U.S. Army Sixth Cavalry Regiment Parady '40, '77 and Stewart '40

During World War II, 33 University of Georgia alumni were officers of the U.S. Army's Sixth Calvary Regiment, which helped bring about the final defeat of Hitler. They received their commissions through the ROTC program upon graduating from the University of Georgia.

Harold Parady BS '40, PhD '77, a retired University faculty member now residing in Macon, GA, is one of five surviving members of that group. Parady said the men all distinguished themselves as well-trained, highly disciplined officers and leaders.

"In fact, when World War II ended in Europe May 8, 1945, five of the six highest ranking officers in the Sixth Calvary were Georgia graduates," said Parady.

After the war, many of them became lawyers, judges, members of the Board of Regents, legislators, businessmen, and UGA faculty members.

In the 1940 Pandora, university yearbook, Parady is pictured as commanding officer of the Second Squadron of the UGA Calvary Regiment. On the same page is Tom Stewart, commander of the Regiment's First Squadron. Ironically, the military careers of both men would parallel throughout the war and six months into the Allied occupation of Germany when Parady came home. Stewart stayed in the Army, was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel and served until retirement when he settled in Washington, D.C. Stewart died in 1986.

War with Hitler's forces was imminent when Parady and Stewart graduated from UGA May 30, 1940 and they were soon called into active duty and assigned to the Sixth Calvary Regiment then stationed in Fort Oglethorpe, GA. Four and a half years after graduation, Parady and Stewart were squadron S-3 officers, one in each of the two cavalry squadrons in the Sixth Calvary Group (mechanized). During this 54-month span, 31 other UGA ROTC cadets joined the Sixth Calvary.

Parady said, "After brief training periods in Ireland and England, the Sixth Calvary Group as part of General George Patton's Third Army landed in Normandy July 8, 1943."

The Sixth Army played an important part in Patton's advance into Germany evidenced by the Presidential Citation given the group following their efforts in the Battle of the Bulge, a major turning point of the war that led to a breakthrough by the Allied Forces.

After the fighting ceased in Belgium, the Sixth was ordered to Berlin as part of the Army of Occupation. They served for six months before being rotated back home after having been gone for over two years.

Parady returned to Athens, GA and became a member of the UGA faculty. He has distinguished himself in teaching and publishing and is Emeritus Director of the National Institute for Instructional Materials at the University.

Four other surviving members of the original 33 who served with Parady and Stewart include Junius M. Adair '38, Coral Gables, FL; Douglas Epperson '38, Lake City, FL; John J. (Jack) Flynt '36, Griffin, GA and Harold A. Saye '41, Athens, GA.