Ralph Zwicker; Former General Felt Wrath of McCarthy

Ralph W. Zwicker, the retired Army major general who was accused by Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy of being “unfit to wear the uniform,” is dead at 88.

He died Friday at a nursing home here of a heart ailment.

Zwicker was a brigadier general and commander of Camp Kilmer, N.J., when the Wisconsin Republican accused him in 1954 of being unfit. McCarthy was angry over the way Zwicker handled the honorable discharge of a major who left the Army after taking the 5th Amendment when McCarthy’s committee asked if he had ever been a communist.

The Army closed ranks behind the general--a much-decorated hero of World War II who took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy--after persistent accusations against him by McCarthy.

Eventually, Zwicker was ordered not to return to Capitol Hill for further appearances, and Army Secretary Robert Stevens testified in his place. The abuse heaped on Stevens during those hearings was credited with bringing on the Senate’s condemnation of McCarthy, who had vehemently charged that the State Department, the military and the executive branch of government were packed with communists and their sympathizers.

In 1957, Zwicker was approved by the Senate for promotion to permanent major general upon the unanimous recommendation of the Armed Services Committee and a 70-2 vote in the Senate.

McCarthy opposed the nomination, contending that Zwicker had lied under oath during their earlier confrontations. The only other senator voting against Zwicker was George W. Malone, a Republican from Nevada.

Zwicker was a 1927 graduate of West Point who after his World War II service was assigned to the Organization and Training Division of the Army’s general staff. He also had been an infantry regiment commander in occupied Germany and assistant division commander of the 5th Infantry in Pennsylvania.

His decorations include the Silver Star, the British Distinguished Service Order and French Croix de Guerre with palm.