D-Day veteran Clayton B. Baum served as a grand marshal of Monday’s Veterans Day Parade in San Diego. But he’ll tell you the honor isn’t for him.
“I’m representing — I am honored to do so — the people who served in Normandy and those that passed away and are buried in a very sacred ground in France,” said Baum, 101. “This is not about me. This is about them.”
And Baum knows about loss.
One of his sons, Sgt. Douglas Baum, was killed in Vietnam in 1967. The younger Baum, who fought to protect his men despite being wounded, received the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
“I’m proud of my country,” said Baum, who was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. “I had four battle stars … so I got to see northern France, Rhineland and central Europe. I’m just proud to be an American.”
Baum spoke as he sat in a shiny blue car before the beginning of the parade south on Harbor Boulevard. The parade started at the County Administration Center and ended at the USS Midway Museum.
The hour-plus parade recognized the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion at Normandy, France, during World War II.
About 80 parade units took part, including military and high school bands, floats and marching units from veterans groups, military commands, businesses and community service and civic groups.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria was lead grand marshal.
A third grand marshal was D-Day veteran Joseph “Bob” Wilson.
“It’s a wonderful day,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed with the number of people in the parade. I am so honored to show the appreciation of those who served in Normandy.”
Wilson enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to Landing Ship Tank duty.
He served aboard LST 383, which became the first LST to cross the Atlantic during World War II. Wilson saw action in critical battles, including the North Africa campaign, the Invasion of Sicily and D-Day landings in 1944.
Under sunny skies with mild temperatures, thousands of spectators lined Harbor Boulevard to cheer what is considered the largest Veterans Day parade on the West Coast.
When Baum was asked how serving in the military affected his life, he said it “taught me how to get along with people and how to do things right.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
