I remember Festus and Miss Kitty praising Marshall Dillon in just about every show for his “wealth of managerial experience”.
Wyatt Earp wouldn’t need Durbin’s praise.
Marshall Dillon had been a Grunt with the 3rd ID and was seriously wounded at Anzio, Bronze Star...
Festus did a couple of years US Army WWII.
Miss Kitty’s background is a bit obscured.