European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 16, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 8 the stars and stripes a retiring Gen. Johnson sees to Quick pea by Marc Huet is Washington Bureau chief Washington is three years ago army chief of staff Gen. Harold k. Johnson said fighting in Vietnam could last for a , As he prepares to turn Over his Pentagon Post to c. Westmoreland he sees Little reason to change his original estimate. Westmoreland departing from Saigon after almost four years As . Commander in South Vietnam apparently holds much the same View. He said a Mili tary Victory in the classic sense is not possible because of our National policy of not expanding the is still the key to Success Westmoreland said i Saigon. Trends Are favourable but it is unrealistic to expect Quick and Early defeat of the Hanoi led Johnson without stepping in to the dangerous Quicksand of Vietnam War predictions believes the trend will continue and the Pace of fighting should Slacken in the next year. The four Star general has been army chief for the past four years a period which incident ally coincides with the build up of army forces in South Vietnam from about 12,000, mostly advisers to the pres ent 353,000. On july 3, the Gray haired quiet spoken general will turn Over the reins of the army to Westmoreland and then retire after More than 35 years of Active service. These 35 years include experiences held by few men living to Day the Bataan death March inthe Early world War ii Days 42 months in japanese prisoner of War Camps command of two regiments in the korean War and staff and command duty in Europe and the United states climaxed by his appointment As the 24th chief of staff since inauguration of the general staff in 1903. At the time he was the youngest chief of staff since Gen. Douglas the years since his graduation from the . Militar Academy at West Point n.y., in 1933, Johnson has seen Man changes and Many improve ments in the army some of which Are credited to him some to his predecessors and others to the army team in general. These run the Gamut from tactics equipment firepower training and air mobility to personnel and administration. But Johnson a Soldier s sol Dier prefers to reflect on what has been done in recent year for the grass roots army leadership the noncommissioned officers. Improved opportunities for career advancement and Job satisfaction in what he Calls the most rewarding Field a Man can engaged in the defense of his country exist although Johnson also is the first to admit a sol Dier s life does not Lead to for officers and enlisted men Are much Betler to Day but the biggest improve ments have been made in the enlisted ranks. In some cases he says the ground has Only been broken and it will be up to his Success Ito continue what has been started. As an example the Genera cites the new noncommissioned officer candidate schools. We have capitalized on Oneff the Best programs for advancement the army has Ever had oct and tailored it for potential cos Johnson Hopes to see noncom re turn to advanced schools fro time to time somewhat the same Way officers do to their ranch schools and then go on to command and general staf College As they Progress up the ranks. The advanced train ing of course would have to be tailored for their special needs. During his four years in office turbulence has been a big morale Factor but he and other shave tried their Best to soften the blow of separations and fre quent moves. On the whole while turbulence has been regrettable it does have a plus Factor Johnson Points out i that it did get rid of a lot of homesteaders and sent them on their Way to overseas duty. Nothing is All White or Allback in life Johnson says. The army chief began his career As an infantry Man and has had a lot of first hand experience with the rough danger Ous life of a foot Soldier an also with the age old tyranny of of the biggest develop ments in army history which also coincides with his tenure is proof of the concept of Arimo ability the Large scale use of helicopters to Fly troops around the Battlefield. This first took place with the conversion of his old outfit the 1st Cav div to a second division is due for conversion. It will probably Bethe 101st airborne div although this has not been announced yet. Johnson recently told group of newly qualified army aviators at it. Rucker ala.,they would provide infantry men some escape from the tyranny of terrain to give the combat Soldier a higher Assur Ance that he will survive in the very grim environment i which he lives from Day to with our tremendous fire Power the development of no Gen. Harold k. Johnson Clear weaponry we have a enormous capability to commit destruction Johnson also in the end destruction is not our purpose. Our purpose Nbattle is control and to control we must Man Euver. It s he Man Euver Force that establishes air mobility has been Success fully demonstrated in Vietnam where the . Has control of he air but it also is applicable to the militarily More sophisticated environment in Europe As Well he adds. Helicopter tactics and employment could change Burma neutering the concept some of troop around the Battlefield by air in Stead of on foot to get control Over the enemy still applies he this does not of course spell the end of the regular straight leg infantry Soldier Johnson declares because some one is still needed to hold the ground that is gained through Kneuver. He draws a parallel Between the airmobile and regu Lar infantryman to the police Man in a patrol car and a policeman on the beat. They Are both necessary and one canno succeed without the other he says. While much of the nation attention has been focused on the escalation of the Vietnam War Over the past four years Johnson believes that Many of the items that Are now taken for granted in the army like the fast firing lightweight m16 Rifle and masses of helicopters would not be around today if it were not for the War. As a re sult the army is in a better position than it would have Bee otherwise. On the other hand the reduced proportion of troops stationed at Home because of escalation has created what he Calls a less than Ideal Situa Tion. The army would favor having 40 per cent of its troops overseas and 60 per cent at . Troops turn Over Manz Arlell base to turns Ankara Turkey special the turkish armed forces have assumed control of one of the largest communication complexes in Turkey As the last .troops withdrew in colourful Mil itary station a $15-million installation 15 Miles from this turkish capital was transferred in fully que rational status. Its103 buildings incorporate the latest military electronics equip ment and the turnover was effected Complete with such items As fire trucks desks office machines and surgical instruments in a 10-Becl medical dispensary. At Peak periods the station housed 775 . Military person Nel and 900 dependents and employed 500 turkish workers. Joint. Facility Manzaroli station was established nine years ago As a nato defense facility and withdrawal of the american contingent was agreed on last August by both govern ments in recognition of the Ever increasing capabilities of the turkish armed . Ambassador Parker spoke in turkish at the ceremonies Friday expressing satisfaction of the . Govern ment in development an saying this scene is the product fan Alliance based on shared objectives and shared it signifies the True state four relationship he told assembled diplomatic and military officials from both lands. Strength and Good will of Turk ish american cooperation he said we say look at this scene " the ambassador noted that turkish personnel had been trained in the sophisticated technology necessary to operate the installation As rapidly As pos sible and said this will continue. In years to defense minister Ahmet Topakoglu commented that the close personal relation ship of the United states and Turkey within the framework Sinato serves world peace and the National Security of both nations. The defense minister acknowledged the training imparted to the turkish armed forces i preparation for the turnover and said their new capabilities Wilmke a positive contribution to the defense of Usa eur Calls june big 10 savings month Heidelberg is june has been designated big ten month by Usa eur Usa eur unit has been asked to appoint canvassers to Contact All military personnel in the command to urge full participation in the uniformed serv ices savings Deposit savings which May not be withdrawn until the member returns to conus draw 10-per cent interest compounded quarterly. Emphasis also will be place Don the Purchase of series e Sav Ings Bonds and Freedom june 1, Freedom shares will draw 5-per-cent interest an mature in 4 years. E Bonds draw 4/& per cent and mature in seven years. Although no total Dollar figure by John Reese staff writer to Thos who would doubt the was available a Usa eur spokesman said 72.1 per cent of the command personnel is buy ing . uniformed services Sav Ings deposits program hit $2imillion in Usa eur As of March 31, the office of the Usa eur comptroller said. The breakdown 30,568 enlisted men saved $14.5 million while 7,223 officers put away $13.5 million since the program began sept. 1, 1966.this crease18,000 enlisted men and 2.60c officers signed up for this savings program. These savings by Susareu military personnel contribute to the command s efforts to Hel the nation s balance of Payr nent. Problem comptroller official said. Is a considerable in Over the Start when Home Forand As a ver the As gone to the army chief j. A woday s Soldier. On ins one occasion he has Are bigger tougher a educated than when it came into the out because of psychiatric orders than was t 3 their fathers and older of world War n 5 the soldiers age no years. Thei it. Measure strength m people not in on or machines Johnson recently. The fact that people come from every Ament of our society gives j. What we need an army of s?d,.�or the people. I.1the thought some have adv that we should abandon draft and shift to an All Mil. Signal army. If we were to that inevitably we should a ate a Gap with the people army is designed to serve it is just the opposite of whal want to do. Today the can people Are the army science and the army ii j servant of the people Fth port and sustain the array in my opinion is just the ral ought to 9 Johnson also feels Youngs Diers must become resin for their fellow citizens Ria they leave the service and i he puts it become i vol in the Workings of their pm try they must not above 4adopt the attitude have clone their share and a entitled to assume tha own interests Are now Johnson a native of Dakota began his career with the 3rd old Gil inf Reg at it. Snelling the 28th inf at it. Mn.y., and the 57th inf Oil philippine scouts at it Kinley the fall of Bataan in i 1942, he and thousands of americans took part in t famous death March an was imprisoned by the at Camp o Donnell Cabanatuan and Bilibin the philippine islands. After the american on Leyte he was i Japan and then to Korea flee was finally liberated 7th inf div in 1945, in months of Captivity. When War broke out than five years later took the 1st provisional to Korea in August exert he later took a Pursuit of the in Enorth the chinese in late ism a ",.sequent withdrawal to Korea. Later duty in Lud the 8th inf div to g the assistant of Mandr foil owe by i chief of stall org a inv to sols " a Laii a " i i i r aflfl1g3 for Usarek staff of nato s Cen group of French uen . Forces. Lowed i operations years ago
