(1.
SEV SCENES DECKER, VAN FLEET, JFK, STAHR
0.25

(2.
SOUND UP, CU VAN FLEET TALKS
1.40


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ 2: VAN FLEET: THE SPIRIT OF THE CITIZEN SOLDIER IN ALL OF THE CAMPS VISITED BY ME IS MAGNIFICENT. IT TRULY REFLECTS THE READINESS OF AMERICA TO ANSWER THE CALL OF THE PRESIDENT IN THIS OR ANY OTHER EMERGENCY. COMPLAINTS ARE FEW AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE MAJORITY. THE HEADLINES APPEARING IN THE PRESS OF INADEQUACIES ARE OVERSTATED. MORALE IS EXTREMELY HIGH IN ALL UNITS. THE QUALITY OF THESE UNITS IS FAR ABOVE THOSE OF WORLD WAR II IN KOREA... THESE ARE MATURE, WELL TRAINED INDIVIDUALS WITH TREMENDOUS SKILLS IN LARGE NUMBERS. I AM TRULY PROUD OF OUR YOUNG MANHOOD IN AMERICA AND THEIR STOUT HEART IN (END CUE: "THIS PARTICULAR CALL.")




Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: GENERAL JAMES VAN FLEET SAID TODAY REPORTS AND ASSERTIONS BY CONGRESSMEN THAT MORALE IS LOW AMONG NATIONAL GUARDSMEN AND RESERVIST CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY WERE BASED ON COMPLAINTS FROM A SMALL NUMBER OF RESERVISTS. VAN FLEET MET WITH PRESIDENT KENNEDY TODAY TO MAKE HIS REPORT FOLLOWING AN INSPECTION OF SIX TRAINING CAMPS. HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL GEORGE DECKER AND ARMY ELVIS STAHR. AFTER REPORTING TO THE PRESIDENT VAN FLEET TOLD NEWSMEN.

(PARAPHRASING) VAN FLEET SAYS: