One Star for Mike

"He'll either be a general or a dead colonel," cracked G.I.s last summer about the hottest regimental commander among U.N. forces in Korea. At Taegu's bloody "bowling alley," John Hersey Michaelis (rhymes with regale us), better known as "Mike," and his redoubtable 27th Infantry (Wolfhound) Regiment, now better known as "The Fire Brigade," fought bravely and brilliantly to help hold the Pusan perimeter. Sinewy Mike Michaelis won a battlefield promotion to full colonel, and the D.S.C. for "extraordinary heroism" under fire.

It was the second time West Pointer Michaelis had won a temporary eagle. In World War II, he jumped with the 502nd Parachute Infantry of the 101st Division on the Normandy beachhead, took command when his superior was killed, won battlefield promotion to colonel. He was wounded twice in Holland, but managed to leave the hospital in time for the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he was aide to Chief of Staff Dwight Eisenhower. On leaving the Pentagon, Ike wrote Mike how proud he had been to "have had as aide a sterling young combat officer . . ."

Last week the sterling combat officer, now 38, was promoted to brigadier general. His new job in Korea: assistant commander of the 25th Division, of which his 27th Infantry is a part.

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