By Stephen Smoot
The most fitting holders of the honorary title of grand marshal in any parade come from the ranks of military service, and for good reason.
From the depths of early medieval history to the streets of modern America, the word has meaning rooted in community and military service.
According to a Saturday Evening Post etymology article, the homonyms marshal and martial may both carry military purpose, but from different origins. “Martial,” uses as its root “Mars,” the Roman god of war whose name features in many words of Latin origin.
Marshal may look like it comes from the same root, but it hails from the Old High German word “mareschal,” which originally served as a compound word meaning “horse servant.” In the early middle ages, these men enjoyed rising status. Similar was the position “count of the stable,” which grew into “constable.”
Over time, the word marshal broadened to meaning one who organizes and executes a plan. Field Marshal emerged as the highest rank that a European army officer could attain. The United States equivalent, General of the Armies, General of the Army and Five Star General, has only been held by seven men, but under different legal authorizations.
After the Civil War, parades grew in popularity. They served as different ways to honor those who served in military service, those campaigning for office, and marking important religious and civil holidays, such as Washington’s Birthday. With horses dominating parade transportation and crowds in various conditions of ruly, or unruliness, organizers named parade marshals.
At first, the parade marshal’s job lay in keeping order, mostly among horses and attendees. Over time, the position evolved into a ceremonial way to honor those who had provided value and/or service to the community. The word “grand” marked that change.
Shinnston’s Lions Club, with the support of the American Legion Post 31, every year presents the Veterans Day Parade as one of the city’s most popular annual events. As David Minor from the Lions Club has explained, the selection of Grand Marshals focuses on veterans from Shinnston, some who made significant sacrifices.
Keeping the focus on Shinnston servicemen helps the parade stand out from others and honors men and women from the area who protected our freedom over the years.
Two of the marshals served in the Vietnam War. Jim Savage joined the United States Army in 1966 and performed his Basic Training at Fort Knox in Kentucky. Afterwards, he received more training in basic aircraft and 540 rotor head training at Fort Rucker in Alabama.
After more training at Fort Benning, Savage entered the 101st Airborne Division toward the end of 1967.
According to the unit history, “the 135th’s most unique characteristic was that it was comprised of ⅓ Royal Australian Navy personnel and ⅔ US Army personnel.” Over time, its mission evolved into supporting Army of South Vietnam units and Navy SEAL operations. Savage explained that “the goal was to see how we could work together.”
The unit’s call sign was “Experimental Military Unit,” or EMU, also a flightless bird. It also was referred to as TAIPAN, an acronym that also was the name of a deadly Australian snake.” He served at two of the five different bases from which the unit operated.
“After the war was over I received a Citation from the Australian government for being part of this experiment,” Savage shared, then stated that “while in Viet Nam I received multiple Air Metals and one with “V” device for landing on top of the American Embassy building in Saigon and evacuating the Americans during the enemy take over during the Tet Offensive in 1968.”
Savage also described how “the embassy landing made Time, Newsweek and Look magazine. I have those issues. I also received the Purple Heart for being shot when my helicopter was shot down.
After recovering in the 24th Evac Hospital in Long Bien from being shot, I returned to my company where I received a new helicopter. My new helicopter was converted into a SMOKE ship, one of only two in Viet Nam. The smoke ship went into the LZ before the flight, to smoke the LZ with dense smoke to shield the flight from the enemy. If the LZ was ‘Hot’ we were the first to know.”
Warren J Barksdale shared his story as well, stating that “I left Shinnston after I graduated from high school.” After graduation, he relocated to Cleveland, “to live with my sister Shirley and family.” In the decades after World War II, a number of West Virginians gravitated towards northeast Ohio for work in the burgeoning industries there.
“I got drafted into the army in 1964 along with my best friend Gary Glass,” said Barksdale. “After basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, I went to Fort Benning, Georgia. I played sports there from 1964 to 1965. In June of 1965, I trained for Vietnam and shipped out with the 1st Air Cavalry Division in August 1965.”
That happened just months before the 7th Air Cavalry under Hal Moore engaged in some of the earliest fighting between United States servicemen and Vietnamese Communist forces. Moore’s action was later recounted in a book entitled “We Were Soldiers Once, And Young,” then a movie made by and starring Mel Gibson.
Service in far-flung lands that host diseases unfamiliar to Americans can exact a price as well. “I arrived in Vietnam in the middle of September 1965 at base camp AnKye Central highlands. I got malaria and was discharged from Valley Forge Hospital in Pennsylvania,” said Barksdale.
He also related, however, “on January 12, 1966, I came back to Cleveland and was never the same.” He added that “I got married and have a son and daughter, seven grandchildren, and one great grandson. My wife is deceased. I retired from Oatey Co. in 2010 with 21 years of service. I am truly blessed, thanks to God and AA.”
Another of the three grand marshals was New Jersey born and raised, but with homegrown Shinnston West Virginia roots.
Spc Gerald L Davis III, a Cannon Crewmember, served 3 yrs active duty and 5 yrs reserve in the United States Army. He told of his service, explaining that “I was deployed for 15 months to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) tour 6-7.” There I did detainee ops, support fire with cannons with the British and many other missions in country in the towns of Bassra, Bucca and Foreign Operating Base (FOB) Hammer.”