Evening star., 1941-06-29
Naval Reserve Group Here
ToHonor Comdr. A. B. McCrary
Dinner to Be rendered to Regular
Officer Ordered to Other Duty

officers of the United States Naval
Reserve, both active and inactive,
in this vicinity are expected to at
tend in large numbers tomorrow a
dinner which is being rendered
Comdr. A. B. McCrary, U. S. N, re-
tired, who, for about two years, has
been director of Naval Reserve
affairs in this area, under the direc-
ton of the cammandant of the
Washington Navy Yard The dinner
is being sponsored by the District
of Columbia Chapter of the United
States Naval Reserve Officers Asso-
citation, and will be given at the
Army and Navy Club at $50 o'clock.
Speakers will include Comdr. R.
M. Ihrig, U. S. NJ, assistant chief of
the Naval Reserve Division of the
Burean of Navigation, Navy Depart
ment; 1t. o. j. GullickSon, U. S. N,
who has been assistant to Comdr.
McCrary in the Naval Reserve &C
tivitles here, and who is expected to
be assigned to take charge of the
work after Comdr. McCrary leaves.
The three Reserve officers who have
been presidents of the local Reserve
officers chapter during the regime
of Comdr. McCrary. also will be on
the speaking program. They in
clude 1t. Comdr. w. B. Armstrong
and 1t. H. B. Atkinson. and 1t.
Comdr. j. w. Huckert, the present
incumbent.
1t was during the regime Of
Comdr McCrary that the three divi-
sions of the local battalion were pre-
pared for active duty. Prior TO the
development of the current emer-
gency, he was their inspector
instructor and much of the progress
which they made was attributed to
his untiring efforts to direct them
into lines to make them proficient
in their naval work.
Business Meeting Scheduled.
While the dinner is being rendered
to CCmdr. McCrary, it also will be
the last business meeting of the sea-
son for the local chapter, and it is
expected to be the medium for
launching another attack on the
naticnol association Of Reserve Of
ficers for alleoedly folding up its
affairs until after the emergency
The local chapter, aided by several
other chapters. in various parts OF
the country. made strenuous efforts
to prevent the national association
from closing its activities, contend
ing that it was more imperative that
the Naval Reserve officers have some
one to look out for their interests
while they are in the service than
it was during peace times, when they
would be on the scene.
The results of correspondence be-
tween the national officers and 1t
H. B. Atkinson, national director
are expected to be discussed. 1t also
is expected that a recommendation
be made that the local chapter with
hold the share of the local dues
claimed by the national organization
until such time as the national
body becomes active again and con-
forms itself to the demands of other
chapters so far as its operations are
concerned. 1t was pointed out that
the national body claims 81 per
member of each chapter, and there
is not in the local treasury ear
marked for the national chapter
about $500. But the local chapter.
under the present rules, cannot
touch this money.
Problems Have Arisen.
Since the national association
ceased its activities. it was pointed
out, there arose the matter of the
discharge from their commissions
of certain officers who had had
long periods of service and training
in the Reserve, because they hello