And Then There Was One

Five men were on deck for Forrest Sherman's job as Chief of Naval Operations. Most conspicuous among them--and the Navy's popular choice--was Admiral Arthur W. Radford, boss of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Brilliant, bluntly outspoken, Airman Radford was Airman Sherman's own choice to succeed him two years hence. But popular "Raddy" Radford had led the Navy's revolt against unification in 1949, was anathema to the Air Force, whose giant B-36 bomber he scornfully labeled a "billion-dollar blunder," and had been called a "fancy Dan" by Omar Bradley. The morning before Sherman's funeral, Radford went to Navy Secretary Dan Kimball, asked that his name be withdrawn for the good of the Navy. And then there were four.

Admiral Robert B. ("Mick") Carney, NATO Commander for Southern Europe, was considered. Vice CNO Admiral Lynde

McCormick, who had been Acting Chief since Sherman's death, lacked fleet-command experience, and then there were two. The two: Vice Admiral Richard L. ("Close-In") Conolly, World War II amphibian commander, now head of the Naval War College, and Admiral William M. Fechteler, chief of the Atlantic Fleet.

Dan Kimball broke out the two men's service records. Conolly is the Navy's most decorated admiral (D.S.M. with two gold stars, Legion of Merit with one gold star, Navy Cross), is smart and well liked, but has spent almost his entire service at sea or in overseas commands. Kimball hardly knew him. Fechteler he had come to know and admire when the admiral was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (for personnel) after the war. In the close teamwork between CNO and Navy Secretary, old friends are best, especially if both are new at their jobs.

Secretary Kimball made his choice. Bill Fechteler, 55 (see box), got the job.

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