The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1942-03-26
DO Something is the Creed
of u S. Armys' Chief Trainer
Gen. MeNoir Demonds Action
in Execution Of Duties
Gen. Mekoir Demands Action
BY TOM WOLF
NEA Service staff Correspondent


WASHINGTON, March 80
Recently a group of Junior Of
ficers was gathered in a lecture
room in the old Army War Col
lege waiting for 1t. Gen. Lesley
Joseph McNair to address them.
One of them offered a bet:
There are two ways that Gen.
McNair can mount the platform.
He can walk up the stairs at the
side; or he can jump directly
onto the stage. I'll bet he jumps.
Who'll take it,"
There were no takers.
Every one who has ever seen
Gen. McNair in action knows
that he never wastes time get
ting to the point. And no one
knows better than Gen. McNair
himself that there is no time to
waste today. AS commander Of
all ground forces within the con-
tinental United States under the
recent army reorganization, Gen.
McNair is responsible for the en-
tire training of the huge, grow
ing U. S. Army.
If he had his way, he would
probably try to train each and
every recruit himself. Doing
things himself is the keynote of
his military career. His servcie
record is spotted with dividends
of this policy. He was a briga-
der general at 35-second
youngest general in the Ameri-
can army in the last year. Be-
fore his present job he was Chief
of Staff, G.. H. Q.
BEATS AROUND
NO BUSHES
Observers of his work, in the
field or in his office, are con-
tinuously amazed at the amount
he can accomplish. AS boss of
the two large maneuvers last
fall, he often steamed over the
"battlefields" on foot (wearing
enlisted mems tough shoes). He
preferred "jeep" to his staff
car, because it could take him TO
out -of-the-way places.
He works just the same way
behind a desk. 1t often surprises
visitor to come upon the gen.
eral pecking away at his type
writer. But experience has
taught Gen. McNair that it is Of
ten quicker to hunt and peck
than to dictate and wait for the
results. His memos are famous
throughout the army for their
time-saving brcvity: What
Think" Recommend" Speak
of" Q. e., Speak about this
matter next time you see me.")
To do ii himself" Gen. Nc
Nair puts in a 16-hour day, sew
on days week. Before the war
he used to find time to play golf
and ride. Both he and Mrs. Nc
Nair are fond of dancing and
made that the basis of their in
frequent social occasions. But
now there is no time for either
social or family life.
You could set your clock by
the opening of the door of the
commandments red brick house
at the War College every morn
ing, when, briefcase under his
arm, Gen. McNair bounds down
the cannon-flanked steps and
heads for his office at 8 a. m.
The office is a large room on
the east wing of the War Col
lcge Building. but there is moth
ing fancy about it. Towering
windows ru all the way to its
high ceilings. It's yellow walls
are covered with pictures of ia
nous army commanders.
Physically, Gen. McNair is
short. His ash blond hair (Which
accounts for his West Point
nickname: Whitley is thinning
and turning white. He wears il
brushed straight back. His eyes
are clear pastel blue. He speaks
in a voice uncommonly soft for
an artillery officer who has made
himself heard over the roar of
cannon. He doesn't need to
raise it when he wants to get
tough (Which he often does). He
just speaks his mind.
When he speaks that mind, he
talks directly, as he recently did
at the graduation of officers at
the Leavenworth Command and
General Staff School: In these
you can deliver, you need no di-
ploma: IL you cannot deliver, the
diploma will not save you. -.
There are so many things to be
Gopo and time n nrcssin0 waru-