THE TRANSITION
Postwar Battalion Commanding Officers Of the 9 battalion commanding officers selected to head the first postwar Organized (ground) Reserve, Lieutenant Colonels Charles H. Cox (Philadelphia) and Walter A. Churchill (Toledo) were eventually selected for flag rank in the Reserve and today are on the Reserve retired list as one- and two-star generals, respectively, and Lieutenant Colonel Robert N. Fricke (Richmond) was advanced to brigadier general on retirement. Others were Lieutenant Colonel Lewis N. Samuelson (New York);Lieutenant Colonel Alfred V. Jorgensen (Los Angeles); Major Arthur "J" Berk (St. Louis); Major Robert L. Holderness (Seattle); Major Nick E. Presecan (Indianapolis); and Major Henry G. Totzke (Detroit). These officers command 7 infantry battalions and 2 105mm howitzer battalions (Richmond and Los Angeles). These were part of the revised formula for backstopping the Fleet Marine Force. The total organized ground units on the drawing board in mid-1946 included 16 infantry battalions; 5 105mm and 2 155mm howitzer battalions; 2 tanks and 2 amphibious tractor battalions; 10 engineer and 4 signal companies; 1 40mm battery; and 2 heavy antiaircraft artillery groups. These units were to fit into the M-Day (Mobilization Day) plans for an expanded Marine Corps in a Presidentially Proclaimed national emergency. In the summer of 1946 the Corps authorized issuance of a Reserve Special Commendation Ribbon award and the Secretary of the Navy approved awards to 15 senior reservists who had commanded Organized ground units "in a meritorious manner for a period of 4 years between 1 January 1930 and 7 December 1941."
109 Those who received this ribbon and medal have the distinction of being members of a most exclusive group since this is probably the decoration least known to the public and worn, even today, by a relative handful of hard-core reservists. Ground officers receiving the medals included the following who were either selected for flag rank or promoted to general officer rank on retirement because of decorations received in combat: Colonel Joseph R. Knowlan, Lieutenant Colonel Otto Lessing, and Colonel Melvin L. Krulewitch. Others in this rare breed included Colonel Harold M. Keller, Colonel Bernard S. Barron, former Major George W. Bettex, Colonel Harvey L. Miller, Colonel Edward P. Simmonds,Colonel Iven C. Stickney, Colonel Alfred A. Watters, Colonel Clarence H. Baldwin, Colonel John J. Flynn, Colonel Clark W. Thompson, Lieutenant Colonel William C. Smith,and Colonel James F. Rorke. Ten aviators who had commanded Reserve squadrons for at least 4 years were also honored by Navy Secretary James Forrestal. In addition to the command years,both aviators and ground officers had to have a total of 10 years in the Reserve to be eligible for the award. The aviators who received a special letter from Secretary Forrestal included Lieutenant Colonel Charles E:Adams, Colonel Joseph P. Adams, Major Theodore 0. Brewster, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel S. Clifford, Lieutenant Colonel Raymond W. Conroy, Colonel William J. Fox, Colonel Valentine Gephart, Colonel Melvin J. Maas,former Lieutenant Colonel Stephen A. McClellan, and Major Alton N. Parker. Maas received his letter and ribbon from the Commandant at Headquarters 5 November 1946. During this period of readjustment,