Westborough – Herbert Russell Arnold, a lifelong Westborough resident, was selected as the 2014 Veterans Day grand marshal. Born July 7, 1938, he was raised a in a log cabin on Belknap Street with three brothers and three sisters. He attended Westborough High School (WHS), graduating with the Class of 1956. He was a Sea Scout and co-captain of the WHS 1956 football team. He joined the United States Navy Aug. 30, 1956, and spent most all of his four years of service at sea. As a Cold War Era veteran, he completed his basic training at USNTC in Bainbridge, Md., and his Machinist Mate School at USNTC, Great Lakes, Ill. He was first in his class and Honor Man at his graduation.
Arnold was assigned to duty aboard destroyer USS Beatty DD756, Destroyer Division 12, Destroyer Squadron 122. With a home port of Newport, R.I., the Beatty was responsible for escort and anti-submarine vanguard protection throughout the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In his first six months of duty Arnold crossed both the Arctic Circle and the Equator. With the Cold War in high gear there was a constant state of alert and continual battle training. He was honorably discharged Aug. 29, 1960, as a Petty Officer Second Class E-5.
After his Navy service, Arnold worked many years in freight hauling and retired from E.L. Harvey as a heavy equipment operator.
Arnold married Verne Barnes, a childhood sweetheart, 57 years ago and they have four sons (Herbert Jr., Edwin, Shawn and Andrew) and 11 grandchildren.
