General John McGrew
General John McGrew is a minor character and uninteractable NPC heard in various news transcripts, present outside the Exclusion Zone.
Overview
John McGrew, a U.S. Army General, was sent to the area of Knox Country, Kentucky on the sixth of July, 1993 to oversee the containment measures of the Influenza-Like virus. On July 7th, reports of civilian casualties arrived, prompting the General to order the quarantine of Knox Country with military and law enforcement personnel. The containment process itself has been very effective initially, with fences and military camps being set up and CDC offices being established. The County within Knox Country has been efficiently contained on July 8th.
Events of Project Zomboid
July 7th
Military scientists along with ordinary personnel in hazmat suits are authorized to enter the Containment Zone and begin their investigations on the virus. An untold number of people have been quarantined, only to be released hours later.
July 8th
News reports indicated military presence on the Ohio River, suggesting that the town of Louisville is outside the Containment Zone, on the border.
July 9th
McGrew gave a press conference outside the Containment Zone, reporting that there were no civilian casualties despite secret reports stating the exact opposite. He gave overall little information, as he heads to Washington D.C. along with CDC officials to inform the President of the real conditions.
July 11th-13th
Reports of violence have emerged inside the Containment Zone, and the military is on high alert.
July 14th
A large horde attracted by gunfire arrives at the military camps, overrunning them with Jackie Jaye from LBMW to find McGrew and asking him if he ordered for tear gas to be deployed with him ordering for the broadcast to be shut off.
July 15th
Nationwide protests emerged as the virus mutated into airborne contact.
July 16th
McGrew gave the order to destroy the Ohio River bridges in case the infection spread outside Kentucky.
July 17th
The Containment Measures have failed as the virus has spread in major cities. The Republican Caucus has denounced the President's poor response to the epidemic.
McGrew ordered the military to officially take control of the situation and entered major cities to contain the infection.
July 18th
Reports of the epidemic spreading are coming worldwide. The General issues a pre-recorded broadcast, stating that the virus has gone out of control and invites citizens to fight back. It is unknown how McGrew survived, perhaps he entered the Presidential Bunker in Washington but may have contracted the virus in late 1993 and the beginning of 1994.
Relationships
Judge Matt Hass
- Main article: Judge Matt Hass
From the broadcasts in-game it is easy to believe that McGrew and Matt Hass have a pretty good relationship with the Judge even openly supporting the General’s actions during the early stages of the Knox Event.
- Judge Matt Hass supporting General John McGrew:
- Judge Matt Hass:
- "I've met General John McGrew - many times."
- Judge Matt Hass:
- "He is a fine man."
- Judge Matt Hass:
- "When he says there have been no fatalities from the infection - he means it."
- Judge Matt Hass:
- "That man's career has earned enough medals to block the noon-day sun."
- Judge Matt Hass:
- "He's no liar...."
- Judge Matt Hass:
Jackie Jaye
- Main article: Jackie Jaye
Jackie Jaye along with other reporters and journalists are often frowned upon by the General, with him often saying that they only come to cause even more panic to the public, but most likely he and other military officials are hiding something from the public.
Though Jackie and McGrew barely directly interact with each other, the one time they do McGrew orders for her broadcast and other broadcasts reporting on the situation to be shut off after she ask if he is responsible for ordering soldiers to shoot warning shots at protesters
- Jackie's only encounter with General John McGrew:
- Jackie Jaye:
- "General! Is there blood on your hands?"
- General John McGrew:
- "Who is this? Are you broadcasting? Do you know what in hell, we're dealing with? Shut her down! Shut this all..."
- Jackie Jaye:
Frank Hemingway
- Main article: Frank Hemingway
Frank is Jackie's partner who also shares a distrust with the general and the military personnel in Knox Country, though Frank and McGrew never directly interact it can be interpreted that he has the same opinion of Frank as he does of Jackie.
Trivia
- John can be used as an outfit or spawned as a zombie in the debug mode and can presumably be found in the game. Outfit color is randomized and body/hair/beard are not set.