European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 5, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Agazine staff sgt. Larry Walker lifts 584 pounds in the squat event. Walker wraps his Knees for lift support. Story and photos by William h. Mcmichael Larry Walker used to be Marathon  As the Breeze the slim trim 155-Pounder would run As Many As go Miles a week. You have to be Able to run 20 Miles nonstop to know the True Freedom of running he says now. But about five years ago the free spirit discovered that he had a prostate gland problem. A Sulphur based Medicine was prescribed Over a 30-Day period. Fifteen Days into the treatment he suffered an allergic reaction. In a matter of five Days his body turned into one huge Blister. His fingernails fell off and his skin peeled away turning the Ebony Hue of his body into a splotchy Pink. A blood clot developed in his left jugular vein. He was hospitalized for two months and had to be fed intravenously. Fourteen months later when he Felt Normal enough to go out among the Public Walker had dissipated into a 110 Pound weakling a Shadow of his former self. It s now five years later and Walker is standing at the weight bar about to attempt his third lift in the squat event at the 1988 Usa eur Power lifting championships. With a measured Effort he lifts stands Back squats and rises cleanly with 584 pounds on the bar his Best lift Ever. Together with his efforts in the Bench press and dead lift events Walker goes on to hoist a total of 1,482 pounds in the Competition. Although Walker placed second in the 181-Pound class at the May 7 meet his Effort is a tribute to the competitive spirit it s a comeback that Borders on the amazing. Staff sgt Larry Walker of cod 123rd support in in Furth West Germany however is a competitor in the truest sense. A clue to his Success lies in that measured approach to the bar. It stands in marked contrast to the other lifters Many of whom strut up to the weight bar stand snarling and grunting. Some Pound themselves on the head Point angrily at the bar As they approach or crack their Heads or backs against it As if to say i will defeat  it s a psyche Job. Walker s mental Battle with the bar takes place internally. I m always ready he said with a Grin. I might give a couple of shouts but nothing big. Besides i m already psyched up he said pointing at his head. You expend a lot of Energy making All that noise. It s not the Way i was taught to  Walker first got the itch about three years ago when fully recovered but not exactly breaking any strength records he saw a Man in a gym lifting weights. I d never lifted weights before said Walker. There was a Guy in there who weighed 132 pounds and he dead lifted 425 pounds. I could t even Budge  the lifter staff sgt. Quintin Carlberg now stationed at fort Lewis wash., started teaching Walker the finer Points of Power lifting. Gaining weight As Well As strength and ability Walker was the Vii corps Champion in his weight class within two years. This year he won again. Every year i try to improve to lift More he said. It s kind of addictive. I m trying to be the Best anytime i do  tall and muscular but without the strange looking bulges in unusual places that competitive weightlifters often develop Walker hits the gym three times a Day. There it s one set of repetitions after another following one set of lifts with a different set the next session in order to stress the opposite set of Muscles. We usually do about 70 percent of our Max for repetitions he said. You do less repetitions in Power lifting. With Between four and six i m  he emphasized however that his Job takes precedence Over the lifting. My soldiers come first he said putting on his platoon sergeant s hat for a moment. They can Call me Day or  the marathons Are now a thing of the past for the easygoing Walker who still has vestiges of that blood clot in his neck. Calling himself just a country boy from Georgia Walker has no regrets about the path his life has taken and says he feels great about coming Back from his collapse. A Man s gotta have something to do he said. I love to  and in an individual sport like Power lifting he said i can take my thing to the  sgt. William h. Mcmichael is a reporter or the 1st army Oil newspaper  staff sgt. Jefferson Mcguire helps Walker adjust his Power lifting Belt. Friday augusts 1988 the stars and stripes Page 13