​​Colonel James Patrick Walsh (USMC Ret), 78, of Suffolk, VA passed away on on Sunday, August 25, 2024.

 He is survived by his wife Peggy Vannoy Walsh; son, John Mauney; sister, Elizabeth Casalett; a nephew, Michael Casalett (Nora); and a niece Danielle Casalett Dewey (Matthew). He was preceded in death by his parents, Owen Joseph Walsh and Ann Helen Sambrailo Walsh; and a brother, Barry Walsh. 

Colonel Walsh, a native of San Francisco, CA. enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1965. Upon completion of recruit training at Parris Island, he served with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He then deployed with the battalion to Viet Nam, returning to the U.S. in 1967 for service with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines. At the end of his enlistment, he attended college and upon graduation entered Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned in 1972. After graduation from the Basic School, he served in the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines as a Platoon Leader, Battalion Assistant Operations Officer, and Company Executive Officer.

 Colonel Walsh was then assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK. Upon completion of this duty, he served as Company Commander of “G” Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines.

Assigned to Marine Barracks, Subic Bay, Republic of Philippines he served as the Operations Officer and then as Company Commander of “A” Company. Upon promotion to Major, he assumed command of “B” Company at Cubi Point Naval Air Station. Upon returning from this overseas assignment, Colonel Walsh served as Commanding Officer of the Recruiting Station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was next assigned to the Middle East as a United Nations observer. In this billet, he served as Officer in Charge of the United Nations field operations in the Sinai Desert followed by a tour of duty as Operations Team Leader in Southern Lebanon.

Upon his return from the Middle East, he was assigned as Commanding Officer, “E” Company, MSG Battalion, Frankfurt, Germany. After the completion of this tour, he attended the Naval War College and subsequently was assigned to the 1st Marine Division, where he served as the Deputy G-4.

On 21 April 1992, Colonel Walsh took command of 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines. During his tenure, the battalion participated in several large-scale operations, including Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu and Baidoa, Somalia. He then was assigned to Joint Duty with the United States Special Operations Command where he served as the Chief, Training Division, Directorate of Operations. Upon completion of this duty, he was assigned as the Director of Operations and Training, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.

Colonel Walsh served as Commanding Officer of the 7th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), Twentynine Palms, California. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary, a Master of Science degree in Business, and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. His service schools include the Basic School, Amphibious Warfare School, Command and Staff College, Naval War College, and Armed forces Staff College.

A funeral service with full Marine Corp Honors will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024, 1300 hours at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Suffolk, VA. Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com.