Evening star., 1952-01-12
CONTINUED From First Page.)

would not be indicted for some
months. Mr.. Norton explained
that Washington draft boards are
)just beginning to induct 20-year-
olds, and will be some time getting
to the 19-year-olds.
Mr.. Truman has said many
times he would rather wear the
Congressional Medal of Honor
than be President.
The refusal is the first in thu
history of the medal, since it was
established by Congress in 1861
No one ever has declined accept.
ance of the country's highest mil.
itary honor for gallantry "ovel
and beyond the call Of duty" ir
battle.
Brig. Gen. Frank Dorm, deputy
chief Of Army information, late
yesterday indicated to newspaper
reporters the Army may contact
Mr.. McGovern to see If he would
agree to other arrangements fol-
Ia presentation. Gen. Dorm said II
was understandable" that the
father was overwrought.
Second Wound Fatal.
Robert was killed when he
charged q machinegun position
that had halted the advance of his
men in Korea. When he was
within a dozen yards of the posi-
ton, a burst of gunfire tore his
Icarbine from his hands, but he
continued to throw grenades until
his gun was silenced. Then, al
though wounded. he reorganized
his platoon and led a charge
against the Communist troops un-
til he fell with second and fataI
wound.
In adamantly standing by his
decision. the tall gray-haired IA
ther said: II don't want any part
of it. if it implies that Mr.. Truman
lis proper party to honor these
boys and other boys who died over
there"
"All scrolls, citations and medals
which have been rendered to me
as purporting to honor the men,
ory of these two boys. are either
signed by. or bear reference as
having been authorized by, OF
awarded by Harry S. Truman
the father said.
Implication Cited.
my acceptance Of them, there
fore, would carry with it the i'm
lplication that think he is worthy
to honor the memory of the boys
killed in Korea.
II do not consider that his
record with respect to supporting
the efforts of the boys fighting
over there, would. warrant me
making any such concession.
"I'm not q politician This
Is matter of an American father.
disgust with the manner in which
the boys of our armed forces have
been and are being treated ir
Korea. They are not getting, In
my opinion, the moral or material
support Of which our grand
American kids are worthy. Anc
by that ! don't mean the Army
they have been grand"
| officials at the Pentagon de-
clined to make public the text oi
Mr.. McGovern's letter rejecting
the medal for his son.
Truman Policies Blamed.
A close friend of the McGoverr
family said Mr.. McGovern Is
strongly anti Truman and objects
to any Of "the Truman high brass
Icenferring any awards on his sons
but that he is proud of their mill
tary achievements. A brother said
Mr.. McGovern feels Mr.. Truman's
Far East policies led to the Ko-
Irean war and that the men in
combat were not given strong
enough military support.
On Capitol Hill. several mem
bers of the House Armed
Services Committee had mixed
reactions to the incident, espe-
|cially to the possibility that Rob.
Iert's medal be given by a group
of both Senator'S and Represen-
tatives, since the award is be-
slowed in the name Of Congress
| Representative Van Zandt. Re-
publican, Of Pennsylvania, said
he thought presentation Of the
Medal Of Honor by q COMMITTEES
of legislators rather than by the
president, might be accomplished
lby congressional resolution.
Representative Cole. Republican
lof New York, said that. even Il
lsuch a plan was offered. 1T would
mot mollify the fathers feelings
Representative Hardy. Demo.
lcrat, Of Virginia. also saw no rea'
ison why such plan could n0t bl