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Eisenhower Archives 1953 Presidential Inauguration |
Note from Webmaster: eMemories had a 4-year run before being discontinued after 2002. When eMemories was discontinued, it was for lack of material on the class listserve. During November 2005, the subject of the Eisenhower Inaugural Parade was discussed including a photo of we midshipmen marching. Looking back, this was a major event for our class so eMemories is documenting this exchange of class e-mail for all of us to enjoy. Above is a link to a page on the Eisenhower Archives website which has a few details of this event. and several photos. Below is the picture of us marching that started this exchange of e-mails. It is clickable to open a larger version. Norm Palladino, Webmaster
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   Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 Subject: President Eisenhower's Inaugural Parade-1953 From: gmartin55 To: patrick_robertson (Son of George Fetterer) CC: usna55 Patrick, Am attaching a photo which appeared in the Washington Post newspaper showing a portion of the Brigade of Midshipmen marching in President Dwight Eisenhower's first inaugural parade, January 1953. We, your father, Gerry and I, were then in our Youngster [Sophomore] year. Gracie scanned it from the 1953 Lucky Bag. The entire Brigade of Midshipman and Army Corps of Cadets participated. Now-a-days, only a portion attend. The line of march from the Capitol steps to the White House was some 4 miles. However, from our staging area where we alighted from our buses to where we picked them up after the parade stretched well over 5 miles. I do not believe we had ever marched over 2 miles before. I had lived in Washington, DC for three years during WWII and then my senior year in high school in Falls Church, VA, just across the river. Always during the middle of winter, we would have a few balmy days in which you could go outdoors in short sleeves. This was one of those days. Nonetheless, we wore Service Dress Blues, consisting of shirt, tie, blouse and trousers of heavy wool. Then we wore Bridge Coats which were about a half-inch thick and heavy, dropping just below the knee. Next, white leggings, bayonet belts, and white gloves. Hopelessly, overdressed for the day! The many years have clouded our memories, many of my classmates disagree with me, and state that it was a cold day. Whatever, it turned out to be a very miserable march! You see in this picture us turning from Pennsylvania Ave. up 15th Street doing two oblique movements. Thence, a quarter mile up to a left turn onto Pennsylvania Ave. again for about 3/4 miles to the White House. We were formed up into two companies abreast [half battalions], a formation we never had used before. In the picture you see this group at right shoulder arms. The M-1 rifle with bayonet weighed over 8 pounds. Thus, because of the strain on the arm, we needed to shift to left shoulder and then back every block or so. Again, being a bastard formation, our half-battalion commander was unused to this procedure. Approaching the reviewing stand, we had been at left shoulder arms for over two blocks because that jerk had forgotten his instructions, or fallen asleep. Realizing that we had to be at right shoulder arms when passing the reviewing stand and executing an eyes left, he ordered, too late, right shoulder arms. Eyes left was also unique to this parade as most reviewing stands were to our right. Many of our mates having their left arms go numb, could not execute the maneuver. The Plebe in front of me was crying due to his inability to execute and was being chewed out by the upper classmen around him. Somehow, I got it accomplished. And what did I see, President Eisenhower and Vice President Nixon, each in front of a column supporting an arch. Something I will never forget. I was there, the second man in from the left, and up close! For our most recent graduates you will notice we were wearing blue capcovers. A practice which was discontinued after the winter of 57/58. Our sailors during the winter also wore a navy blue flat hat when we shifted from white to blue cap covers for the winter. Realizing that many sailors were being run over and killed while hitch hiking during the winter because of their all blue uniforms, we permanently reverted back to white cap covers and they to their traditional "White Hats." I have my father's flat hat with ribbons atop one another of all the commands he served in as an enlisted man from 1927 to 1937. I will be forwarding a couple of more pictures of your Dad with the soccer team taken from the 1953 and 1954 Lucky Bags in the next two days. Cheers, George George:
You
have a very good memory. Yes, I agree with you, it was rather warm for
that time of the year, although blues without the bridge coats probably
would have been OK. The worst part of it was sitting in the
bus after the march, trying to study for finals, and perspiring like
crazy! I believe the President gave the Cadets liberty in Washington
after the march, because they had so far to travel. I also remember the
oblique movements to avoid the streetcar tracks and the horse
droppings. At least, we only had a couple of mounted units ahead of us!
I was in Ninth Company, and I seem to recall marching on the right, or
away, side of the formation in the outside column.
If
there were any pictures with your attachment, they did not come through
for me.
John
Haynes (9)
George: I disagree with you - it was cold! Go to Goggle and enter "Eisenhower's Inaugural Parade - 1953". Even the Secret Service in the pictures were wearing overcoats/scarf's and the stands as well. You'll also note that Eisenhower marched in the 1917 parade. Hood Powell (08) George, My recollection is that it was cold. Please note in the picture that the gold braid on the cap was being used as a chin strap. Must have been windy. Thanks for provoking the recollection. Miller Andress George, I also disagree--it was cold, and I recall a bit of rain or snow and being a bit wet as we got on the busses back to Annapolis. I have a vivid memory of seeing Pres. Eisenhower in top coat and white scarf, as was Herbert Hoover--The only time I had seen Hoover in person. Bob Boyd (21) My memory must be going! I don't recall it being very cold, but apparently it was. The steamy windows and stuffiness of the bus must have been the result of the cold weather plus our soggy uniforms. We witnessed what only a few people alive today have, and what may not have ever occurred before or since -- a past President (Hoover) and a future one (Nixon) on the same grandstand with the outgoing (Truman) and incoming (Eisenhower) Presidents. What an experience !! John Haynes (9) I found the attachment picture showing the '53 parade in George Martin's message today. I was hoping that it might show the reviewing stand, instead shows the marching Midshipmen in overcoats and leggings. I also recall Nixon was on the stand as well as Hoover, and I don't recall Truman, but were't they wearing top hats? I recall that the press made quite a deal of these hats, apparently the only time Eisenhower ever wore one. Bob Boyd (21) Ike broke tradition and he and Nixon wore Hombergs vice Top Hats. The outgoing president attends the swearing in and then departs. Does not take part in the parade nor is he present at the reviewing stand. Do a Google search re Presidental Inaugural Parades, or Eisenhower's Inaugural Parade, 1953 and you will come upon a photo of the reviewing stand. No such picture in the '53 Lucky Bag. Ike was quite rude to Truman that day and would not go into the White House for the traditional cup of coffee. Instead, he waited for Truman in his car. Was not a pleasant ride to the Capitol for Harry S. George Martin [16] I learn that persons CC'd to, do not get attachments, sorry. Therefore, I will reattach the photo of the parade which I think quite dramatic. Ok, so most everyone say's it was a cold day, 4-1 so far. However, one respondent records sweating heavily and another noted how much moisture a Bridge coat could absorb. Hood Powell got me to do a Goggle Search of the Inaugural Parade and I found the following weather advisory, which corresponds with another hit: "Temperature 49 degrees with cloudy skies." Now, I do not think that to be cold. Indeed, much too warm for Bridge coats, what with all the other garb and equipage and marching at, at least a 3 mph pace, ugh! I just weighed mine, is 7.5 lbs, Yuk! Much to my surprise, learned that President Hoover was also present. Was he in the reviewing stand? Did not see him even though I had a ring side seat! Truman, not a happy camper with Ike, attended the swearing in only. Visited both Truman and Ike's libraries on my drive home from our 50th. Independence and Abilene are within a couple of hours apart. Kansas City in between on the George Brett Super Freeway! Each to his own. "Different Ships, .... " Cheers, George H. Martin [16] 
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