When Malin Craig became Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army in 1935, he found a military mutual aid society thriving in Washington. Ranking generals excused themselves or were excused from physical examinations. Old colonels were promoted to brigadier general, old brigadiers to major general, on the theory that a long life in arms deserved a good ending with maximum retirement pay. The result, in Malin Craig's opinion, was that the list of generals on active duty included too many inactive crocks.
Generals and lieutenants alike now get a medical going-over once a year....
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