 25 years in prison.
A fourth conspirator, Jerry Whitworth, a friend of John Walker’s, was convicted in 1986 on 12 counts of espionage and sentenced to 365 years in prison. With the arrests and convictions, the U.S. government claimed that it had broken one of the most destructive spy rings in the United States in the history of the Cold War.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2005/08/09/august-9/

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Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Aug 9 at 2015 6:00 PM

2015-08-09T18:00:37-04:00

As I understand the article, young Michael Walker completed his sentence in 2010 if he was not killed in prison.....is he alive, if so I wonder what the turd burglar is doing with his pathetic life these days?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 9 at 2015 6:39 PM

2015-08-09T18:39:00-04:00

Him (Never mind he is Dead), His Son, His Brother/Brother in Law, His Best Friend better pray that they Never IMI Never get left alone with a Naval Communicator, Radioman or Cryptologic Technician Communications. All of us had to get the once over with a Fine Tooth Comb by NIS because of these Jackasses.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 9 at 2015 7:12 PM

2015-08-09T19:12:23-04:00

The really big news about August 9th, 1SG Private RallyPoint Member, is that on this day (46 years to the day) in 1969, I enlisted! LTC Stephen F.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Aug 9 at 2015 7:42 PM

2015-08-09T19:42:37-04:00

Gee, and I thought the REALLY big news of 09 AUG 1968 was that I was born!!!! So, it's not all about me????

Response by PO2 Ron Burling made Aug 9 at 2015 7:56 PM

2015-08-09T19:56:51-04:00

Whitworth once worked for me, I was waiting for that to come up in one of the reviews of my security clearance, but it never did.