Evening star., 1946-04-06
Thousands See
Parade asCi
.Honors Army
Two Combat Units
Of Famed 82d Is
In Line of March

III .i'S VI INt0ISu
The Army displayed it's might
before thousands of enthusiastic
witnesses along Constitution
avenue today as the Nation paid
tribute to the victorious forces
which won history's greatest
war.
Streaming across the Capitol
Plaza and down the broad avenue
came more than 5000 troops, in
cludlng two combat regiments of
the famed 82d Airborne Division,
equipped with the latest and most
deadly types of weapons. A bright.
warm sun made the day ideal for a
parade.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, President
Truman, Secretary of War Patter-
son and Gen. Eisenhower attended
a giant military display. The Presi-
dent was scheduled to address the
Nation from 4 to 4:30 pm. on the
role of the Army in the Nations
life. His remarks were to be broad
cast by the major radio networks.
Hundreds Assemble at Capitol.
First units of the 82d Division,
quartered at Fort Meade. began ar
irving at their appointed assembly
place at New Jersey and B street
Sc. at l0:40 am. They came in a
long convoy of armored cars, half
tracs and jeeps.
Hundreds of persons. most of them
children of school age. started as
sembling on the Capitol Plaza as
early as $50 am. in search of choice
seats on the Capitol steps. Others
mllled about the waiting troops over
on Independence avenue, exchang-
ing jokes with the soldiers.
The troops were chilly in their
light battle jackets and steel he'll
NETS. Those manning the mech
anized units carried no weapons
The machine guns and light anti
tank guns on their carriers were
hooded in canvass against the pos
slbility OF rain, which would injure
their delicate mechanism.
Asks Attention to Needs.
With victory behind and peace
assured, the President in an Army
day proclamation had asked his
fellow citizens "to be mindful OF
the Army's needs, to the end that
our soldiers overseas do not lack
the means of performing effectively
their continuing duties"
A similar note was struck in the
newspaper, Army Times, which ad-
monished the public editorially to
salute the Army today, safeguard
the Army tomorrow" 1t continued:
ut is fitting that Americans
should pray and cheer today. But
unless we work and fight to main
tain our military strength on a
basis commensurate with the need
dictated by international unrest, we
snail be earmaking other lives from
a future generation to sacrifice to
the war dogs of the world"
The parade here was sponsored
by the Military Order of the World
Wars.
Focal point of the celebration was
the official reviewing stand on Con-
stitution avenue Immediately south
OF the White House. In the absence
OF the President and the Secretary
OF War, ranking dignitaries in the
stand were Undersecretary of War
Kenneth Royal; the acting Chief of
StaH, Gen. Thomas T. Handy; Gen.
Courtney H. Hodges. commanding
general OF the 1st Army, and Mai.
Gen. Frank w. Milburn, command
ing general of the 5th Corps.
The Military Order of the World
War was represented by it's act
ing national commander, Brig. Gen.
Albert L. Cox, and the local COM
mander, Col. Arthur J. Perry.
Congress Represented.
Speaker Rayburn of the House
and President Protein of the Sen
ate McKellar headed a large congress
Sional delegation, including Chair
man Thomas of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee and Chairman
May of the House Military Affairs
Committee.
Special stands we're reserved for
former members of the 82d Airborne
Division or their next of kin.
Other units marching were the 35th
Infantry Regiment, composed of Me-
gro troops; the 30th Field Artillery
Battalion, with tractor drawn 1885,
nm. howitzers and 8-inch guns; the
394th F. A. B. with 105-mm. howitz-
ers, the 43d Cavalry Reconnaissance
Squadron, the 49th Infantry Scout
Dog Platoon and a contingent Of
800 AP6v DAv pooo A0l