Walter Wisnicky enlisted in the Navy at Milwaukee in 1911. After a three months training course around Yuebra Benna Island, in San Francisco Bay, he was transferred to the U.S.S. Maryland. He served on this ship for three years.

Walter was in the deck division of the boat, his chief duties being care of guns, gun practice, some general work and his specialty being seamanship. The Maryland is an Armored Cruiser, First Class. The Armament consists of four 8-inch, fourteen 6-inch, eighteen 3-inch guns, one 3-inch field piece, four colts automatic rapid fire guns and twelve Bennett Mercer rapid fire guns, besides the usual small arms.

During the three years of service he has been in China, Japan, Philippine Islands, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, South America and Alaska. The crew was assigned to attend the funeral of Emperor Mutsuhito of Japan that was held on September 13, 1912.

While off the coast of Mexico, they would swim ashore to pick limes and avocados. In the winter, the crew would spend 3 months mining the coal used to power the ship.

In November of 1914 Walter received an honorable discharge from the Navy at Seattle, Washington. He was paid off as a boatswain's mate, second class. He holds an intermediate gun captain's certificate.