Navy Cross honoree, also a Fresno PD officer, leads off Fresno’s Veterans Day Parade
A Fresno police officer who received the Navy Cross during bitter street combat in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004 presided Saturday over the annual Veteran’s Day Parade in downtown Fresno.
Marine Sgt. Jarrett Kraft won one of the nation’s highest military honors while serving in the First Marine Division as a squad leader. During the fighting, Kraft was knocked out by grenade blasts and suffered other injuries during three assaults on insurgents.
Hundreds of Fresnans turned out for the parade in perfect weather as political leaders, including Mayor Jerry Dyer, lauded the nation’s veterans, past and present.
Dyer called the Fresno event “the greatest Veteran’s Day parade in America.
“Thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice,” he added to veterans, many of whom lined P Street in front of City Hall.
Kraft, the Marine veteran, said two things fuel U.S. service members: “Love for country, and love for family.”
“But the reality that’s apparent at the moment (of combat) is our brothers and sisters to our left and right,” Kraft added. “We are fighting for each other, to take care of each other.
“I wear this medal and I accepted this medal on behalf of my Marines I was fighting with that day. I am honored to be in the presence of everybody (today) and feel their support.”
Veterans and family members with ball caps noting service in the nations wars, including World War II, Korea and Vietnam were present at the event.
Vietnam veteran Richard Gonzalez was wearing a vest with the Screaming Eagle insignia of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division.
“We need to understand that we appreciate our freedom and that we’re (still) here,” he said.
“It’s just an experience to see my brothers, because our lives are getting short…so we can honor one another. But not just us, but all veterans.”
Gonzalez then noticed another 101st Vietnam veteran and walked over to shake hands.
The other man, John Decker, who also had badges noting he was in a LRRP (Long-Range, Reconassance Patrol) unit, said he was in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968.
Decker recalled receiving a call from his mother, telling her that he had received a draft notice, and going out to celebrate a few last days of freedom, before enlisting as a paratrooper.
His father, a career Air Force officer, then told him:
“‘I thought I taught you better…you’ll be marching in the rain every day,’” Decker joked.
