Word: 27th
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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Army Version. Ralph C. Smith, 50, handsome and soft-voiced, commanded the 27th (New York National Guard) Army Division, until Howlin' Mad relieved him on the ninth day of the 25-day battle of Saipan. Ralph Smith was relieved, according to the Army version, because of a difference over tactics:.. Marines tear into battle, trying to win it quickly; soldiers proceed cautiously, to save lives...
...eighth day of the Saipan battle the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions had advanced rapidly on each side of the island. Then they had to wait, because two regiments of the 27th Army Division-with battalions faced in three directions, unable even to form a line-were hopelessly bogged down in the center. The third regiment of the 27th meanwhile had failed dismally to clean out a pocket of Japs in the southeast corner of the island...
...their foxholes. For days these men, who lacked confidence in their officers, were held up by handfuls of Japs in caves. When it began to look as if what had been gained might be lost, Fourth Marine Division troops even moved in front of a sector of the 27th's line to save it. From the Marine point of view, General Ralph Smith's chief fault was that he had long ago failed to get tough enough to remove incompetent subordinate officers...
...ninth day Ralph Smith was relieved (technically, for disobeying an order to attack), and Major General Sanderford Jarman, who had come along as Saipan's postbattle commander, took over the 27th temporarily, fired several officers, including a regimental colonel. Thereafter, the 27th performed fairly well until its greenest regiment broke and let some 3,000 Japs through in a suicide charge which a Marine artillery battalion finally stopped, at great cost to itself...
...Business-Or 20. The Fishers next broke another lifetime rule. In their paneled, deep-carpeted offices on the 27th floor of their golden-towered Fisher Building, they held their first press conference. Shoulder to shoulder the four brothers let some 30 reporters question them. The reporters learned little. The brothers vaguely explained that they had been planning to leave G.M. for the last seven years, had finally decided to do so six weeks ago. The parting had been completely friendly...