Evening star., 1944-06-25
Eisenhower Returns
From mBeachheadV Visit:
GIs' Skill Studied
BY EDWARD v. ROBERTS.

Dy LDWAhD v. hObEkTS,
Eepresenting the Combined United state,
ALLIED ADVANCE COMMAND
POST, June 24-Gen. Dwight D
Eisenhower returned here today
after his second tour Of the Amer
lean beachhead positions in France
He spent fours hours In Nor
mandy conferring with 1t. Gen
Omar N. Bradley and talking to
many GI's In the field.
The supreme commander was ac-
companied only by his aide, 1t. Col
Ernest r. Lee, and this correspon-
dent as representative of the COM
bined press.
Gen. Eisenhower crowded as much
as possible into his four-hour visit.
He spent an hour talking with Gen,
Bradley and other American lead
ers and most Of the remainder of
his time with infantrymen, gunners
and tankmen. He whizzed through
Normandy in q three-jeep caravan
that startled the MP's.
Face Shows Satisfaction.
1t was his first visit to the Amer
lean sector since June IL and he
came away with his face wreathed
IN satisfaction at what he saw.
He spent much of his time with
units recently arrived in France,
shooting questions to see If the men
could handle themselves in case of
attack.
He asked Pvt. Louis Bernard of
Rochester, N. Y, What would YOU
do II German plane were suddenly
to appear over your encampment? ?"
I'D fire three shots of warning.
sir, and then shoot at him, sir" Pvt.
Bernard replied quickly.
Gen. Eisenhower smiled and nod
ded and then walked briskly over to
PFC. Bagdon Odadzion, Akron, Ohio.
Plans to Sleep in Ditch.
Where are you going to sleep TO-
night?" he asked.
I'm a ditch, under vines for cam
outage, sir" the soldier replied.
A day-dreaming CT, surprised by
the generals hasty approach, stam-
mered, II don't know, sir" to a ouee-
ton regarding his proficiency with
the rifle. Gen. Eisenhower lectured
him quietly for two minutes. He
told him his country wanted to know
that he could hit a mans heart at
zoo yards and that, by God, he
should know it, too.
AS the general passed on, a Junior
ofncer asked the crestfallen soldier.
Don't you even know your ratinp?n
Inc soldier instantly replied:
"Sharpshooter."
The officer asked why he failed to
tell the general that.
Replied the GI: II looked up and
saw who 1t was and I guess it scared
the wind out of me-"
Sergeant Praised,
Gen. Eisenhower poked his wsv
into thicket and found Staff Seret
George P. Terhanko, Younestown
Ohio. digging slit trench. Point
Ing him out to the staff officer with
MIN, Gen. Eisenhower said now
there was a soldier who was prop
cry concealed.
Farther on, the general came
upon Pvt. John Burns, Niles. Ohio.
scooping out slit trench under a
tree. Gen. Eisenhower asked him
whether he nad been seasick on the
way over.
mo, sir" replied Pvt. Burns. I'VE
salied before. On Lake Erie"
At one spot, where buttercuns
were knee high, Gen. Eisenhower
asked private If he knew where
his squadron leader was located in
case OF an attack. When the CT
hesitated momentarily. a major gen.
eral standing behind the general
prompted him frenziedly in sign
language.
Standing on the edge Of a trench
In which Pvt. Robert Olson. Pitts
ourgh, was digging, Gen. Eisenhower
asked him what he did before he
entered the Army.
i was plumber for five years"
Sticks to His Story.
When the general asked him how
olo ne was. and Olson replied 20,
Gen. Eisenhower grinned and asked
II he was sure he had been plumbing
Tor years. Pvt. Olson insisted
he had.
Later Gen. Eisenhower stopped
Sergt. Joseph Ponzio, Philadelphia,
and demanded to know what he'd
DO If German mechanical raid
ing unit came crashing in on his
position. Sergt. Ponzio ratified of
the answer, and apparently it was
on the target because Gen. Eisen-
hover smiled and nodded vigorously
Among the troops the general
passed was soldier driving a bull
dozer. He was wearing a high silk
hat. When he spotted the chief
he stood up and waved it, while
oolored soldier nearby yelled:
Man! It's the big shot"