Edward L. Rowny
soldiers were glad to have the war over with and stayed in place, sentries or no
sentries.
From Genoa, we continued along the coast until we got to the town of Savona on
the Italian-French border. The French moved their troops south of the town behind
us. They were trying to establish a new border several kilometers to the south of
the original border. Our maps indicated that Savona was in Italy; the French
claimed it belonged to France. Rather than fight our allies, we took the matter up
in diplomatic channels. President Truman responded immediately. He cut off the
petroleum supply for the entire French armed forces. Within 48 hours, the French
got the message and moved their troops back. It was my first experience at
international negotiations. I learned that there was no substitute for a bold,
decisive leader in charge at the top.
Q ..
How long after the war was over did you stay before coming back to the States?
Less than 24 hours. On the afternoon of VE Day, General Almond, my division
A
commander, called me into his van, opened the safe, and took out a message. He
said: "For some months I have had these orders. You are to return to Washington
to take part in planning the final invasion of Japan. I told them I wouldn't let you
go until VE Day. Well, it's VE Day, and you're now released. Good luck. The
next day I caught a plane and returned to Washington. Two days later I reported
for duty in the Pentagon.
Staff Officer, War Department General Staff
Q ..
Where were you assigned in the Pentagon?
A
I was assigned to the Strategic Plans Section of the Operations Division: OPD.
You will recall that OPD was a `kitchen cabinet" that General Marshall had
assembled to run the war, allowing the rest of the War Department to stay intact.
However, the Operations Division made the operational plans and the top-level
policy recommendations to the chief of staff. The remainder of the War
Department implemented the instructions and provided the logistical support.
The Strategic Plans Section, a stable of highly qualified officers, only had 12
officers in it. Half a dozen of them were Rhodes scholars: men like Tick
Bonesteel, Abe Lincoln, Larry Lincoln, Hank Byroade, John McCormick, and
Dean Rusk. Bonesteel rose to become the commander of the Eighth Army. Abe
Lincoln became the Army planner. Hank Byroade went with General Marshall to
the State Department and later became ambassador to India. McCormick went on
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