Beyond the Way-Out Horizon

"With the other services talking about Mach 3 airplanes and ICBMs, he doesn't want anyone to think the Corps is going to sleep on its LSTs and helicopters," explained a high-ranking marine. It was not likely--not after the press conference held last week by Lieut. General Wallace Martin Greene Jr., 55, who had just been named by President Kennedy to replace General David M. Shoup as Marine Corps commandant.

The question-and-answer press conference started off as a typical, meet-the-new-man affair. How was the Corps these days? "In the highest state of readiness in my time," Greene answered. Would he follow Dave Shoup's policies? Yes, by insisting that every man be "a marine 24 hours a day." How did he regard the swagger stick, which Shoup disliked? "It is still optional but not very popular." Then someone inquired how Greene planned to use modern technology in running the Corps.

Rocket Troops. Greene had a ready if rather unexpected answer. "We're looking way out at the horizon, at the application of space methods to carrying troops," he said. "I am of the firm belief it would be possible to develop in the next five or six years a kind of rocket transportation to move small numbers of troops and supplies over comparatively short distances, say 300 miles."

More than that, by the late 1970s the Marines might be using 4,000-m.p.h. Saturn rockets to hurl 1,200-man battalions from the U.S. to global hot spots --for example, from Camp Lejeune, N.C. to Africa in 80 minutes.

Navy Secretary Fred Korth, in whose fourth-floor Pentagon office the press conference was being held, looked a bit bemused. He had never heard of Greene's startling idea. Finding his voice, Korth harrumphed: "Admittedly, this is not under construction at this time." Later, when a reporter wondered where troops would sit in an Africa-bound rocket, Korth lamely quipped: "They could stand; it's only a short trip."

But Greene was not kidding, said he had already discussed the scheme with NASA, the Defense Department, and members of aerospace firms. All, he said, thought it was feasible.

Such farsightedness and imagination could be valuable assets for Greene, who must follow in the footsteps of salty "Uncle Dave" Shoup. Outgoing Commandant Shoup retires Dec. 31. He decided not to accept President Kennedy's proffered second term as commandant, on grounds of saving his health and keeping top-level promotions moving in the Corps.

How They Bounce. A Vermonter, Greene is an Annapolis graduate, won his first Legion of Merit for planning the Marshall Islands invasion, his second for combat on Saipan and Tinian. In 1956 he headed the investigation into the Parris Island recruit drownings, later revised the Corps' training program. Since early 1958 Greene has been in Washington, the last three years as Shoup's chief of staff.

"Don't think that just because he talked about those way-out rockets he's a kook," cautioned a fellow officer. "He throws out those things to see how they bounce." If last week was any indication, things should be bouncing pretty high.

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