ADMIRAL NIMITZ PARADE IN DALLAS - 1945

It was September 1945 while in basic Infantry training at Camp Fannin, (near Tyler, Texas) all 1,000 trainees were loaded into trucks to go to Dallas to march in a huge parade to celebrate the end of World War II after Japan had been defeated. The parade must have been at least a mile long, and was held right in downtown Dallas. Not only our unit of soldiers from Camp Fannin, but there were numerous High School and University bands in the parade.

As we marched toward the reviewing stand, I could plainly see a number of Army and Navy officers, and right in the center of the group stood Admiral Chester Nimitz. His hair was solid white, and his eyes were a brilliant blue color. He had been the commander of over two million military personnel in the Pacific Theater during the war. He looked majestic in his solid white uniform and with all the medals of honor he had earned, he looked like he had a huge fruit salad on his chest.

He saluted our American flag as we passed the reviewing stand.  This was an exciting event in my life.

In December, 2001, my Virginia and I met my brother Wren and his Virginia at Fredericksburg, Texas, the birthplace of Admiral Nimitz. There was a museum dedicated to his life and the town was opening a new museum dedicated to World War II. They also had a big program portraying the 60th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.