Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-15
By RUTH DEAN

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When Admiral Arleigh
Burke. the new Chief Of Naval
Operations. had command of
q group of destroyers In the
Pacific during World War II.
he coined the name Little
Beavers" for them as Q morale
builder and that 1t worked Is
now history.
It all hinged on that In
definable thing - esprit de
corps.
So it seemed only natural
yesterday for. Admiral and
Mrs. Burke to have as their
honor guests ct their very first
reception In their ofiicial home.
the 80 Navy captains on active
duty recently selected for pro-
motion to rear admiral.
Informal Party
There was no rnistaking the
esprit de corps ct Admiral
House last night. Since it was
an informal party-no uni
forms In favor Of more COM.
Portable @civies"-introductions
among party guests were
either "tnis is one of the new
admirals." or else. mo, he's
already an admiral. Been
around for quite awhile"
All was fun and gaiety and
1t was q nice way to get &C
quainted unofilcially.
Mrs. Burke, who is petite.
comes UP just to her husbands
shoulder and has q warm smile
and sweet manner. received
with Admiral Burke the more
than $50 guests in q small
anteroom TO the two drawing
rooms and dining room where
the party got under way.
Hawaiian Flowers
Small bowls Of roses on the
tables and mantleS lent o warm
note to the occasion but it was
. large vase Of pink and white
anthuriums that drew the adj
niiration Of several Navy wives
who guessed they must have
been flown from Hawaii.
The tropic flowers did come
from Honolulu. Mrs. Burke re-
vealed later. but they made the
air journey by q very special
messenger. Admiral Felix
Stump, commander-in-chief Of
the Pacific feet at Pearl Har-
Dor. was In Washington q week
ago, dropped by to see the
Burkes and produced the an
thurium from his back pock-
ct" said Mrs. Burke.
Early arrivals at the party
included the Secretary Of the
Navy and Mrs. Charles s.
Thomas and the Undersecre-
tary Of the Navy and Mrs.
Gates.
One Of the new rear admiral
selectees found himself in the
unusual position Of being guest
and an assistant host. Capt.
Thurston B. Clark is executive
officer and senior aide to ADJ
miral Burke so in addition to
being introduced, he was also
making some introductions.
Family Tradition
Last nights party brought
back memories to one Of the
honor guests - Rear Admiral
William H. Leahy, son Of Fleet
Admiral william H. Leahy.
World War II military staff
chief to the late President
Roosevelt. Looking around the
rooms, he and his wife recalled
the two Christmases they
spent there when his father
was Chief Of Naval Opera
tons.
st only seems like yester-
day." said Mrs. Leahy, as she
recalled that the alcove Of the
drawing room where q Navy
Band trio played for the party
guests was the familiar spot
for the Christmas tree. Admi-
raj Leahy also noted that the
crystal chandelier and wall
sconces in the dining room
were selected by his mother
when the room had to be
redecorated after the ceiling
fell in.
Arriving later at the party
and Immediately surrounded
by old friends were Fleet Adj
miral and Mrs. Chester B.
Nimitz, who came with their
daughter and son In law,
Capt. and Mrs. James T. Lay.
The Nimitzes are now liv-
ing in Berkeley, Calf, and are
Just completing q two-week
visit with the Lays after
spending most Of the summer
with Mrs. Nimitz' sister In
Cape Cod.
Among their old friends well
coming them were Vice ADJ
miral and Mrs. T. c. Coombs,
Capt. william r. Shelley. who
was one of the rear admiral