members of the Armed Forces on active duty in political affairs. The present Army regulation is nothing more than a mere collation of the various directives pertaining to this matter. "The War Department considers the existing policy to be wholly consonant with democratic principles and procedures. Nothing could more directly expose a political system to improper intrusions by the military than to allow military personnel to exercise their civil and military offices contemporaneously. The War Department firmly believes that the present policy is essential to the maintenance of the tradition of the American people that the military and civilian branches of Government remain separated." The American soldier is allowed freely to read the news columns and editorials in a free press. He is subject to the normal channels of information from his parents, his friends, his neighbors, and the civilian candidates for office soliciting his vote. In these circumstances, there would appear to be little excuse for the military officer to inject himself into partisan discussion on political matters. One of the most dangerous things which can happen to a government is to permit the establishment of a political party line by officers on duty. The great tradition of the proper role of the career officer is exemplified in the conduct and record of Pershing, Marshall, Eisenhower, Bradley and, indeed, most of the great leaders of World War I and II, who took the view that the military should speak publicly only on military matters and that they should leave the public statement of foreign policy and national policy to the elected head of the State. Any other course, they believed, brought divided counsels and weakened the authority both of the Chief Executive and the military commanders. A second practical and fundamental reason for avoiding any form of electioneering or partisan political discussion by the military on active duty is the invitation such acts would extend to politicians to enter the control of, say, the Army. If certain generals are identified with one party or one faction, each new administration will have to seek men who will execute its particular policy. It is difficult to imagine a more dangerous situation for the military or the country. If you have doubts on this, look at unhappy France. CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS Your request that I comment on any general impressions that I may have as to "Civil-Military Relations" is a very difficult one since I have been remote from specific problems in this field for some time. I will, therefore, with your permission limit my reply to comments on an evolutionary development apparent from newspaper accounts and possible problems arising from it. One predictable result of the extraordinary scientific breakthroughs translated into military uses by new technologies and the simultaneous emergence of a new and aggressive world power, one of whose goals is our destruction, is the .ncreasing intermingling of military and civilian personnel and the blurring of lines between civil and military activities. A group of many skills is now needed in most of our national security activities and the difference in organization, wages, discipline, et cetera, inevitably cause some irritation. It has existed in the past where the military felt that civilian agencies were poaching on their preserves. We have seen this in the missile field a little while ago. But I think that such disputes over who does what are a common occupational disease in government and becomes more virulent at budget time. They are certainly not, in my opinion, evidence of anything sinister. This civil-military intermingling could, in fact, be very helpful to each if they can succeed in exchanging something other than their bad habits. Official and personal relations between the military and civilians-looked at from the outside-seem good, judging by the moderate number of times one reads that tired old story about "restoring civilian control." Alarmist cries about the lack of civilian control over the military, in our Nation, deal with a strawman issue. They are concerned with a problem that does not really exist, and they are divisive and damaging by falsely implying that the military does not accept our historic tradition of civilian supremacy. Nothing could be more wrong. I have been with the military in three wars and have worked with them in other governmental capacities and I have never heard any military commander raise the slightest question at any time as to their subordination to civilian control. The only real occasion when civilian control is in doubt is when the civilian officials themselves fail to exercise it, or neglect to use the powers legally vested in them. In my opinion, there will be no such problem under the competent direction and control by the unusually able present As a final observation, I must say that after many years of direct experience with the military services in a variety of capacities, I have the greatest admiration for our dedicated and skilled career officers and I know of no country more fortunate than we in having military services with the traditions and loyalties that ours possess. I have seen our career officers in competition with those of other countries in the ultimate arenas of war, as administrators of conquered or occupied countries, and as participants in the councils of peace and I have been proud to have them compared with the men of any other country in the world. ROBERT A. LOVETT. I want to again express my appreciation to Secretary Lovett for this splendid statement and the effort that he made to get it completed. Now, members of the subcommittee, we may proceed in order. Admiral Burke will be the first witness. As I said, I have worked out something this morning with the photographers. I think they have already taken their pictures of Admiral Burke, so we can proceed. Admiral Burke, we are glad to have you here as a witness and, in keeping with the custom of the subcommittee, I will ask you now to stand and be sworn. Do you solemnly swear that your testimony here before this subcommittee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Admiral BURKE. I do, sir. BURKE BIOGRAPHY Senator STENNIS. If we may, we will now put the biographical sketch of Admiral Burke in the record. (The biographical sketch referred to is, as follows:) ADM. ARLEIGH A. BURKE, U.S. NAVY, RETIRED Arleigh A. Burke was born far from the sea in Boulder, Colo., on October 19, 1901. On June 8, 1923, he was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, commissioned ensign in the U.S. Navy, and married to Miss Roberta Gorsuch, of Washington, D.C. Throughout his professional career, Arleigh Burke had prepared himself for combat with the enemy having served in battleships, destroyers, and having received the degree of master of science in engineering at the University of Michigan. Then, when World War II came, he found himself, to his great disappointment, in a shore billet at the Naval Gun Factory in Washington, D.C. After persistent effort on his part, he received orders to the South Pacific where, under Admiral Halsey, he successfully commanded Destroyer Division 43, Destroyer Division 44, Destroyer Squadron 12, and Destroyer Squadron 23. This latter squadron, known as the Little Beavers, covered the initial landings in Bougainville in November 1943, and fought in 22 separate engagements during the next 4 months. During this time, the Little Beavers were credited with destroying 1 Japanese cruiser, 9 destroyers, 1 submarine, several smaller ships, and approximately 30 aircraft. Because he pushed his destroyers just under boiler-bursting speed, he became known as "31-Knot Burke." From destroyer command in the South Pacific, he reported in March of 1944 as chief of staff to Commander, Fast Carrier Task Force 58, Adm. Marc Mitscher. While serving with this famed carrier force, Arleigh Burke was promoted to commodore, and participated in all its naval engagements until June 1945 shortly before the surrender of Japan. He flew many combat missions. He was aboard both Bunker Hill and Enterprise when they were hit by Japanese suicide planes during the Okinawa campaign. At the outbreak of the Korean war, Adm. Forrest Sherman, then Chief of Naval Operations, ordered Admiral Burke to duty as deputy chief of staff to Commander, Naval Forces, Far East. From there, he assumed command of Cruiser Division 5, and in July 1951 he was made a member of United Nations Truce Delegation, to negotiate with the Communists for a military armistice in Korea. After 6 months in the truce tents, he returned to the Office of Chief of Naval Operations where he served as Director of Strategic Plans Division until 1954. In April 1954, he took command of Cruiser Division 6, and in January 1955 assumed command of Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet, in which capacity he served until he succeeded Adm. Robert B. Carney as Chief of Naval Operations in August 1955. He served an unprecedented three terms in that duty before being transferred to the retired list on August 1, 1961. Admiral Burke has received numerous combat awards during his 42 years in the Navy including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Cross, the Legion of Merit, and the Purple Heart. But none are more cherished than two awards which came early in his career. In 1928 while serving aboard the U.S.S. Procyon, he was commended for the "rescue of shipwrecked and seafaring men," and in 1939 while serving in his first command, U.S.S. Mugford, he was commended when his destroyer won the fleet gunnery trophy with the highest score that had been achieved in many years. His ship also stood third in engineering competition and high in communication competition. Admiral Burke's current residence is 407 A Avenue, Coronado, Calif. LIST OF CITATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN AWARDED ADM. ARLEIGH A. BURKE, U.S. NAVY, RETIRED For his service in Destroyer Squadron 23, Admiral Burke was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Cross, the Legion of Merit, and is entitled to the ribbon for, and a facsimile of, the Presidential Unit Citation awarded Destroyer Squadron 23. The citations follow, in part: Distinguished Service Medal: "For exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility as commanding officer of a destroyer division and subsequently a destroyer squadron operating against enemy Japanese forces in the South Pacific area from early February to December 1, 1943. Throughout this period, Captain Burke led his forces in many offensive operations *** His indomitable fighting spirit and great personal courage contributed directly to the success of our forces in that area and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service." Navy Cross: "For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service *** as the commander of a destroyer squadron operating in the northern Solomon Islands area during the period from midnight October 30 to noon November 2, 1943. [His] squadron, as a part of a task force, participated in the first bombardment of the Buka-Bonis area and also in the first daylight bombardment of the Shortland area. ** * During the night of November 1-2, a heavier gunned Japanese naval force was met and decisively defeated with the loss to the enemy of one cruiser and four destroyers sunk, and an additional two cruisers and two destroyers damaged. The action contributed much to the success of our operations at Empress Augusta Bay. Thereafter, a heavy air attack by 67 enemy dive bombers was fought off with a total of 17 enemy planes being destroyed. * Legion of Merit (with Combat V): "For exceptionally meritorious conduct *** as commander, Destroyer Squadron 23, in action against enemy Japanese forces northwest of the Bismarck Archipelago, at Kavieng, New Ireland, and the Duke of York Island, February 17 to 23, 1944. *** [He] expertly directed his squadron in destroying two Japanese naval auxiliary vessels, one large cargo ship, a mine layer, four barges, and inflicting severe damage on enemy shore installations and subsequently effected a skillful withdrawal without damage to his vessels. * * *" Presidential Unit Citation to Destroyer Squadron 23: "For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Solomon Islands campaign, from November 1, 1943, to February 23, 1944. * * * Destroyer Squadron 23 operated in daring defiance of repeated attacks by hostile air groups, closing the enemy's strongly fortified shores to carry out sustained bombardments against Japanese coastal defenses and render effective cover and fire support for the major invasion operations in this area. *** The brilliant and heroic record achieved by Destroyer Squadron 23 is a distinctive tribute to the valiant fighting spirit of the individual units in this indomitable combat group of each skilled and courageous ship's company. * **” As chief of staff, Commander, Fast Carrier Task Force, Pacific (Task Force 38), Admiral Burke was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the second Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal, a Gold Star in lieu of the second Legion of Merit, and a Letter of Commendation, with authorization to wear the Com Gold Star in lieu of second Distinguished Service Medal: "For ** * outstanding service *** as chief of staff to commander, 1st Carrier Task Force. Pacific, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific war area from December 15, 1944, to May 15, 1945 * ** Commodore Burke was in large measure responsible for the efficient control under combat conditions of the tactical disposition, the operation, the security, and the explosive offensive power of his task force in its bold and determined execution of measures designed to force the capitulation of the Japanese Empire *** throughout the seizure of bases at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, including two carrier strikes on Tokyo, a carrier strike on the Kure Naval Base, and an engagement with the Japanese Fleet on April 7, in which several hostile men-of-war were destroyed by our aircraft. ***" Silver Star Medal: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as chief of staff to commander, 1st Carrier Task Force, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific war area May 11, 1945. When the flagship on which he was embarked was hit by two enemy suicide dive bombers, Commodore Burke proceeded to a compartment in which personnel were trapped by fire and heavy smoke, and succeeded in evacuating all hands. When the flagship to which he had removed his staff was in turn hit by a suicide plane on May 14, he again arranged for the transfer of his command to a new ship. In spite of all difficulties, he maintained tactical control of the task force throughout, thereby contributing materially to the success of the operations. ***" Gold Star in lieu of the second Legion of Merit: "For exceptionally meritorious conduct *** as chief of staff to commander, Carrier Task Force, Pacific Fleet, from March 27 to October 30, 1944 *** [He] planned and executed a long series of successful offensive operations in support of the reduction of the outer perimeter of Japanese defenses in New Guinea, the Carolines, the Marianas, Halmahera, and the Philippine Islands. Largely as a result of Commodore Burke's superb professional skill, tireless energy, and coolness of decision throughout those operations and during repeated air attacks carried out in strength against heavily fortified strongholds in enemy-controlled waters, the Pacific Fleet has been brought within range of the Japanese Empire itself to continue our relentless drive against the enemy." Letter of Commendation: "For distinguishing himself in action with the enemy, while serving as a chief of staff to commander, 1st Carrier Task Force, Pacific, on May 11, 1945. When the ship in which he was embarked was hit by two enemy aircraft *** with utter disregard for his personal safety, (he) efficiently organized the evacuation of endangered personnel. His courage together with his prompt and efficient action was responsible for saving these men. * * *” Admiral Burke is also entitled to the Presidential Unit Citation to the U.S.S. Bunker Hill, the Presidential Unit Citation to the U.S.S. Lexington, and the Navy Unit Commendation to the U.S.S. Enterprise. Those vessels were, at various times during his period of service, flagships of the fast carrier task forces in the Pacific. From September 1950 until May 1951, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Commander U.S. Naval Forces, Far East, and for "exceptionally meritorious conduct (in that capacity) from September 3, 1950, to January 1, 1951* **" he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the Third Legion of Merit. The citation further states: "Bringing a sound knowledge of naval administration and professional skill to his assigned task, Rear Admiral Burke reorganized the rapidly expanded staff to meet its ever increasing responsibilities and, through his unusually fine conception of the essentials of modern warfare, materially improved the mutual functions of the operations, plans, and intelligence sections of the staff *** (and) contributed immeasurably to the success of naval operations in the Korean theater. ***" While serving as commander, Cruiser Division 5, from May to September 1951, and also as a member of the Military Armistice Commission in Korea, Admiral Burke was awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of the Fourth Legion of Merit, by the Army (Headquarters U.S. Army Forces, Far East) by General Order No. 5, as follows: "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as a delegate with the United Nations Command delegation, United Nations Command (Advance) in Korea, from July 9 to December 5, 1951. Admiral Burke's keen discernment and decisive judgment were of inestimable value in countering enemy intransigence, misrepresentation and evasion with to the Chief Delegate on all phases of the armistice conferences, he proffered timely recommendations for solutions of the varied intricate problems encountered. Through skillful assessment of enemy capabilities, dispositions and vulnerable abilities and brilliant guidance of supporting staff officers (he) significantly furthered progression toward success of the United Nations' first armed bid for world peace." Admiral Burke was presented a Gold Star in lieu of a Third Distinguished Service Medal by President John F. Kennedy at the White House on July 26, 1961. In addition to the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal with two Gold Stars, the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars and Oak Leaf Cluster (Army), the Silver Star Medal, the Commendation Ribbon, the Purple Heart Medal (for wounds received while serving on board the U.S.S. Conway during July 1943), the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon with three stars, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Admiral Burke has the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two silver stars and two bronze stars (12 engagements); the American Campaign Medal: World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Europe Clasp; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Korean Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal. He also has been awarded the Ul Chi Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation from the Republic of Korea and the Order of the Rising Sun, First Class by the Government of Japan. CHRONOLOGICAL TRANSCRIPT OF NAVAL SERVICE June 1923-April 1928: U.S.S. Arizona April 1928-June 1928: U.S.S. Procyon June 1928-September 1928: Fleet base force September 1928-May 1929: U.S.S. Procyon June 1929-September 1930: U.S. Naval Academy Postgraduate School, Annapolis. Md. (under instruction) September 1930-June 1931: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. (under instruction) June 1931-May 1932: Navy Yard, Washington D.C. (under instruction) June 1932-April 1933: U.S.S. Chester April 1933-September 1934: Base force, U.S. Fleet September 1934-April 1935: Staff, base force, U.S. Fleet May 1935-June 1937: Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. June 1937-June 1939: U.S.S. Craven (DD-382) (executive officer) June 1939-July 1940: U.S.S. Mugford (commanding officer) August 1940-January 1943: Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. February 1943-May 1943: Destroyer Division 43 (commanding officer) July 1945-October 1945: Headquarters, commander in chief, U.S. Fleet (head of Special Defense Section) October 1945-February 1946: Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. March 1946-September 1946: Staff, 8th Fleet (chief of staff and aide) July 1948-December 1948: U.S.S. Huntington (CL-107 (commanding officer) December 1948–January 1950: Office of Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. January 1950-August 1950: Department of Defense, Research and Development Board, Washington, D.C. (Navy Secretary, R. & D. Board) September 1950-May 1951: Naval forces, Far East (deputy chief of staff) May 1951-December 1951: Cruiser Division 5 (commanding officer) also Delegate, Military Armistice to arrange armistice betewen U.N. Forces and Communist forces in Korea) December 1951-March 1954: Office of Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. (Director, Strategic Plans Division) March 1954-January 1955: Cruiser Division 6 (commanding officer) January 1955-June 1955: Destroyer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (commanding |