
This year’s Grand Marshals selected by the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee are the World War II Veterans. We are honored to have you as our Parade Marshalls 2020.
F1/c Allen Berns, U.S. Coast Guard
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Service Dates: 1946-1947 (WWII and Occupation)
Service Duty: Served as an electrician aboard the USS Chautauqua (WPG-41) a new high endurance cutter. Patrol duty South Pacific.
Civilian Life: Established Custom Electrical Systems, Chicago
PFC Gilbert “Gil” Castro, U.S. Army
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Service Dates: 1946-1948 (WWII – Occupation)
Service Duty: 27th Infantry Division. Occupational Forces, Japan.
S/Sgt Denzel Clouse, U.S. Army
Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana
Service Dates: 1943-1945 (WWII)
Service Duty: 75th Infantry Division HQ, Western Front offensive
Civilian Life: Accountant with Hayden Flour Mills, US Treasury
Arnella Corrigan, Cadet Nurse Corps
Hometown: Smithtown, New York
Service Dates: 1944-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: 2 years enrolled in the Nurse Corps – at Lennox Hills School of Nursing, New York, New York.
Civilian Life: Family
Sgt. Kenneth “Ken” Eckle, U.S. Army Air Forces
Hometown: Ebenezer, New York
Service Dates: 1943-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: 22nd Army Air Forces, Presque Isle AB, Maine. Parachute rigger, Emergency equipment technician
Civilian Life: Sales (Florist), silversmith, spur maker.
Sgt. Joe Figueroa, U.S. Army Air Forces
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Service Dates: 1945-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: Aircraft & Armament Mechanic, 5th Air Force (Japan) Air Force Reserves
Civilian Life: Aircraft engine mechanic at DMAFB. General Forman for processing aircraft into Storage including the Enola Gay.
Mailman 2/c Bernard “Red” Hollander, U.S. Navy
Hometown: Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Service Dates: 1944-1954 (WWII, Korea)
Service Duty: Commissioning USS Fall River (CA-131), Mail Clerk NS Newport, NTS San Diego, COMSERVPAC Hawaii
Civilian Life: U.S. Post Office
Cpt. Milo “Mike” Lude, U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown: Vicksburg, Michigan
Service Dates: 1942-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: Company Commander with 1st Amphibious Group (4th Division) Maui, Hawaii.
Civilian Life: Head Football Coach (U of Delaware, CSU), Athletic Director at Kent State University, and the University of Washington.
Cpt. Gwendolyn “Gwen” Niemi, U.S. Army Air Forces (WAAC, WAC)
Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Service Dates: 1942-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: WAAC OCS – Ft. Des Moines; WAC Company Commander – OIC of Physical Training at the Eastern Flying Training Center, Maxwell Field, AL
Civilian Life: PE Teacher at the University of Arizona, mother, HS Teacher TUSD (20 years).
Sgt. Sam Ortega, U.S. Army Air Forces
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Service Dates: 1943-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: Communications with the 521st Air Service Group (2nd Air Force – Air Transport Command). Kwajalein, South Pacific.
Civilian Life: Hughes Aircraft Co.
MSgt Walter Ram, U.S. Army Air Corps
Hometown: Nogales, Arizona
Service Dates: 1940-1945 (WWII)
Service Duty: 6 combat missions B-17 Navigator (8th AF, England), 18 months as a German POW (Stalag 17B) near Krems, Austria
Civilian Life: Produce Sales & Management
Lt. Col. Thomas “Tom” Rankin, U.S. Army Air Corps, U.S. Air Force
Hometown: San Mateo, California
Service Dates: 1943-1945 (WWII), 1949-1967 (Occupation, Korea – Vietnam)
Service Duty: Completed 38 bombing missions over Germany as B-24 Radio Operator & gunner. (8th AF, England). Distinguished Flying Cross Award.
U.S. Air Force pilot: B-24’s (Korean War), and C-130’s (Vietnam -3 tours).
Civilian Life: Math Teacher at Pueblo HS