9. Stewart was regarded as a friendly though thoroughly professional officer
On one occasion, Major Stewart was informed that a group of enlisted men had an illegal keg of beer in the barracks, hidden under a blanket. Stewart entered the barracks, uncovered the keg, and drew himself a beer. As he drank it, he addressed the men, saying “Now, now, now it’s been reported that there is a keg of beer somewhere where it’s not supposed to be”. After reminding the men of the seriousness of violating the regulations, he expressed confidence that they would do the right thing if the keg was found. He then finished his beer and left. Nothing else was said about the incident.
On other occasions, Stewart was required to discipline the men for infractions, including leaving base without permission, fighting, and other incidents common to military life. He was considered to be fair, even by those men he was forced to be fine or reduced in rank. He delivered many of the briefings which preceded missions, which the men found entertaining, even though they knew for many of them it would be their last. One of the men who remarked upon Stewart’s abilities was Walter Matthau, then a radioman with the 453rd Bomb Group. Matthau said Stewart was “marvelous” delivering the briefings.