Marshall Atkins was known to his friends as Chet. He was beloved by so many friends, his family, and his devoted wife, Diane.
LCDR Marshall W. Atkins, the son of a career Army Officer, grew up in Germany, Liberia, Korea and several locations in the USA. LCDR Atkins graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1980 and later earned a MS degree in Aviation Systems Engineering from the Univ. of Tennessee. He completed basic flight training at Pensacola Naval Training Facility and proceeded to Meridian, MS for advanced flight training, qualifying in T-2, TA-4 and the S-3 jet aircraft.
Having lived just about every place possible, Chet found a home both in the U.S. Navy and Springfield, VA. He could often be seen jogging to hop into his jet and head out to those "highways."
Chet was appearance conscious. This was evident by the many hours he spent readying himself. He knew that Nuclear Power needed more good-looking, professional black officers, but Diane was Chet's real reason for all his pruning.
LCDR Atkins served on the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and was selected to attend the U. S. Navy Test Pilot School at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD where he remained as an instructor/ test pilot. He served aboard the Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) flying the A-6 Intruder fighter-bomber for Attack Squadron 36 (VA-36), where he participated in one of the most decisive victories in modern warfare flying numerous missions during Operation Desert Storm. He also participated in operations Desert Shield and Provide Comfort flying A-6 missions. He was later assigned to the A-6 attack squadron 34 on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), his third assignment aboard a newly commissioned U.S. Navy nuclear aircraft carrier.
LCDR Atkins was selected as an astronaut candidate for both the pilot and mission specialist programs. However, his untimely death in 1993 while on a training mission at Nellis AFB, NV, put an end to his many lofty aspirations.
LCDR Atkins was married to the former Diane Watson and had one son, Shawn. When asked why he chose to become a pilot, he unhesitatingly replied, "It was a dream I had since childhood."
Marshall was lost on April 21, 1993 when the A-6E Intruder jet he was piloting collided with another aircraft and then crashed in Nevada. The bombardier-navigator was also killed; the other Intruder was able to land safely. They were members of Attack Squadron (VA) 34, based in Virginia but in Nevada for training.
Marshall is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Air and Space Honoree (4-4-57 to 21-4-93)
Marshall W. Atkins' widow, Diane Adkins, and son, Shawn Marshall Atkins, join us in honoring his memory, service, and ultimate sacrifice.
Lest we never forget.
"These sons and daughters, these brothers and sisters who lay down their lives for us - they belong to us all. They're our children, too. We benefit from their light, their positive influence on the world." ~ Barack Obama; 44th U.S. President