Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-16
Liquor Issue Argument
Opens Death March Trial

or a little more, other say four
years and eight months. All
gree, however, that the punish
ment would not be 10 or more
years as earlier reported.
National Issues Claimed
Mr.. Berman said issues in the
trial transcend Sergt. McKeon"
and will require an evaluation
of the training methods and a
determination Of what is needed
to make a Marine" He said
the issues thus have national
and historical significance"
AS the widely-publicized trial
got under way. Mr.. Berman also
revealed that he had lodged an
official protest with the Navy that
some Of his witnesses may not
talk for fear of reprisals.
He released a July 9 letter
to Navy Secretary Thomas ask
ing for an order that mo man
who tells the truth will be sub
ject to reprisal or punitive
measures" for testimony in the
McKeon trial.
Mr.. Berman wrote that both
the refusal and reluctance of
drill instructors and others to
tell about training practices
were 'motivated entirely by fear
of reprisal and punitive action"
and added:
1T is our view that both
truth and justice can be as
much outraged by silence as it
can be violated by falsehood
Secretary Thomas turned down
the request for such an order
and in a July IL letter to Mr..
herman wrote:
II have the utmost confidence
that all members of the Marine
Corps who are interviewed in
this connection will speak the
truth. Any other presumption on
my part would be inconsistent
with my position and with the
high regard and respect which
the public in general has ira
ditionally held for this ~: soup
of men.
Refuses to Elaborate
Il am confident that no one
in a position of authority in the
Marine Corps would subject any
person to reprisals or punitive
measures as a result of his tell
ing the truth at the trial Of this
case or in any other instance"
Mr.. Berman refused to elab-
crate on the reluctance or re-
fusal of drill instructors here
the number runs into the hun
dreds-to talk training practices
and presumably whether similar
night marches have been con-
Quoted. Il prefer to stand on
the correspondence" the law
yer said.
The formal complaint charges
the sergeant violated article 90
of the code by disobeying an Or
der-in this case a depot regu-
lation against drinking while on
duty. 1t also charges that Sergt.
McKeon violated article 1874, a
"catch-all" provision against ac-
tons bringing discredit on the
service. 1t is under this that
the sergeant is charged with
drinking in the presence of a
recruit.
/ A court of inquiry which in
vestigated the drownings found
that Sergt. McKeon had been
drinking vodka on the day he
led his platoon into the swamp
but was not drunk. Two other
sergeants we're accused of drink
ing with him and already have
been diciplined. Both were sem
fenced to lose a stripe and be
censured but the sentences were
suspended.
The court is headed by Ma
Irine Col. Edward L. Hutchinson,
and includes three Marine lieu
tenant colonies, two Marine ma
Ijors and a Navy medical lieu
tenant. Sergt. McKeon would
be entitled to have enlisted rep
Presentation on the court on for
NAL written application.
Opening of the trial marked
the end of a bitter wait for Sergt.
McKeon. On Sunday he went to
church, did some house chores
in his nearby home and drove
to Yemassee, s. c., to meet mem
bers Of his family arriving here
for the trial.