Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-02
Marines Ease
Training Rules
For Hot Spells
Quuntico Orders
New Policy After
Deuth of z on Murct
By John v. Horner


A House Armed Services sub.
committee today had Marine
Corps assurance that steps have
been taken at Quantico to cor
rect a situation that apparently
led to the death Of two Marine
officer candidates In training last
summer.
Officers attached to the edu-
cational center at the big base
in Virginia told the subcommit-
tee yesterday that training
schedules are modified as needed
to protect trainees under ex-
IRENE weather conditions.
Statements about the new poll
icy were received after two fa-
theirs charged that unnecessarily
severe training in oppressively
hot weather caused their sons
to suffer fatal sunstrokes last
July
Third Victim Survived.
The victims were William E.
Malone, jr., of Pelham, N. Y,
and Joseph j. Conwell of Green's
burg. Pa. A third officer candi-
date who suffered a sunstroke
at the same time responded to
treatment, has recovered and
has been separated from the
service.
Maj. Gen. E. A. Pollock, direc-
tor Of the education center at
Quantico. and Col. Raymond L.
Murray, commander of the
training program involved in the
House probe. testified they had
never before heard of a death
from sunstroke in all of the
thousands of officers trained by
the Marine Corps.
They said they were aston
ished and grieved by the fate
that befell Pvts. Malone and
Conwell, after the officer candi-
dates took part in a training
hike.
The fathers complained the
hike was too strenuous for new
corners during one of the hottest,
most humid summers in recent
years. Although their sons were
in good physical condition just
after being graduated from COL
lege. the fathers commended they
could not be expected to undergo
rigorous training Immediately
after reporting for duty.
Smile Hike.
Col. Murray said the training
hike took place on a day when
the temperature was SO degrees.
He said it covered a little more
than three miles.
But Mr. Malone and Mr.. Con-
well said the temperature was
about 100 degrees and that they
had information the hike COW
cred from five to eight miles.
They said it was run off too
quickly over difficult terrain.
Col. Murray said Marine per-
sonnet being trained at Quantico
now receives special instructions
on hot weather problems. They
are required to carry canteens
and are ordered to drop out of
line if certain symptoms of heat
illness develop. Furthermore. all
activity is curtailed when the
temperature reaches 80 degrees.
the colonel said.
The officer told committeeman
that additional breaks are taken
if needed, and drills are moved
from a concrete pavement to
grassy plots when the weather is
hot.
Treatment Described.
1t. Jean Wine, a Navy doctor
on duty at the Quantico hos
pital when all three sunstroke
victims were admitted, described
the treatments for the men. I'm
der questioning by Representa-
tive Bates. Republican, of Massa-
chusetts. and Hardy. Democrat.
of Virginia. he said the stand
ard" treatment was used.
DR.. Wine said this emphasized
reduction in body temperatures
as quickly as possible. He and
other doctors on duty used ice
packs, rubbing alcohol and cooled
air.
The physician said young Ma
lone responded we'll to the treat
ment the first night of his illness
but suffered a relapse late the
next day.
The subcommittee will take
additional testimony from sew
eral other Marine officers, but
the date for the next hearing has
not been set.