At the end of my twelfth grade I marched at the head of the Memorial Day parade. I felt so proud, my chest bursting with ribbons and braids of every kind. To make it more wonderful, We had important visitors that day. Two soldiers who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor in Viet Nam were present. More exciting to me, General William Westmoreland (very prominent in the Viet Nam war) attended with an impressive entourage. Afterward, Sgt. Hunt introduced me to General Westmoreland, and I had dinner with him and the Congressional Medal winners. Later I was offered a full scholarship to West Point. I didn’t refuse the scholarship outright, but I let them know that a military career wasn’t where I saw myself going.
It has been stated that the meeting took place in February, not Memorial Day. Should be easy enough to verify when a parade happened. A parade in February in Detroit? And a scholarship offer after his senior year had already ended? Wouldn’t admissions already have been given and papers filed prior to the end of May? Even in those days, before computers, plans and applications to prestigious schools had to be finalized long before the end of May in one’s twelfth grade year.