The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-11-17

flew on all that night and until
noon the next day to Honolulu,
where an old comrade, Lieut.. Gen.
Robert c. Richardson, was wait
ing for me at Hickam Field.
He had luncheon ready, and
some great news. While we were
eating he took a radio message
from his pocket from the Adjutant
General of the Army, and told me
I had been promoted to the grade
of full general. With a big smile
he produced eight silver stars from
his pocket and pinned them on my
shoulders. The promotion was
wholly unexpected; very wonder
full thing for President Truman to
do, when one considers that spent
by far the greater part Of the war
in prison camps.
We were Gen. Richardson S
guests in Hawaii until Friday
night, September 7, when We took
off for San Francisco. 1t was
cloudy as we approached the city.
But at II am. September the
clouds opened and there below us
was the Golden Gate Bridge and
the green mountains to the north
Of the Bay home, and there
never was a finer word.
A large delegation met us at
Hamilton Field: the Mayor, several
generals-and my sister, Mrs
Frederick Mears, of Seattle, and
my boy, whom I had missed SO
very much. With my boy and my
sister in the car with me we
whisked through the Preside and
into the city to the St. Francis
Hotel, where a heart warming
crowd had gathered. talked to my
wife by phone in Skaneateles, N.
Y, grateful to hear her voice
again after more than four years.
1 spent Sunday morning, Sept. 8
on my sons fine new ship, and
then met the Mayor and rode with
him in the great parade which
jointly celebrated the anniversary
of California's admission to- the
Union and my own return. It was
a tremendous occasion, an indel.
ible thrill.
Gen. Marshall had instructed me
to arrive in Washington at exactly
1890 pm, Eastern War Time, the
following day. We took off from
Hamilton Field in our same C-54 at
pm. Sunday and flew over land
have always loved-the Sierra
Nevada mountains. Late that night
we landed at Omaha for gas.
Ahead of Schedule
We were ahead of schedule
shortly after dawn, so Perkins flew
us over the beautiful Tennessee
Valley and the Big Smokes, gave
us look at the Zig Marine base
at Quantico, Va, and put the C-54
down on the dot of 1890 at thu
; National Airport in Washington.
, AS I stepped from the plane ;
j, Guard of Honor presented arm
t and the band played the appro
7 pirate flourishes and ruffles AM
then the Generals March. STANDING
t at attention, as was everyone else
I kept my eyes on my wife, VIII
stood there at Gen Marshalps side
! Gen. Marshall let my wife come t
e me first.
e It was a busy day. Mrs. Vain
wright and / were taken first t
t the Pentagon Building to meet TIA
fine old gentleman and statesman
Col. Stimson, in his office in tn
fantastic building the existence Q
which I had learned only a wee
before.
. On reception committee at tn
Pentagon were 80 Or 40 officer
I and men of my former comman
in the Philippines, among then
; Col. Howard, the Marine officer II
command of Corregidor's beacl
defenses; Brig. Gen. Romulo Q
t the Philippine Army and a numbe
Of other Filipino officers and men
, and Brig. Gen. Maxon Louga, VIII
had suffered an almost killing blow
over the head with baseball ba
t during the Bataan Death March.
0 We were driven across the bridg
into Washington and on nearl.
every lainppost was a picture Q
r myself in my sun helmet, and tn
e warming legend, welcome Skin
v NY"
}. More than 1000 persons ha'
e h er ed on the Monumen
n Grounds, and when l took my plac
S on the flag-draped reception stan
they gave me cheer that, ! guess
d brought tears to my eyes.
y THANK you, all of you =.
| I finally said. IT still find it har