Spokane Navy veteran buried at sea by son

Cmdr. Michael Dickson, serving aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, buried his father’s remains in the Pacific Ocean in a special ceremony last week.

The Oct. 2 burial was part of a military honor but was unusual in that it involved an active-duty serviceman laying to rest at sea the remains of a family member, according to public relations personnel with the vessel.

Dickson’s father, Walter R. Dickson, of Spokane Valley, died in June. He had served as a boatswain’s mate in the Navy from 1956 to 1962. He was 70.

Personnel aboard the ship also laid to rest the ashes of 16 other retired or honorably discharged service members and one extended family member, said gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn, of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Force, on deployment aboard the ship.

Dickson, also of Spokane Valley, is the amphibious assault ship’s operations officer.

According to Dunn, Dickson marched up to a petty officer first class manning a metal chute hanging over the side of the ship. The sailor tipped the chute to send the remains to the sea while Dickson held his father’s tri-folded American flag to his chest.