Evening star., 1952-06-13
Mccarthy War Record
Shows His Wound
Came al Initiation
Washington, D. c.
FRIDAY, JUNE Is, 1852
By Robert n. Fleming
milwaukee Journal stan writer.)

Joseph r. McCarthy's story OF
his World War II injury is fatty
refuted by official records.
He was not wounded in action,
nor did he suffer a burned and
broken foot in an airplane acci-
dent on June %, 1943, as he has
said. Instead, he was hurt in a
hilarious "shellback" initiation on
that date. It occurred when a
transport, en- route to combat
areas, was the scene Of the riotous
gaiety traditional to crossing the
equator.
Senator Mccarthy, within the
last months, has insisted that
crisism of his Marine record was
fabricated by smear artists" and
that no one could properly chal-
lenge his version of that record.
He did this while fellow Senator's,
seeking to determine his fitness for
Office, were inquiring into his rec
ord for veracity.
Official information on the same
topic, the Wisconsin Republican,
tales Of his Marine Corps service,
as well as conflicting stories from
other sources, were reviewed.
Stories Are Varied.
A series of questions was pre-
pared and submitted to Dan
Kimball. Secretary of the Navy
and, as such, the civilian superior
Of the Marine Corps. He examined
Senator McCarthys records. These
proved that the Senator's report
Of his wartime injury differed
completely from the official rec
ord and the testimony of Nc
Carthy's friends who have no
reason to distort the truth.
One basic fact is undisputed:
Senator Mccarthy was injured
June %, 1943, but within a few
hours, Mccarthy told a ship
board friend:
Don't ever tell that I broke
my foot in this silly way"
Senator Mccarthy was on the
Navy's seaplane tender Chande-
leur. being used as a troop trans
port carrying his squadron and
another toward the Pacific war
area. The ship recorded him as
an Officer passenger"
She sailed from Pearl Harbor
June IL. reached Midway on June
II, then headed for Espiritu
Santo, the destination of Squad
ron 235. but did not arrive until
July 8.
The Chandelier crossed the
Equator. The details of that day
came from man who was
aboard the ship. He asked anon
ymity, explaining, "I'm not in
favor of fourflushing, but I still
like Mccarthy"
version OF Story.
This is his version:
1--WE weren't long out Of Pearl
(Harbor) before I decided that
Mccarthy was the most interest
ing character aboard. We had
long talks on deck-Joe told me
he'd voted for Franklin Roosevelt
three times, about the La Follettes
in Wisconsin and how Phil was
the brains of the family, and
how he (McCarthy) had the best
looking sweetheart in the world.
'He had her picture on a desk
down in the cabin he shared with
seven other officers, and he made
me promise that, if I got back
before he did. I'd look up May
belle and give her his love.
Joe was quite popular with all
the officers. Not only was he a
fine conversationalist, but he also
had found way around the regu-
lation banning liquor on board.
He had three trunks marked
Office Supplies-Squadron 235'
and all those supplies were liquid.
Mccarthy was also a fabulous
poker player, though the game he
was in, was too steep for me. He'd
sit in a game and suddenly. for
no reason at all, bet $1O1.15, or
$97.50.
mot only would the bet knock
other players off balance. but
they'd have the problem of count
ing out the exact sum. Most
times. they'd let him have the
pot just to get on to the next
hand"
Voyage Is Placid.
Referring to his diary in which
details of the trip were recorded,
Senator McCarthy's friend con-
tinued:
1--WE had plenty of time for
conversation, drinking and poker.
In that entire trip, we didn't have
a single general quarters alert
that wasn't a drill. In other words,
VIC O1u AAOt AlnFC OAlC o4146AC C4A4 cav
of attack by air or submarine.
Things were so quiet that the
skipper, Comdr. Albert K. More
house, gave the enlisted men per-
mission to have a mild 'Shellback'
ceremony on June %, the day we
crossed the equator.
THAT day the ocean was fiat
and the sky was clear. We had
our general quarters moved up to
8 am. so the ceremony could be
held at 10, and at 9:55. the uni
form for 'pollywog' initiates was
announced as pajamaS, overseas
caps and bare feet.
THE war was completely for
gotten as we appeared before Nep-
tunus Rex, the enlisted man en-
throned on the boat deck. Rank
meant nothing, of course, as we
were. padded, soaked with hoses
speared by the electric trident,
and generally abused. One ma
rine officer did an elaborate strip
tease, and some one else read a
long defense. typed on toilet