By CATHERINE ELLERTON
Moapa Valley Progress
In the Palace of Versailles in France, a treaty was signed on June 28, 1919, officially ending “The Great War” – WWI. The fighting had stopped 7 months earlier when a cessation of hostilities or armistice went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
“The war to end all wars” is regarded to have ended on 11-11-1918. Later, it became known as Armistice Day which was changed in 1954 to Veteran’s Day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Leading the November 11, 2014, Veteran’s Day Parade down Moapa Valley Blvd. was Grand Marshall Joe Eckman. Eckman served in the military for 20 years (active and reservists) and worked at the Hill Air Force Base Civil Service in Utah for 27 years.
He comes from a long line of warriors – his father was a Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba during the Spanish American War, one brother was in the Merchant Marines, another a Marine. His sons have served in the Navy and the Army. One son paid the ultimate price and gave his life in Vietnam on July 10, 1968.
Eckman was a Fireman, 1st Class in the US Navy assigned to the Cruiser (CL51) USS Atlanta when it was sunk in the third battle of Savo Island on Friday, November 13, 1942. Guadalcanal is considered one of the decisive campaigns of the war in the Pacific.
When the USS Atlanta was hit, Joe and his fellow sailors, after having been freed from below decks by a fellow sailor, ended up in the water where they formed a circle and clung together for 13 hours treading water until they were rescued.
When he and his wife of over 68 years moved to Overton he attended a Guadalcanal reunion. It was there he met for the first time since that fateful day in 1943 the sailor who had rescued the Firemen who had been trapped below decks during the bombing of the USS Atlanta.
Once again the helicopter so vital during the various campaigns flew overhead clearing the way. Eckman sat proudly in the Grand Marshall’s car as he led the Color Guard and the parade down Moapa Valley Blvd.
A group of motorcyclists led the Boy Scout Honor Guard. This group is known as the White Wolf Motorcycle Club of VFW Riders hailing from Las Vegas. Dennis Soukup served in Vietnam in the Air Force, Darrell served in the Army in Korea, Tom Lisa served two tours in Vietnam in the Air Force and Lou Webster was in the Army in Vietnam. The newest member is Bill Neff who served in the Air Force in Germany.
The Boy and Girl Scouts had come at the special invitation of the VFW and American Legion members and parade organizers. There were Bears and Webelos, Boy Scouts, Daiseys, Brownies, Jr. Girl Scouts and Cadets. They came, as Boy Scout Baxter Baker stated, representing the country and to stand up for the beliefs of that Country.
Next came the colorful and imaginative floats from the local school organizations, businesses and social organizations all celebrating the freedom that has been gained because of those that served. The MVHS Band marched and played proudly. There were Classic
Cars and Mud Runners, and the huge trucks from Simplot, Clark County Fair and Rodeo royalty and Nevada Parks’ invitation.
There were bands and cheerleaders and drill teams and cars and floats and flags and candy and, all in all, a perfect day for a parade.
1 thought on “A Chance To Say ‘Thank You’”
My Grandfather is Joseph Eckman I don’t know if anyone has anymore info about what happened when the ship went down but if they do or it any of their family do could they please pass it along please.