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Largest Military Parade Ever Held In Big SpringBy STEVE HULTMAN Big Spring turned out Saturday for the biggest military parade ever held here, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the air base and the 25th anniversary of the Air Force this Armed Forces Day.Thousands of people lined the streets, especially on Main near the courthouse and reviewing stand. The spectators saw moreSALZBURG, Austria (AP) — President Nixon stopped in this Alpine resort city Saturday night for 36 hours of rest and preparation for his summit meeting with Soviet leaders in Moscow. The presidential jet, the Spirit of ’76, will take him to the Soviet capital Monday morning.Nixo-n’s plane landed about •an hour after steel-heimeted police with dubs drove an estimated 200 leftist demonstrators from the airport landing area.As the President left the plane and approached a cordon of smock-coated Salzburg riflemen, police pushed and carried another clump of demonstrators from in front of the airport terminal about 5ft yards from Nixon. •Nixon did not appear to notice. He and Mrs. Nixon accepted bouquets of flowers from Austrian children, then stepped toward their black limousine.Before taking off on the Spirit of ’76 for the eighl-liour flight to Salzburg, Nixon said his mission in the Soviet Union wouldbe a search for “a world ofthan 2,000 Webb AFB personnel as well as other units pass in review for Col. Malcolm Ryan, Webb commander, and other dignitaries.BLARING SIREN The parade began with the .blaring siren of a motorcycle policeman clearing the way for Ms. Anniversary, Mrs. Timothy E. Danforth, wife of Capt. Danforth, 2101 Cecilia, and thepeace, a' world of progress forall.”The trip began three months after the President’s historic visit to Communist China.Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky is host to President and Mrs. Nixon during their stay in this rail, industrial and tourist center overlooked by a medieval fortress.Kreisky’s son, Dr. Peter Kreisky, 28, was among Austri-ans who planned anti-Nixon demonstrations to coincide with the President’s visit. The chancellor commented before Nixon’s arrival: “We disagree, but I think my son is old enough to have his own views.”The President and Mrs, Nixon and their official party were welcomed by Kreisky and other Austrian officials as a local band played martial music.Before entering Ms car, the President paused with the chancellor to face a bank of photographers and then to wave at a crowd of severalhundred standing nearby.( *runner-up, Mrs. Willis Rice, wife of 2nd Lt. Rice, 2808 Navajo.Col. Ryan and his staff and Col. Ronald Calton and his staff led the military forces as far as the reviewing stand before turning off to watch the troops pass in review.The reviewing stand had numerous dignitaries on hand to witness the parade.On the stand were Brig. Gen. Gus Taute, chief of staff for the Air Training Command; Mayor Wade Choate; Dr. Carl Marcum, chairman of the Base-Community Council; R. H. Weaver, Chamber of Commerce president; Jimmy Taylor, president of the First National Bank; Mrs. Truitt Thomas, president of the Gold Star Mothers.Also Sgt. John E. Howard III, who was re-enlisted Saturday before the parade by Gen. Taute; Lt. Col. Bernard Westernman, USAF Ret., Midland, who was a member of the first cadet class at the Big Spring Bombardier School in 1942; and Mrs. Smith Swords, whose husband, Lt. Col. Swords III, is missing in action over Vietnam.GOLD STAR MOTHERSVeterans of all former wars, together with the Gold Star Mothers, were seated just south of the reviewing stand. The members of Graduating Class 72-08 were to the north of the stand.Following Co!. Ryan were the Webb Color Guard and the Lackland Drum and Bugle Corps, playing a spirited collection of marches. Next were Coi. Harold Shultz, base commander, and his staff, with two Air Base units close behind.The crowd cheered and applauded as each unit passed by, and stood for the flag as themilitary personnel saluted.More units of Airmen passed, as did the WAF unit, complete with the Webb nurses, and a Midland Civil Air Patrol unit. More units of marching men followed, until the cadence of the Big Spring High School band, playing across the street from the reviewing stand, quieted a little for the NCG’s Association POW-MIA float.AIRMAN CAGEDThe float had an American Airman in a bamboo cage, similar to those reported used by the Viet Cong, guarded by two Vietnamese. Other POW’s were herded along behind the float by other North Vietnamese guards.The parade was broken for a few moments by the scream of T-37 and T-38 jet trainers passing overhead in formation. Shortly after the parade had passed the reviewing stand, the three Army helicopters flew overhead.Following the parade, numerous people braved the heavy traffic to attend the opening of (he Air Force Display at Heritage Museum, Sixth and Scurry.Col. Catton cut the ribbon to the museum, complete with relics and pictures of the WW II era in Big Spring.PLANES ON DISPLAYModels of military planes share space with old uniforms, gunsights, flying helmets and photographs. Much of the photographic exhibit is devoted to the early days of Webb AFB when it was an Army bombardier school. The latest photographs showed bomb damage in Vietnam last month.For those that missed the helicopter fly-over, the three machines were displayed at the Highland Shopping Center. Crowds of 30*40 people surrounded each helicopter and their pilots most of the day. *Nixon Receives Mixed Reception In Austria
Newspaper Details
Big Spring Herald
Big Spring, Texas, US
Sun, May 21, 1972
Page 42
Full Page
Clipped by
Tammy S.
TX, USA 11 Jul 2019
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