Sen. Strom Thurmond presents Legion of Merit Medal to Sgt. Maj. George D. Ketchum

82nd Airborne Turns Out For Sen. Thurmond, Brass
by John Coitt
Staff Writer

   FT BRAGG — The 82nd Airborne Division turned out in full here Friday for its annual review at Pike Field choking the parade ground with dust and exhaust as 10000 men and 600 vehicles passed in review.
   The division holds the parade every year to honor men and units of the 82nd who have earned awards and other recognition..
   U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., was keynote speaker at the ceremonies. Thurmond is a former member of the division and fought with it in the Normandy campaigns.
   "We are living in an age today when totalitarian governments and their dictators want to take over the earth," Thurmond said. "America must remain strong in the face of such threats. The only thing these dictators understand is power. We must remain powerful if we are to remain free"
Praises Commander
   Thurmond also praised Lt. Gen John H. Hay Jr. commander of Ft Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps aa a "great leader one of our finest." Hay will retire from active service in July.
    "People in this country are tired of war. But they should know that keeping a strong military establishment will insure the peace America has.the greatest government in the world.
  " Thurmond was dressed in a blue suit and sported a straw cowboy hat. His wife Nancy and their 1-year-old daughter also attended the parade.
   Thurmond presented Command Sgt Major George D. Ketchum the Legion of Merit medal. Ketchum sergeant major of the 82nd had his left leg amputated several weeks ago when he developed blood clots. Nevertheless he stood at attention unaided, a young trooper just behind him.
  Thurmond also presented the 82nd Airborne Division Trooper of the Year award to Spec 4 Raymond S. Flora, a fire team leader in the 325th Parachute Infantry. Flora is a native of York, S.C. He was also awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
   The division took nearly an hour to pass in review. First came the infantry battalions, then the airborne artillery mounted in its vehicles, then the combat engineers, then the armored cavalry and finally the air cavalry in a pass over.
   The show was completed with a drop by three members of the division's sport parachute team who rode down in kite-like parachutes that are highly steerable. They also passed in review in perfect formation about 100 feet off the ground, then did a full circle and landed in front of the stand.

[he News and Observer, Raleigh, NC, 02 Jun 1973, Sat, Page 17