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More than seven decades ago, Sidney Walton traveled halfway across the globe to fight in World War II. On Wednesday, the 101-year old U.S. Army veteran embarked on a much more comfortable journey, leading a massive motorcade from San Jose to Sausalito in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of the war.
“We’re looking forward to this trip, not just to meet dignitaries on the way, but to have lunch in Sausalito,” said Paul Walton, Sidney’s son, who accompanied him in a Buick Enclave specially wrapped with photos of Sidney past and present.
Walton’s age provided the theme for Wednesday’s trip. He and Paul planned to travel 101 kilometers — about 62 miles — on Highway 101 at a speed of 101 km/hr. And the car parade accompanying them was estimated to be 101 vehicles, including police escorts, classic cars, vintage military vehicles, and motorcycles ridden by the Patriot Guard and the American Legion Riders.
During the sendoff at the Four Points by Sheraton in downtown San Jose, George Smith, president of the San Jose-based Chapter 105 of the American Legion, handed Sidney Walton an American Legion challenge coin and thanked him for his service before getting on his motorcycle to join the parade.
When Walton arrived at San Francisco City Hall, he exchanged hats with sheriff’s deputies and also received a San Francisco Sheriff’s Office face mask, pins and other goodies. San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto said that while his Japanese-American family was interned during World War II, his grand-uncles all served in the all-Japanese 442nd Regiment in the U.S. Army, the same branch that Walton served.
“So it was good to meet somebody who’s actually served with my family, and I mentioned to everyone that it’s wonderful whenever we have the opportunity to celebrate somebody’s life and achievements in front of City Hall,” he said. “There’s a lot of positivity, you could see from the turnout, that a lot of people are happy to show that support for people who have done stuff for our country and for our community.”
Neil Morse, driving a 1941 Buick, joined the caravan in San Francisco for the last leg to Sausalito after learning about the event from the president of the Buick Club of America’s Northern California chapter. “It’s great to focus people’s attention on World War II vets and it’s amazing that this man is 101 years old,” Morse said.
Walton enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941, nine months before Pearl Harbor, “to fight Hitler,” he said. His unit was training to join the Battle of the Bulge when Walton stumbled into a foxhole and broke his ankle. The rest of his unit went on without him, and he never heard from any of them again. After he recovered, Walton was sent off to fight in Asia.
Walton was at the 75th anniversary commemoration of D-Day in France, where he met President Donald Trump. And earlier this year he was one of the 100-year-old World War II veterans who took part in the coin toss at the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, just days before he turned 101.
Paul Walton says his dad’s biggest regret was passing up the opportunity to meet a Civil War veteran in 1941. That’s why he started the “No Regrets” tour, a journey to all 50 U.S. states to give others — including state governors — the chance to meet a World War II veteran. (Get more information on the effort at www.gosidneygo.com.)
Because of COVID-19 concerns, Sidney, who lives in San Diego, traded in airplane trips to drives in the Buick. They’ve got 18 states left, and Sidney Walton’s raring to go.
“Colorado, here we come,” he said.
Staff video editor/ photographer Dylan Bouscher contributed to this report.
