Salt Lake Telegram | 1935-12-26 | Page 4 | Popular Officer Advanced

Popular Officer Advanced RATIFYING O a a host of friends gained in inthe G 3 the relatively short time he has been stationed stationed stationed sta sta- sta- sta at Fort Douglas was the promotion of Colonel Walter C. C Sweeney to be a brigadier general of the line announced from Washington Washington Washing Washing- ton tonj Tuesday Upon the recommendation of Secretary of War George H. H Dern Dem this advancement advancement advancement advance advance- ment came as President Roosevelt's Christmas gift to the distinguished soldier on the eve of ot a holiday celebration at Fort Benning Ga where he and Mrs Sweeney are visiting their son-in- son law and daughter Captain and Mrs R. R B. B Gayle Doubtless the Yule festivities at the southern army post included a merry promotion party when silver stars replaced the the- eagles which General Sweeney has worn since March 21 1926 General Sweeney entered the military service service service ser ser- vice as a volunteer in the First West Vir Virginia inia infantry infantry in in- in fantry at the outbreak of ot the Spanish-American Spanish war war winning a commission Before Defore he was mustered mus mus- musI I out Shortly afterward he was commissioned commissioned commissioned commis commis- I a second lieutenant in the regular army serving servin with brilliance and distinction n. n As a lieutenant colonel he was chief of cens censorship on the staff of General Pershing in the A. A E. E F. F He Hewon Hewon Hewon won the d distinguished service medal and France honored him hin with the award of the cross of the legion of honor He assumed command of the Thirty-eighth Thirty United States infantry and of Fort Douglas last April Genial approachable and a human dynamo General Sweeney quickly became part and parcel parcel par par- cel of this community as well as the commandIng commanding command command- i ing g officer of the post on the east foothills He established cordial relations between the civilian civilian civilian civil civil- ian population downtown an and the garrison that have been most pleasant Public officials civic leaders churchmen and a host of other citizens have found a new ew interest in Fort Douglas Douglas' and have come to feel more than ever before that the army belongs to the people This strength strengthened ened ried friendliness is not only a pleasant t link b binding ding the com community unity and its army post to together together together to- to gether but the broader understanding it ha has brought rought about is a vital thing in creating an anop op open n approach to appreciation of basic considerations considerations considerations consid consid- in our scheme of national defense It t i is not too m much to say that the community as well as those who have been made to feel at home at Fort is Douglas made happy by this promotion pro- pro motion of ofa a popular army officer There will be J general regret if f it entails General Sweeneys Sweeney's transfer to another station