2011 Veterans Parade Grand Marshall Theo Calvin Jr.

 

This year's Veteran's Day Parade Grand Marshall will be Staff Sergeant Theo Calvin Jr. (89) of Athens. Theo served in WWII and was a member of the 1st Infantry in 1943 under the guidance of Lt. General George S. Patton.

Another special guest will be Lt. Gen. Richard P. Formica, commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command.

Theo Calving gave an interview with Jerry Barksdale a few years back, Barksdale asked him what he remembered most about General Patton, his reply was "Pain". He continued to recall an incident, "He made us stand at attention for an hour in the North Africa heat while he told us what he expected." This was in Algeria before the Sicily invasion. "Several of the boys fainted. Patton said 'put'em in my command car'. He was a tough dude," says Calvin, who at the time was a 20 year old rifleman in the 1st Infantry Division. Standing in the sun was easy compared with what came after.

 

He completed 13 weeks of basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, then on to Camp Kilmer, N.J., where he and 9,000 other GI's shipped out on the British liner Andes bound for war in North Africa. They zigzagged across the Atlantic for nine days, dodging German submarines, arriving at Casablanca, Morocco, in March 1943. He was assigned to Patton's newly-created 7th Army.

 

When Sicily was finally taken in August 1943, Calvin, on longer gun-shy, shipped out to Bridgeport, England, becoming a part of the Normandy invasion buildup. He had a new job, gunner on a 57mm in an anti-tank company.

 

In August, near Avranches, Calvin earned his first Purple Heart. A German recon plane flew over at twilight. "That's bad news," someone remarked. Around 11PM, Calvin, asleep in a blanket, was jarred awake by German plane dropping anti-personnel bombs. Calvin jumped up and ran for cover in a sunken road bed. He felt a jarring blow, but gave it no thought. Over 200 men were wounded, so he pitched in to help. Later, he saw blood running down his leg and discovered he has been hit in the left shoulder. Next morning, he was carried to a field hospital. the ambulance bumped to a halt and back doors were flung open. Two German soldiers reached in and lifted him out. "I thought we had crossed into German lines, " he shay. But they were prisoners.

 

One of the things Calvin is most grateful for is the safety and well-being of the men assigned to him.  "During these difficult days of battle, only one man received and injury," says Calvin.  "This happened because he failed to follow instructions during a particular attack. There were a dedicated group of men who ere eager to return home to their families. Their safety and welfare were top priorities for me."

 

Staff Sgt. Calvin, holder of seven campaign ribbons, Good Conduct Medal, Infantry Rifleman's Badge and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, boarded a bus in Atlanta for Athens on October 4th. He was coming home.

 

Throughout the war, he had sent $40 a month home, earned from doing extra KP, "so that Mama could buy groceries." On September 7, 1947, Calvin married pretty Virginia Sparks of Cherokee, Ala. He retired in 1981, after 29 years at Monsanto and a few years later Virginia retired from First Federal Savings and Loan Association.

 

Information in this article was taken from Jerry Barksdale book "Call of Duty" - Chapter 21 Theo Calvin - From Sicily to Omaha Beach.

 

PARADE INFORMATION:

There are approximately 250 entries for the November 5th parade and the deadline is fast approaching. For those who would like to purchase a sponsorship prices range from $200 for gold, $100 for silver and $50 for bronze. This will give those an opportunity to be a part of the parade by having their name or business on a float in the parade.

The proceeds from the $25 entry fee will be divided between several Military Organizations.

We are still accepting entries, but time is running out, call Roxanne Haggermaker at 256-374-2073 or Director Sandy Thompson at the Veterans Museum 256-771-7578. There is also a form available online at the www.AlabamaVeteransMuseum.com 

After the parade, the Disabled American Veterans will host a free chicken stew for veterans and their family members at the DAV building on Airport Road. Leftover stew will be sold.
 

Teresa Todd
AthensPlus.com
October 12th, 2011