By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Decorated Vietnam War Veteran Dr. Robert E. “Buddy” Gardner will be Grand Marshal of the Henry County Veterans’ Day parade set for 11 a.m. Saturday, November 9.
Dr. Gardner, who was a veterinarian in Paris for 42 years, has quite a distinguished record of military service. He achieved the rank of Army Captain, was a pilot and flew an L-19 Bird Dog as a forward air controller. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with a Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal.
He was graduated from the ROTC from Mississippi State, served in active duty for four years and in the Mississippi National Guard for nine years and the Tennessee Guard for two years.
He was graduated from Mississippi State University in 1963 and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University in 1976.
Dr. Gardner and Delaine, his wife of 59 years, have five children, Leigh Crossett, Suzanne Chilcutt, Angie Taylor, Tas Gardner and Blair Gardner; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
The Veterans’ Day parade will follow the same parade route as always, beginning at the Henry County Fairgrounds, moving down Fairgrounds Rd., onto East Wood and then turning and ending at Philadelphia Avenue by the Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Menu
