Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-09
McKeon's Trial

commend The Star for its
fair and comprehensive report
ing of the Paris Island story,
including the many steps that
have been taken by the Com
mandant of the United States
Marine Corps not only to pre-
vent further losses in recruit
training, but to make that
training even more efficient.
You have performed a great
public service by publishing in
detail all the facts as de-
veloped before the House
Armed Services Committee; at
Paris Island and from Gen.
Pate's headquarters here. Your
editorial position early in May
against any relaxation of a
recruit training program that
would result in a reduction in
efficiency of the United States
Marine who at this moment
stands thoroughly trained and
prepared to fight for his coun-
try anywhere in the world.
was excellent.
At this point I desire to tell
you how grateful we, of Wash
ington's Reserve Marine Corps
Fighter Squadron 321 and
Marine Air Control Squad
ron "a are to The Star for
assigning Jerry O'Leary. jr. to
look in on our annual ma
neuvers at Cherry Point. N. c.
Having been a Marine Corps
combat correspondent over
seas, Mr.. O'Leary brought to
The Stars vast audience an
accurate, intelligent and in
spring report, for he knows
whereof he writes.
Comes now the most difficult
part of this letter. viz,
reference to the editorial in
The Star of August 3, entitled
paris Island Spectacle" The
second paragraph of the edi-
torial read: Gen. Pate was a
very helpful witness for Sergt.
McKeon when he testified
Wednesday at the latter's
court-martial. But in our
opinion he did nothing to help
the Marine Corps" With all
respect for the writer's opinion,
may I offer mine?
Gen. Pate was called by the
defense counsel to testify and
by appearing he thereby be-
came available for cross-ex-
animation by the prosecution.
Published reports Of his opin-
ions about the case were the
result of examination by coun-
sci for both sides.
Those of us who have been
in the Marine Corps since
World War I and in every war
through Korea, know that
Gen. Pate, by making himself
available to both sides for
questioning on the witness
stand, treasured all the nom
commissioned officers of the
Marine Corps that the high
brass" recognized them as the
backbone, lifeblood and endur-
ing strength of the corps. This
was re-emphasized on August 3
by 1t. Gen. Lewis B. Fuller,
USING Retired, about whom
Cecil Holland wrote a very
glowing story with particular
emphasis on the reception the
three-star Marine received at
the Noncommissioned OFF,
GERS Club at Paris Island.
Gen. Fuller left no doubts as
to how he felt about the Ma
rine NCOs when he said, to
quote from The Star of Au-
gust 3, Il owe everything to
these boys"
Had the NCOs and all other
enlisted men been abandoned
by Gen. Pate and Gen. Fuller
at this time when the eyes of
the Nation and all Marines
and their families were TO-
cused on Paris Island, /
would heartily agree with your
editorial writer that Gen. Pate
did nothing to help the Ma
rine Corps
Gen. Pate's duty, as he saw
1t, was to take action i'm
mediately after word of the
April 8 loss of life in Ribbon
Creek was received and by
May / he was before the House
Armed Services Committee
with a report Of what was
wrong. what was done and
being done From Chairman
Carl Vinson. Gen. Pate re-
ceived this tribute, according
to The Star Of May /:
During my AZ years in Con-
gress. this is the first time
within my memory that the
senior officer Of any armed
service has had the courage
to state in public session that
his service could be deficient
IN some respect. With courage
and forthrightness you have
recognized current deficiencies
in the Marine Corps recruit
training system as well as the