Real Hero Report | January 2019 |
In 1959, former Adjutant General Ernest Vandiver was
inaugurated as the 73rd Governor of Georgia. Vandiver, a World
War II veteran, was appointed Adjutant General of Georgia
by Gov. Herman Talmadge in 1948 and served as TAG for six
years. He achieved the rank of Major General in the Air National
Guard becoming the youngest person to reach that rank.viii His
Lieutenant Governor, Garland T. Byrd, was an active member
of the Georgia Guard serving as the judge advocate for the State
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment. A World War II
Veteran, Byrd received the Silver Star for leading his troops on a
raid more than 50 miles behind German lines.ix
Following Governor Vandiver’s swearing-in ceremony A
thundering 19-gun salute echoed from the western lawn of
the State capitol where two 75 mm cannons were manned by
Squadron streaked overhead as musical salutes by the 530th Air
Force Band saluted the new governor.x
1963: Armored Reception
A mile-long inaugural parade honored Governor Carl Sanders
following his January 1963 inauguration. Maj. Gen. George
Hearn, Adjutant General of the Georgia Guard served as the grand
marshal of the parade which incorporated tanks and howitzers of
the 48th Armor Division as well as engineering equipment from
lady Betty Sanders. As in 1959, Guardsmen of the 201st Ordnance
xi
1967: Salute and Security
For the January 1967 inauguration of Gov. Lester Maddox, the
648th Maintenance Battalion. Security for the inauguration was
provided by the 48th Military Police Company.
1971: Vandiver Returns
During inaugural ceremonies for Governor Jimmy Carter in
January 1971, Carter appointed Ernest Vandiver to serve for a
second time as Adjutant General of Georgia. Vandiver became
the fourth TAG to serve two separate terms along with Maj. Gen.
George Hearn and Brig. Gen. Charles M. Cox and J. Van Holt
Nash.xii
1975: Workhorse
Governor Elect George Busbee was transported to his January
14, 1975 inauguration in a Georgia Army National Guard UH-1
helicopter designated as Workhorse. The 116th Army Band
and 530th Air Force Band provided musical entertainment for
inaugural ceremonies while military police of the 190th Military
Police Company provided security.xiii
The Modern Era
The Georgia Guard continued to support the inauguration of
Governors through the most recent administrations of Governors
War II, during Perdue’s inauguration, a Georgia Governor entered
and Deal observed all four of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat
team’s deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
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i Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta,
GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 97-99.
ii Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta,
GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 100.
iii Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta,
GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 113-117.
iv Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta,
GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 106.
v Report of the Adjutant General, State of Georgia for the Year 1915. Atlanta,
GA: Byrd Printing Company, 1916, 3.
Chief of the Georgia NG.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1955, 2.
vii “2500 Georgia Guardsmen Display Their Military Power before 200,000
Georgians in 2 1-2 hour Inaugural Parade.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine,
January 1955, 10.
Service.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1959, 5.
ix “Lt. Governor Byrd Active Guardsman.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine,
January 1959, 5.
x “Ernest Vandiver Becomes Guard’s Commander-in-Chief.” The Georgia
Guardsman Magazine, January 1959, 6-7.
xi “Mile-Long Inaugural Parade Hails New Commander-in-Chief as Components
Salute Gov Sanders” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 1963, 2.
xii Georgia Department of Defense Annual Report 2013. Marietta, GA: 2014, 46.
xiii “George Busbee Sworn in As Governor of Georgia.” The Georgia
Guardsman Magazine, January 1975, 4-5.
F86L Sabres of the 128th Fighter Interceptor Squadron provided an
(Photo from
Georgia Guard Archives)
Georgia Guardsmen of the 878th Engineer Battalion pass the reviewing
stand of Gov. Carl Sanders.