Controversy
Page was alleged to have revealed confidential bomb shortages in Vietnam and to have criticized defense policies of Defense Secretary Robert McNamara during an Air War College seminar for senior Air Force Reserve officers in December 1966. Even though the seminar's discussions were understood to be classified Secret and to be strictly confined behind closed doors, Page was relieved of his command and transferred to the air division command at Okinawa "without prejudice." Arizona senator Barry Goldwater accused one of the seminar attendees, a Reserve colonel and politician recently defeated in his reelection bid for the governorship of Arizona, of having made complaints to the Department of Defense that led to General Page's relief and subsequent transfer.
Page's relief raised concerns not only with the Air War College faculty but through the faculties of the nation's other senior service colleges (SSC) as well, as it struck at one of the basic tenets of SSC education: the free give-and-take of academic discussion behind the closed doors of the college.
In March 1967, because of his comments, he was assigned as commander of the 313th Air Division at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. There he earned the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. In 1969 General Page assumed his final command - Sheppard Technical Training Center, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He retired August 1, 1972.
He was a qualified jet fighter pilot with more than 5,800 hours of flying time. He was also a recipient of the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
Read more about this topic: Jerry D. Page
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