US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

128 Amphibians Came To Conquer
Joint Chiefs of Staff were dimly outlined in this two-day lecture of
!+10 July 1937.
KELLY TURNER AT 51
This seems a good time to introduce a thumb-nail sketch of the KeIly
Turner character at this stage of his career with 29 years of commissioned
service behind him.
At that time ( 1936) he was a newly appointed Captain about 51 years of
age. He was about six feet tall and in apparent excellent physical condition,
Iean and quick acting. He gave the impression of being very alert, was military
in bearing and actions, and was well groomed.
He was serious and devoted to his profession. Being very forceful and
when convinced, of strong convictions, he was inclined to be abrupt and
sometimes tactless, but he was intellectually honest and if one had a point, he
could be convinced. He was aggressive and decisive. He had great ability to
express himself clearly and well, not only on paper but verbally. He made
no point of trying to make people like him, but he commanded a high degree
of respect by the manner in which he mastered his profession and performed
his duties. There was no doubt in my mind, even at that time, that he was an
aggressive, competitive, combatant type, and that when and if the opportunity
came, he would know how to do, and do a good job. When we in the Staff
were given a job, he let us do it. He was free with good ideas but not insistent
that one use them if one had any himself. I profited much professionally
from my association with him at this time.
AS to his drinking habits, I can say that I never noted that he used it to
excess. I attended quite a number of stag affairs over the two and a half years
that I was there and Turner was at most of them. To my recollection, he
handled his liquor well,’”
The officer who relieved Captain Turner as Head of the Strategic Section
of the Staff of the Naval War College wrote:
I went to the Naval War College as a student in June, 1937. Turner was Head
of the Strategy Section of the College Staff. I felt that I learned a great deal
from him during the year ending May 1938.
I remained on the War College Staff until late May 1940, serving the last
year as Head of the Strategy Section.
This experience was invaluable to me in the commands I held in World War
II and later.
I observed convincing evidence during my tour at the College of the out-
~ Bieri.