Engineer Memoirs
Q ..
Did you get back there again?
A ..
I was back one time because I served on a board to investigate some alleged misuse of
construction funds in Thailand. And while I was in Thailand, I made a side trip back to
Vietnam. This, if I remember correctly, was in late 1968. That was the only time I was
back in Vietnam.
Q ..
Do you recall any of these individuals? Mark Gurnee?
A ..
Yes, Gurnee was in civil works, the director of operations for civil works. I'd known
him for a long time.
Q ..
Was he there when you came? I mean, had you known him earlier?
A ..
I knew him when I was at the Waterways Experiment Station. We had considerable
contact with his group on the plant account activities. He was also in OCE at the time
I served as executive and as deputy.
Q ..
How about Barney Dodge from the Institute of Water Resources, or David Agerholme?
A ..
I had no direct contact that I remember.
Q ..
Your last active duty assignment was with the Defense Nuclear Agency as director. At
that point you were promoted to lieutenant general. Was that-maybe not that specific
assignment but that type of assignment -what you expected at this point in your
career? Did you expect to stay longer in OCE as deputy?
A
It is pretty hard to say what my expectations were. I had served as deputy for about
two years. I anticipated that General Clarke would serve out a four-year term, and I
could well have served a similar four-year term. General Westmoreland was the Chief
of Staff of the Army at the time. Since I had worked very closely with him in Vietnam,
he was personally aware of my attributes and capabilities. It was my impression that
General Clarke also had recommended to the chief of staff that an appropriate
assignment be found for me that would provide for a promotion. General Clarke
appeared to feel that was appropriate. He did not say much to me other than telling me
that he had recommended me for promotion. What went on that resulted in my
assignment to DNA, I don't really know.
I met General Westmoreland in the hall of the Pentagon one day, and he said, "I've
been looking for you." Then he said, "just nominated you for a promotion to lieutenant
general and to be the head of DASA." said, "What's DASA?" (It was called Defense
I
Atomic Support Agency at that time.) He caught me so by surprise that I really didn't
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