Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 2, 1956)
Ma rine Corps Still Hot 'Off the Hook1 in Tragic 'Death March" at Parris Island Base Washington (U.R) Mem bers of the House Armed Serv ices. Committee made it clear today the ' Marine Crops still Isn't off the hook on the Parris Island, S. C, "death march. Although they generally praised Gen. Randolph McCall Pate for frankly laying bare de tails of the tragedy, committee members said the matter was still "wide open" particularly regarding immediate superior officers concerned. Pate, Marine Corps Comman dant, told the committee Tues day that Staff Sgt. Matthews C. McKeon was drinking before he illegally ordered his platoon on the march. The 31-year-old Wor cester, Mass., junior drill in structor led his men into the tidal swamps where six recruits drowned in darkness and panic. Recommends Court Martial Pate recommended that Mc Keon be court martialed on four charges including manslaughter and "oppression" of recruits. Navy Secretary Charles S. Thomas endorsed the court mar tial. Pate also removed Ma. Gen. J. C. Burger as commanding gen eral of Parris Island and- trans ferred several other officers. Burger will swap jobs with Maj. Gen. Homer L. Litzenberg, com mander of Camp LeJeune, N. C. Litzenberg was scheduled to confer today with Pate. Rep. Paul Cunningham (R-Ia), said he wasn't satisfied with Pate's explanation about the part played by McKeon's super ior officers. Cunningham said if McKeon rates a manslaughter charge, then maybe "they do, too, at least the one immediately over him." ?unlshing One Man' "'I don't like to see a non-com get all the blame," he said in an Interview. "They're punishing one man, maybe others need punishing, too." Cunningham said he wanted a fuller explanation of where the officers were on that fateful ity they bore for the sergeant's actions and why they shouldn't share rnore of the blame. He said if the Marine Corps doesn't volunteer the answers, he will demand them when Pate reports later on his shake-up of Marine training. Chairman Carl Vinson of the Armed Services Committee said the whole matter will "continue to be wide open until Congress is thoroughly satisfied" that bru talities and degrading practices are eliminated from the Marine Corps. Rep. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) said "Liquor should be removed entirely from all military bases He said Pate had assured him of a crackdown on Marine regula tions covering drinking. By UNITED PRESS Some of the relatives of six dead Marines said today that Staff Sgt. Matthew C. McKeon should receive the sternest pun ishment the law allows for marching the recruits to their deaths. But others said they felt sorry for the 31-year-old drill sergeant who led the fatal march into swamps near Parris Island, S.C., last month. The relatives who are bitter Passenger Car Developed by An illuminated signal arm for passenger cars developed by Harold Mitchell, 534 Franquette st., Medford, has been approved by the secretary of state, Mit chell said today. Mitchell said the signal was designed primarily for use in passenger cars which occassion ally pull trailers. A law which became effective last August re quires trucks nd vehicles pull ing trailers to have signal de vices. The arm devised by Mitchell Boy Stays Out Late To Miss Dance Lessons Toledo, O. (U.R) A 16-year-old boy brought before a juve nile court referee' for staying out until 2 a.m. explained his mother wanted him to take ada gio dancing lessons three or four times a week. "I thought that I was going crazy," the boy explained. He said that in desperation he took to staying out late at night until his mother had gone to bed so he could escape the dreaded practice sessions. The court advised the mother Sunday night, what responsibil- to 6top the dancing lessons. At Trowbridge & Flynn Me qijt ("Mother' Day, left flCfi ( MA J AMXMASTER ff0'T Larger bowl-fit sOsf I 5 beaters for higher, fWZ-ftTj lighter, finer-tex- vri k cured cakes. Saves - I fc time, armwor J (Sunbeam CONTROLLED HEAT 4&mSe FRYPAN A jSZr - Jf, NJV X FRY-GUIDE iVOK- XP-JfJh and HEAT Ssf " F Vy-vV CONTROL DIAL 4 v f 1 j ta handle. SQUARE SHAPE COOKS 20 MOBE than Round Pan ONLY $1Q95 I ' Model FP10 Perfect controlled heat for more delicious foods by simply setting the dial. Available in 3 Sizes-10J4", HVi", 12Vi Water sealed element. MORE SUNBEAM GIFT HITS (Sunbeam COFFEEM ASTER Perfect coffee every time (Sunbeam warm ma c mm (Sunbeam COOKER t DEEP FRYER (Sunbeam TOASTER Perfect toast every time TROWBRIDGE & FLYNN ELECTRIC COMPANY 214 West Main St. Phone 2-5211 Signal Arm Medford Man is attached to the window of the vehicle, and operates on electric current from the cigarette light er in the vehicle. The arm may be removed when not needed, or transferred from one vehicle to another, Mitchell said. - The signal is attached with clamps and a coil spring, and is operated from inside the car. It automatically lights when moved into position for turns or stopping. Mitchell said a manufacturing number has been assigned, and he has applied for a patent on the signal. He makes the unit at his shop, 608 South Riverside ave. Several residents have in quired about the unit, he said, and several are in use now. against McKeon used such words as" "murder" and said he should "get everything the law allows." The others said the punish ment should be left to the Marine Corps or that they don't want to see McKeon suffer for his tragic mistake." Should Change Charge . One of the bitterest relatives was Mrs. Frank Bond of Clyde, N. Y., sister of 18-year-old Charles F. Reilly, who died on the death march. She said the charge of man slaughter against McKeon should be changed. "I don't think this is man slaughter," she said. 'It's just plain murder." Mrs. Alston P. Coughlin of Alexandria, Va., mother of Jerry L. Thomas, 18, tended to agree. She said McKeon should get everything the law allows." But Thomas' father said that if the Marine commandant, Gen. Randolph McCall Pate, "does what he says he will, we can't ask him to do any more." Mora Moderate View A Brooklyn, N. Y., father, Peter O'Shea, took an even more moderate view. O'Shea, who lost his 18-year-old son Donald on the death march, said "I have nothing against the man." "I don't want him punished," O'Shea said, "I know nothing about whether he was drinking. All I know is what my son wrote in his letters. He thought very highly of his officers and his sergeant.' i LUNCH STOP Democratic Presidential aspirant Adlai Stevenson savors hotdog during stop for refresh ments while en route from Miami to Miami Beach, Fla., for a campaign speech. Fox Farmers Away; Fox Trappers Foiled Des Moines, la. U.R) Two men went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Fox while they were out of town. They asked the housekeeper if they could trap foxes along the creek that runs through the Fox property. "You'll have to ask Mr. Fox and both Mr. and Mrs. Fox are out of town right now," she said. The hunters, thinking . the woman was trying to be funny, stalked off in a huff. Wednesday, May 2. 1938 MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE 8STIX HI metal cutting edge Jj Sturdy aluminum ) Wrap Gook Cover Cap with neWALCOAWRAP Aluminum Foil now at your store USE TRIBUNE CLASSIFIED ADS! WMEIKS .& (MEM SOUTHERN OREGON'S OLDEST AND LARGEST FURNITURE STORE EASY TERMS O YOUR CREDIT IS GOOD O NO CARRYING CHARGES OR INTEREST TTCIDIP VMLUJIES nun o o o You Slip QNh... Not tN HI p Y JSi W TRY IT IN YOUR OWN HOME Come In and register to sleep for 30 nights on a Serta "Perfect Sleeper" Mattress And Box Spring. We are so confident that after you have taken this won derful new Serta Comfort Test for 30 nights, you will be- oompwtaly and enthusiastically sold otherwise YOU MAY RETURN THE MATTRESS AND BOX SPRING FOR FULL REFUND! New Styling Plus. Dramatic Advancements in Exclusive "Unimatic Construction"! Give You Smooth-Top Comfort and Healthfully-Correct Support! Slewing on a new Serta "Perfect Sleeper" Mattress is among those wonderful ensAtions that can only be experienced never described . . freed at last from the uncomfortable tenseness and irritations caused by old-fashioned buttons and bumps. The reasons for this are as sound as the sleep you enjoy. For the daring of Serta's engineers, coupled with scientific medical research, has created this ultra-modern mattress that is so much better for you in three vital ways: QUA Choose the Style You Like. COLONIAL or MODERN LUXURY LIVING AT A LOW PRUCE functional Beauty Day & Night O Available With Firestone Foamex Cushioning O Also Available In Several Popular Styles Beautifully styled to these who love modern smartly detailed .clear, trim lines; Gracious and informal by day ... a comfortable bed by night. Tailored in your choice of smart tweeds, nylons or friezes. Also available with the supreme comfort-Firestone foam rubber cushioning. $1 PRICES AS LOW AS U DOUBLE SAVINGS HERE -NO INTEREST or CARRYING CHARGES TO PAY!
