QUANTICO — Marine Corps Base Road is renamed in honor of distinguished Marine and FBI agent.
Officials at Quantico Marine Corps Base renamed a street leading to its weapons training facility on the base. The formerly and simply named â27200 Roadâ has been renamed in honor of Colonel Walter R. Walsh, a former agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and served in the Marines from the start of the U.S. entry into World War II, most notable as a shooting instructor, until his retirement in the 1970s.
Walsh was born May 4, 1907, in West Hoboken, New Jersey (West Hoboken merged with Union Hill to become Union City in 1925). Walsh began to demonstrate prowess with guns at age 12 and received formal training in marksmanship as a member of the Civilian Military Training Corps at 16. He joined the New Jersey National Guard in 1928 where he earned a spot on their shooting team.
Walsh graduated from Rutgers School of Law in 1934 and was recruited into the FBI as a field agent and instructor. Notable moments in his career as an agent include ending the crime spree of Arthur âDocâ Barker, a member of the infamous Barker-Karpis gang. Walsh also ended the crime spree of the Brady Gang, where he sustained injuries during a gunfight in Bangor, Maine.
During that time, Walsh regularly competed in National Shooting Tournaments and broke a world record for centerfire pistol shooting in 1939.
Walsh joined the Marines in 1942 when the U.S. entered World War II, where he spent his first two years as a lieutenant training snipers. He would eventually become commander of what would become the Weapons Training Battalion from its inception in 1962 until his retirement in 1970.
Walsh entered combat in 1945 when he participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Walsh continued to gain renown in shooting tournaments, earning a place as a member of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team at the 1948 Summer Games in London where he placed 12th place in the world menâs free-pistol competition. He continued to compete in shooting competitions long past his retirement from the Marines, serving as captain of the U.S. team at the World Muzzleloading Championships in Switzerland in 1994.
Walsh died in his home in April 2014 at age 106.
âWe would be hard-pressed to find any Marine more appropriate to have his name applied to this gateway into and thoroughfare across Weapons Training Battalion,â said Commanding Officer of Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico Lt. Colonel Howard Hall, during a speech at the dedication on the streetâs renaming.
Recent Stories
Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting today, Tuesday, February 4, at 5 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live, and the agenda will be posted online.
The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.
The board requested an additional consideration that County employees would be required to take leave for any board activities, work meetings, or constituent outreach. Those leave requests would be submitted to the County Administrator for public review. This rule would likely have the most impact on the new Chairman of the Board, Deuntay Diggs, who is also a Deputy with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The agenda states the requests will be considered and a new draft presented at a future meeting.
The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.
The board requested an additional consideration that County employees would be required to take leave for any board activities, work meetings, or constituent outreach. Those leave requests would be submitted to the County Administrator for public review. This rule would likely have the most impact on the new Chairman of the Board, Deuntay Diggs, who is also a Deputy with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The agenda states the requests will be considered and a new draft presented at a future meeting.
The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.
Manassas city officials are discussing major redevelopment projects, particularly in Old Town, Mathis Avenue, and Fairview Avenue. According to the city council, these discussions come as multiple developers have expressed interest in city-owned properties, prompting the council to consider issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to attract large-scale investment. A key focus of the meeting was the Old Town Inn site, where city officials debated whether to prioritize a new hotel or a mixed-use project. The lack of parking downtown remains a significant challenge, and council members acknowledged that constructing a 300-space parking deck is critical to enabling future development.
Step back in time and experience history firsthand at Ben Lomond Historic Site in Manassas, VA. Built in 1832, this remarkable home once served as a Confederate field hospital during the Battle of First Manassas. Today, visitors can explore its preserved rooms, complete with Civil War-era graffiti left by Union soldiers, as well as the original slave quarters, smokehouse, and dairy that tell the story of the people who lived and worked here.
Stroll Through History â Donât miss the fragrant Rose Garden, featuring one of the largest collections of antique roses in the region.
Engaging Tours â Open Friday-Monday, 10 AM-4 PM, with guided tours at 11 AM and 2 PM. Admission: $5 per person, free for children under six.
Accessible Experiences â Enjoy 360° Virtual Tour tablets and foreign language guides in French, Italian, German, Chinese, and Spanishâavailable at no extra cost!
Volunteer With Us! â Love Civil War history or gardening? Join our team and help preserve this incredible piece of Prince William Countyâs past.
Visit us at 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 367-7872 | ? [email protected]
Plan your visit today and experience history like never before!
We want to improve our newsletter, and we need your input! Based on early survey responses, readers have asked for:
More Local Government and Budget Coverage â Transparency matters! Please tell us what government topics you want us to cover.
A Better Newsletter Design â Is the layout working for you? Let us know how we can improve readability and navigation.
More Coverage of Manassas Park and Stafford â If you live in these areas, what local stories do you want to see more of?
Now itâs your turn! Please complete our short survey and help us continue delivering the news that matters most to you.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditionsâno plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treatâit’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fĂšve (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and donât worryâthere will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But thatâs not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Yearâs wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. Weâre bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
Whatâs in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Pucciniâs âThe Girl from the Golden Westâ.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Pucciniâs masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.