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Monday, March 4, 1991
Bobbi Martin
Thurman draws a power crowd for ceremony
The guest list for last Tuesday's event at Fort Myer, Va., would have flattered a head of state. Instead, the dignitaries turned out to honor a hero — High Point native Gen. Maxwell Thurman — at his official retirement ceremony.
The list included President George Bush; Defense Secretary Dick Cheney; National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft; Thurman's good friend Gen. Colin Powell, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; White House Chief of Staff John Sununu; and White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater.
It also included the chiefs of staff of the U. S. Army, Air Force and naval operations, and commandants of the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. Several senators and congressmen also filled Ceremonial Hall for the occasion.
One of Thurman's invited guests from Guilford County said it was particularly impressive in view of the crucial times
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"Seeing all of them there, away from the Oval Office and the White House, it was as though they had put the current war in the Persian Gulf on hold, at least for a little while, while they took the time to come to Fort Myer and honor the commanding general of another invasion," the observer noted.
"His brilliant role in the liberation of Panama was a fitting grace note to a great career," Bush said of the four-star general. "As was always the case, Gen. Thurman rose to the occasion, as we knew he would."
The ceremony was to have taken place several months ago. Thurman, who turned 60 of Feb. 18, was due to leave the Army after 35 years of service in 1989. Then Cheney exempted him from mandatory retirement to put him in charge of the U. S. Southern Command, based in Panama. From that post, Thurman led the invasion that toppled Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.
Shortly after the completion of "Operation Just Cause" by the American troops, Thurman entered the hospital for the treatment of leukemia.
In addition to his many tours of duty and commands, Thurman was cited for having set the standards for the modern day Army. Among his many assignments was the training of troops and the procurement of weapons.
"It was at General Thurman's insistence that the deadly Patriot missile, so successful in helping win this war, was financed," said one of the speakers.
In spite of his brilliant military career, Thurman probably will be remembered by the general public for his successful recruitment message to potential enlistees to "Be all you can be."
Acting for Gov. Jim Martin, Congressman Howard Coble presented Thurman with the "Order of the Long Leaf Pine."
Coble commented that Martin would have been there to bestow the honor, but having put a freeze on out-of-state travel, Martin didn't think he should be the first to break his own rule.
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Friends invited from High Point included Harry and Charlotte Adams, A. J. "Tony" and Bessie Simeon, Carole and Glenn Lesley, Jake and Mazie Froelich, Pat Thomas, Carey and Eleanor Ilderton, Ben and Caryl Adams and Haywood and Sue Washburn.
Thurman continues to make slight progress in his fight against leukemia, but last week he entered Walter Reed Army Medical Center for some minor surgery.
It was also interesting to see that in addition to Thurman's doctors, Dr. Paul Landers and Dr. Phil Burk at Walter Reed, Thurman also invited the veterinarian who looks after his two dogs, "Rex" and "Dundee," and his cat "Marmalade." * * * BROADWAY MUSICAL actress Carol Channing will head the list of entertainers scheduled to appear at the International Home Furnishings Center for the April market. * * * COLLEEN SETLIFF describes her 4-year-old grandson as a typical little boy who plays with his airplanes and his helicopters, and was aware of the war in the gulf, and she wanted to share this.
One night just after the war had begun, Kim Setliff Jr. was about to offer grace before dinner when his mother, Joy Setliff, reminded him to bless the men and women in service. He said:
"God, please don't let us have a war, but if we have one we will need lots of men and we need you too, God.
"But please send Jesus down so he can say, 'Peace!', and let the Army and the Navy go home in their helicopters. Amen."
Amen, Kim Jr.
Bobbi Martin is senior issues reporter for WGHP-TV8 and talk show host for WMFR Radio.