Evening star., 1945-09-11

turn, including presentation OF
the Congressional Medal OF
Honor, behind him, Gen. Jona-
than NJ Wainwright reported at
the Pentagon today to get
squared away" in true Army
style.
Actually, his only assignment was
to rest today and tomorrow, but
Gen. Wainwright arrived at the
Pentagon at 10 am, accompanied
by Brig. Gen. Lewis C. Beebe, one
of the liberated prisoners who flew
home with him.
Gen. Wainwright took over the
office of Maj. Gen. Alexander D.
Surles, War Department chief of
public relations. and promptly
started signing the papers required
of every returning general.
Then he went to the Adjutant
Generals Office to report in and
undoubtedly to get orders giving
him the leave he has accumulated
at the rate of 80 days for each year
since the last leaye-probably back
to 1910.
From that Office he went to the
finance office to collect his back
pay-the portion which has not
already been given to his wife as
an allotment during his years of
imprisonment
He planned to go to Walter Reed
Hospital this afternoon to have
Army doctors examine the abcessed
tooth which troubled him so much
on his fight here that he had to
ask for a dentist when the plane
stopped to refuel at Omaha.
Ordered Only to Rest.
The War Department said the
general was under no orders except
to rest and regain his health but, his
Army friends understood why Gen
Wainwright visited the Pentagon to-
day. It's matter of Army indoc-
trination that makes an old soldier
like Gen. Wainwright want to get
all the red tape out of the way as
soon as he arrives at new station
While he was in Gen. Surles' Of
fee and as he walked from one Of
flee to another in the huge Penta
gon. which he never saw before
yesterday, Gen. Wainwright had a
chance to see some of his old Army
friends.
He had no opportunity to greet
them during the crowded hours yes
terday when nearly 100000 people
the police estimate-packed the
Monument Grounds and lined ur
along 2-mile parade route tt
catch glimpse of their beloved
skinny"
1t was understood that Gen
Wainwright will not be pressed by
the War Department to hurry abou,
turning in his report on the In.
dignities he and his comrades suf
fered at Jap hands.
Wants Prison Story Told.
He made it clear yesterday, how
ever, that he believes the "pitifu
story of the men who died in ''fou
prison camps of their captor's cruel.
ty and neglect should be revealed
in all its CHASTITY detail"
That's what he told a packed
House of Representatives during his
visit to both chambers yesterday
afternoon.
The American people must real
ize fully the nature of the enemy
whom we knew so we'll" he insisted
He was reluctant to talk of his
own sufferings. At the Pentagor
press conference which ended the
four hours of public welcome yester-
day, he said the Jap jailers heapec
'indignities" on high-ranking Amer
lean officers but he did not go into
details. He said only that officers
were forced to work like "any
Chinese coolie."
Medal Presented in Garden.
Gen. Wainwright went to the
Pentagon press conference from the
greatest surprise of the day. HI
had been warned the city woulc
turn out to welcome him but hs
knew nothing of what lay in store
for him at the White House.
Just few minutes before Gen
Wainwright reached the Whit,
House, President Truman confidee
to newsmen he intended to confer
the Nations highest award on tn,
62-year-old fighting man.
The ceremony took place in thu
White House rose garden and Presi
dent Truman, linked his arm in tn,
generals to escort him to the scene
Mrs. Truman followed with Mrs
Wainwright, who kept her some
times tear-filled eyes on the genera
every minute.
AS the party lined up for the pre-
sentation, the President joviall,
A. ~