Gentlemen,
This is an odd one for you new guys.
We all know that Earl McFarland was the Commanding Officer at SA twice. Major Earl McFarland was in Command from Aug. 8, 1923 to June 17, 1924 and again as Colonel, from June 11, 1942 to July 31, 1943.
This one should give you some work to do.
Between the World Wars promotion in the Regular Army Officer Corps came very slowly and was used very correctly. If you were a “Light Bird” you were called, in orders or letters, Lt. Col. So if you received a letter from a Col., you knew he was a “Full Bird.” The same is true of the General Officer’s ranks. You just didn’t say General so—and—so, you stated his rank. One star was for a Brigadier General, two stars was a Major General, three stars was a Lt Gen., and four stars was a Full General, or just General. Many of these Officers knew each other. Those who didn’t had heard of these Officers. Now to the point of the question: An Ordnance file dated Oct. 4, 1938, shows that Earl McFarland is a Brigadier General in rank, and also is Acting Chief of Ordnance, At this point in time he is right there as the M1 Garand is in early production. The file doesn’t say acting Brigadier General, which could be correct, but just Brigadier General and Acting Chief of Ordnance. His second Commanding Officer at SA is in the RANK COLONEL. It’s not a brevet rank, one issued for gallantry on the battlefield. My Question is does anyone know why the drop in rank ? Just seeing what you guys think.
Without input from you guys no one learns anything Try to put in some info/question and we can learn more of the M1's History.
Thanks again
Clancy
ps Thanks for the hits
This is an odd one for you new guys.
We all know that Earl McFarland was the Commanding Officer at SA twice. Major Earl McFarland was in Command from Aug. 8, 1923 to June 17, 1924 and again as Colonel, from June 11, 1942 to July 31, 1943.
This one should give you some work to do.
Between the World Wars promotion in the Regular Army Officer Corps came very slowly and was used very correctly. If you were a “Light Bird” you were called, in orders or letters, Lt. Col. So if you received a letter from a Col., you knew he was a “Full Bird.” The same is true of the General Officer’s ranks. You just didn’t say General so—and—so, you stated his rank. One star was for a Brigadier General, two stars was a Major General, three stars was a Lt Gen., and four stars was a Full General, or just General. Many of these Officers knew each other. Those who didn’t had heard of these Officers. Now to the point of the question: An Ordnance file dated Oct. 4, 1938, shows that Earl McFarland is a Brigadier General in rank, and also is Acting Chief of Ordnance, At this point in time he is right there as the M1 Garand is in early production. The file doesn’t say acting Brigadier General, which could be correct, but just Brigadier General and Acting Chief of Ordnance. His second Commanding Officer at SA is in the RANK COLONEL. It’s not a brevet rank, one issued for gallantry on the battlefield. My Question is does anyone know why the drop in rank ? Just seeing what you guys think.
Without input from you guys no one learns anything Try to put in some info/question and we can learn more of the M1's History.
Thanks again
Clancy
ps Thanks for the hits
