Airman William Walsh, a Sailor assigned to aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), shares his life experience with music and the Navy.

At the young age of six, Walsh heard his older sister playing saxophone in their house. Using his childish humor, Walsh thought it would be funny to try and mimic his sister's music on the family's antique piano, playing note-for-note what his sister was playing. This led to the discovery of his musical talents and near-perfect tonal pitch.

It wasn't long after that moment Walsh, his adolescent hands barely able to wrap around the neck of his guitar, started strumming his first chords.

"From that point on it wasn't anything else except music," said Walsh. "It wasn't that one day I decided I wanted to be a musician or wanted to be a music performer; that's just the way it's been. Music is my hobby, it's my passion, [and] it's all I've ever wanted to do."

For the next few years, Walsh dabbled with musical instruments -- piano and guitar -- but never played with any conviction or passion. It wasn't until Walsh turned 12 years old his passion for music took over.

"I've been seriously playing guitar for about eight years now," said Walsh. "As I grew older, my friends in high school and I got together and we formed a band and practiced all the time."

Throughout the years, Walsh has performed in multiple bands, taking up the mantle leading different roles. Currently, Walsh is a member of a band called Upon An Altar.

"My favorite place in a band really depends on the genre that the group is in," said Walsh. "For Upon An Alter I sing clean vocals and hard vocals -- which mean singing and screaming. I also really enjoy playing the guitar, but it really comes down to the mood and direction that the group is going toward that dictates what position I'll be in, whether that's guitar, drums, or vocals."

When Walsh joined the Navy in 2015, he had to readjust his performances and lifestyle to accommodate his musical endeavors.

"Being in the military has matured me in a lot of areas," said Walsh. "I am glad I joined the Navy. The experience I've gained so far has helped me grow up and learn a lot of valuable lessons, and I have experienced a lot of interesting things that a lot of my friends back home haven't. It's been hard for me to perform my music with my band, but the Navy has taught me how to balance my time to do what I need to do and what I want to do."

Walsh hopes when people listen to his music they can relate to the message he is putting out in his lyrics; and if he can help a person through a rough time with his message, then that makes everything worth it to him.

"There is this quote that I heard when I was younger, and as I've gotten older it has become my favorite message," said Walsh. "It is a quote by Horace Mann that says, 'Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.' If my music can help people, then I can die knowing I've done some good in this world."

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