E Is for Gene

Blunt, news-nosed Gene Howe is a colorful, individualistic publisher who is not averse to a bit of honest ballyhoo. Nobody outside the Navy--least of all a newspaper--had ever won a Navy E for recruiting, but Gene ("Old Tack") Howe's Amarillo (Tex.) Globe-News had one--gratefully awarded by the head of the Dallas naval recruiting district, husky Lieut. L. H. Ridout Jr., for recruiting a special squadron of 60 "Skybusters" (naval aviation cadets). Last week he lost it.

Washington, which had not been informed of the unusual award, learned about it from an A.P. dispatch, ordered Lieut. Ridout to "capture" the E forthwith. Tactfully the crestfallen lieutenant told the Globe-News that the Navy wanted its E back. Old Tack roared: "Tell 'em to send the Marines," and headed for the safe.

The Marines were busy; the lieutenant was on the pan; the wire services had spread the story. Reluctantly Old Tack pondered, then cut the E from its frame and gave it to the beaming lieutenant. Said Gene Howe: "It's only an incident, and there are no sore spots on us. The lieutenant is doing a most excellent job of recruiting and ought to have the E himself." On the bare frame which had contained the E Publisher Howe hung a mourning wreath.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.