Marshall '72 speaks as University marks Veterans Day

Rep. Jim Marshall ’72, a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, addressed the University’s Veterans Day observance in the Chapel Nov. 11.

Marshall read a eulogy that he had delivered in 2005 for a member of the Georgia National Guard, Sgt. 1st Class Victor Anderson, who was killed in Iraq by an IED (improvised explosive device). Marshall noted that Anderson had been medically disqualified from serving in combat because of diabetes, but fought to overturn the ruling “to do his duty and to be with his men.” The congressman quoted from an e-mail that Anderson sent to his family not long before his death:

“People ask me why I fight. I do not fight for some ideology. I fight for that man to my left, and the one to my right. They are men of their honor. When called, they responded and did their duty. They did not run away. If you believe in nothing else, believe in them.”

“Without men and women like Victor, intolerance, extremism, and evil would dominate our world,” Marshall said. “Religious intolerance and jihadist extremism will diminish in time, but until then, we need the sacrifices of soldiers like Victor.”

Marshall, the son and grandson of Army generals, entered Princeton with the Class of 1970 but enlisted in the Army in 1968. He served in Vietnam as a Airborne-Ranger platoon sergeant and received two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. After his Army service, he returned to Princeton and graduated in 1972. A four-term Democrat in Georgia’s 8th Congressional District, he lost his bid for re-election Nov. 2.

Following the observance, five new members of Princeton’s ROTC unit were sworn in on the steps of the Chapel. The ROTC program has 83 students enrolled: 22 from Princeton, 21 from the College of New Jersey, four from Rider University, and 36 from Rowan University.

Below, links to six recent veteran-related stories from the Princeton Alumni Weekly and PAW Online.

The Medal of Honor [Nov. 3, 2010]

Biographies of the eight Princeton alumni and one professor who have been awarded the nation’s highest decoration for valor in wartime.

When art historians went to war [June 2, 2010]

W. Barksdale Maynard ’88 tells the story of the “Monuments Men,” who rescued relics during and after World War II.

A history of Princeton’s bronze memorial stars [Nov. 4, 2009]

PAW editor Marilyn Marks *86 explains one of the University’s most cherished traditions.

Continuing straight ahead [Oct. 7, 2009]

The long journey of Iraq War veteran First Lt. Alex Wilson ’03, as told by E.B. Boyd ’89.

Stories from the front [July 15, 2009]

Alumni share their wartime experiences, ranging from the dramatic rescue of a group of French schoolchildren to a “mini-reunion” in a cold tent in Korea.

Issue in doubt [May 13, 2009]

Michael Goldstein ’78 explores the story of Lt. Alexander “Sandy” Bonnyman ’32, who was killed in action in the South Pacific.