Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-09
Generals
Future Is
Uncertain
BY ROBERTA HORNIG

@E~~~~A ~ Nf@N SNee
A sad-faced. retiring 1t.
Gen. james NJ. Gavin re-
ported last night he has no
job and no plans for the
future.
Host at a party at Fort
Myer. honoring members Of
the Americana ritish-C Cana
dian Army Standardization
Program. the Chief Of Re-
search and Development said
that he has received job Of
fers from various colleges but
that he has not accepted any
Of these.
Gen. Gavin. whose retire
ment ecomes effective
March 81, reiterated that he
could do more for the Army
as q private citizen than as
Q general. Earlier yesterday
he had testified behind closed
doors at a meeting Of the
Senate Preparedness Sub
committee that the unten-
able position Of defending an
unsubstantial army budget
was q spur behind his retire.
ment.
Associates OutspOken
The general refused to
comment further last night
on his retirement reasons but
close friends and associates.
obviously saddened BY his
decision. were more out
spoken.
One high-ranking officer
reported that Gen. Gavin
had been considering retire.
ment ever since he lost the
chance to command the
Army's Continental Com
mand at Fort Monroe. Va.
"a post primarily concerned
with building a better Army
from within.
This source told The Star
that about nine months ago
Gen. Gavin came TO the con-
clusion that he could not
possibly defend the Army's
budget. and that II he stayed
in Washington. he would be
destroyed" He said that no
matter what anyone said.
Gen. Gavin could not con-
denim the budget since he
would. Of course. be re-
sponsible for his action to
"higher-ups."
Promise Not Fulfilled
The informant officer. q
high-ranking administrative
assistant in the Pentagon.
said that Gen. Gavin had
asked TO leave Washington
and requested he be placed
In command Of Fort Monroe.
This was promised, he re-
ported. but last fall the post
was given to someone else,
with the rank Of colonel.
He pointed out that Army
Secretary Brucker's offer to
Gen. Gavin to make him
head Of the It'll Army In
Europe was almost an in
suit" since 1t required an
additional years stay in
Washington. thus necessitat-
ing defense Of the budget
he couldn't. In honesty. ac-
cept.
The informant reported
this frustrated" Gen. Gavin
and caused his decision to
retire.
The high-ranking officer
commented. too. on reports
that the tall, slim general
was leaving the Army be-
cause promotion was being
blocked as a result Of his
outspokesness. The officer
said Gen. Gavin had not said
this at all and that this
was a misunderstanding
that came out Of the sub
committee hearing" He ex-
pressed anger that these re-
ports had made Gen. Gavin
look like a prima donna"
Much whispering
Top-ranking officials pres
ent at the Army reception
would not publicly comment
on Gen. Gavin's retirement
but there was much whisper
Ing among small groups.
Many seemed TO feel the
reason for the retirement
was not the important thing,
but that the Army was los
ing a good man and that this
man was indeed sad.
One colonel put 1t this
way: lit. Gen. Gavin is an
orphan whose only home Is
the Army" He pointed out
that Gen Gavin has been in
the Army since high school
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