Veterans and Concerned Citizens of Veterans last week named the various grand marshals for the upcoming Veterans Day Parade in November. The Air Force Grand Marshall is Paul Cureless, Chief Master Sergeant E-9, was born and raised in Bluff City, Illinois. He entered the U.S. Air Force in
1961 after high school. After an assignment in Korea, he was stationed at Ellsworth, AFB, SD, with B-52 Strategic Bombers
and 150 Minute Man Missiles. Paul retrained into the career field of Civil Engineering Production Control. Cureless served
in Tehran, Iran for 2 years. After Iran he served with the 68th Bomb Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. His next assignment
was at Whiteman AFB, MO. Paul was then assigned to Diyarbakir Turkey – Radar Site watching the Russians on the Black Sea.
Cureless was promoted early to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant with only 18 years of service. This promotion
normally took 23 years of service. As Chief E-9 he was assigned to Clark Air Force Base, Philippines, as Deputy Chief of Operations Civil Engineering, where he supervised a workforce of 500 personnel, through 9 first level superintendents and 21 shop foremen. After Clark AFB he was assigned to Anderson AFB, Guam, as Chief of Resources and Requirements. Paul’s last assignment was at Norton AFB, CA., as Chief of Production Control, Civil Engineering.
During his last 10 years in the Air Force he preached and taught Bible Classes as a member of the Church of Christ in Iran, Turkey,
Philippines, Guam, and state side. Paul retired in 1983 with 22 years of service. He is currently a full time Preacher for the
Murfreesboro Church of Christ. He also works as a Deputy Sheriff-court officer, for the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department, DarrellYoung. Paul is married to Betty (Trail) Cureless.
They have four children: Gregory, Brenda, Kevin, and Kelly. Paul loved the U.S. Air Force and highly recommends the Air Force to all young men and women. Chief Cureless received numerous awards to include the Meritorious Service Medal. He was selected as the NCO of the month, NCO of the Quarter, nominated as the America’s Ten Outstanding Young Men Award in 1976, and as the “Twelve Outstanding Airman of the Year Award”, also in 1976.
