At a Washington press conference, after his return last week from the Marianas, tough Lieut. General Holland M. Smith, commander of all the Marines in the Pacific,* was asked an embarrassing question. Was it true that he had fired one of his division commanders, the Army's Major General Ralph Smith, during the battle of Saipan?
Snorted "Howlin' Mad" Smith: "I knew someone would ask that question. One of the many prerogatives and responsibilities of a commanding officer ... is the assignment and transfer of officers commanding subordinate elements. . . . Unfortunately,...
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