Merced celebrates its veterans

Thousands of people converged in downtown Merced on Wednesday for a parade on the day set aside to thank the men and women who have served in the armed forces.

Joe McCaughey, 87, of Merced said he’s no showoff, but being able to ride through the parade driving his 1952 Chevrolet is a thrill. He also was proud to say he still fits into the uniform he wore as an Army medical aid trainer at Fort Sam Houston in 1950.

A member of the Valley Vintage Car Club of Merced, McCaughey said the parade is a place to see old friends, but is also heartwarming. “I drive by and I watch the people wave and so many of them holler out and say, ‘Thank you for your service.’ ” he said. “And, that makes me feel good.”

The annual Merced Veterans Day Parade featured more than 50 entries and included eight grand marshals – all veterans.

More than an hour before the parade began, Clara and Ron McCall of Merced claimed a spot on Main Street to ensure they had a good line of sight for the floats, cars, marching bands and horseback riders.

Clara McCall, 75, said the parade is a time when she thinks about the many veterans in her life, including husband Ron, 75, who spent eight years in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era.

They agreed the outpouring of patriotism and the waving of American flags were their favorite parts.

Another parade participant in the car club, Bill Amis, drove his 1957 Ford Fairlane 500. The Air Force veteran who served during the Korean conflict said he’s been in about a dozen Merced Veterans Day Parades and is delighted every year to see the World War II veterans get a pat on the back.

“It kind of swells your heart with pride,” the 78-year-old said. “Some of these old guys are getting up there.”

The car club has about 150 members, he said, and the majority spent time in the military.

The parade also got a flyover from two F-15 Eagle fighter jets.

Matthew Davis, 27, of Merced left the Army last year after four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He rode the parade in the back of a large camouflage truck with a handful of Marines.

The smiles and waves from the crowd meant something to him, he said. “It just reminds me of why I served,” he said.

A ceremony featured the parade’s eight grand marshals and included words from a couple of elected officials. Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, said the parade should serve as a way to educate young people.

Merced County District 2 Supervisor Hub Walsh said veterans have protected the freedoms that Americans have today. “(The parade) is really a very small token for those that have served or do serve around the world for us,” he said.

The eight grand marshals:

▪ Staff Sgt. Frank Paredes – a Pearl Harbor survivor who served as an Army tank commander during the Korean War, as well as postwar service in Japan. He took part in 14 amphibious landings with the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific theater including in Iwo Jima.

▪ Sgt. Harold Vartikian – served three years as a combat Marine, earning two Purple Hearts. He achieved four Battle Stars during a year in Korea, and was involved in the major North Korean fight called Battle of the Punchbowl.

▪ Lt. Col. Fred Pillsbury – spent more than 29 years in the Air Force as part of Strategic Air Command, flying a total of 121 B-52 combat missions over Vietnam. Additionally, he was a radar navigator and a bombardier.

▪ Master Sgt. Edward Dietz – a 22-year veteran of the Air Force who retired in December 1981. He was assigned to base communications squadrons as a ground radio technician and worked in plans, programs, manpower and budget during his 14 assignments around the world.

▪ Lt. Col. Al Osborn – flew 300 bombing missions during the Vietnam War, and served 26 years as an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress instructor pilot. He recorded 2,100 combat hours in the B-52.

▪ 1st Lt. Les Nickerson – served in the Marine Corps and was in Vietnam from January 1968 to August 1971 as an infantry platoon commander and executive officer. He was awarded a Purple Heart medal in February of 1971.

▪ Tech Sgt. Jackson Wells III – during 20 years in the Air Force, was an aircraft electrician in a number of conflicts up to Desert Storm. He has met four presidents of the United States.

▪ Sgt. Victor Salas – spent nearly 11 years as a combat engineer in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he cleared improvised explosive devices from the roadway. He also took part in a Marine expeditionary unit, which helped the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 7:39 PM with the headline "Merced celebrates its veterans."