National Affairs: How Semper Fi?

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Many marines suspected that McKean's attack was not without rancor: as a colonel, he was in charge of training at Parris Island in 1956 during the tragic drowning of six boots on a night-time disciplinary march through Ribbon Creek. Although he was not officially blamed, McKean voluntarily retired from the corps two months later, after he learned that he was about to be transferred to Panama. (His retired rank is a so-called "tombstone promotion.") At week's end, General David Shoup, the no-nonsense Marine commandant, ordered the offensive copies of Cavalier back on sale at all Marine bases. The story was out, the corps and its esprit had survived, and there was no point in not telling it to the marines.