Evening star., 1943-02-07
Col. Gather Keeps
Finqers on Pulse Of
Ground Training
In Constont Touch
With Variety Of Activities
Under Gen. McNoir
Eighth OF q Series
BY WALTER McCALLTM,

StdI CtaD to1TeSp0N
FORT BENNING. Ga. Feb. g.
Probably few men in the swiftly
growing Army of the United States
know the overall picture as well
Bs 1t Gen Lesley J. McNair, COM
manding general of the Army
Ground Forces, Under the Army
Division of Services, the ground
forces numerically form the largest
group, larger than the Air Force or
the Services of Supply.
Specialized services within the
Army ground forces are many. and
thousands Of soldiers are training
for these special services, all under
the command of Gen. McNair. But
under him on the General Staff
Corps is a heavily burdened man
who acts as liaison officer the man
who ties in the varied activities of
the special groups training in scores
of places throughout the vast and
complex machine that is the Amer
lean Army.
Col. Gather Is Link.
Heavy burdens of supply, of re-
cruiting, the manifold jobs that
confront the liaison between troop
commanders in the field and the
general staff seem to sit lightly on
Col. Ridgely Gather. jr Actually
he is so engrossed in his job and is
so busy with it that you don't realize
how important a post he holds in
casually talking with him.
Col. Gather long las been
Washington resident, but hardly has
time nowadays for more than a
passing acquaintance with his fam
ilv, so busy is he jumping around
the country from post to post, in
specting installations and facilities
at the many commands under his
supervision.
Every one knows the 9rmy is train
Ing men for air-borne operations. in
and from gliders; parachute infan-
try. air-borne infantry from regular
line outfits. A lot Of people know
troops are being trained in jungle
fighting. and inhltration tactics.
You've heard Of mountain troops,
ski troops and amphibious troops.
All these special operations in the
Army are under the Army Ground
Forces. They tie in through Col.
Gather, a veteran of many years
service in the fighting forces of
America.
1--WE searched long and hard for
real Jungle area" said Col, Gather.
IN Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi
California, everywhere. Nothing
seemed just right until we hit on an
area at Camp Hunter Liggett in
California, on the San Simon prop
erty of William Randolph Hearst"
Learn Beach Landings.
Only lately have publicity restric-
tions surrounding training Of Army
amphibious troops in Northern
Florida been lifted You can be sure
that when the Army moves onto a
heachhead somewhere in the world
the men moving the JOB will know it,
by actual training under field and
battle conditions.
entire division, famous in World
War No. /, is training for winter
warfare. In the mountains of Col
orado ski troops are training for use
somewhere in the world where skis
may be needed for transportation.
All these operations tie in with the
immense training program through
Col. Gather. He isn't horn blower
and takes his job seriously, but in
stride. But if there is one man in
the Army who knows the activities
and program Of the special troops,
1t is Col Gather. Some day. when
Hitler and Eirollito yell Uncle" he
will be able to go back to his boat
on the quiet reaches of Chesapeake
Bay, and his rockfishine. Mean
while, he is doing one OF the No. !
jobs in this mans Army.