Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-02-06
INSURE RECRUITS
AND ALL SOLDIERS
Protect Departments-Pro
vide Against Total Disability


The following is excepted from a talk
gwen TO candidates at one Of the training
camps By veteran officer OF the United!
States army:
"Yoa men are preparing yourselves to
become officers Of the United States army
and to lead men into battle.
."ft is inevitable that many men Of Your
command viii be killed IN action. You
win receive letters from the wives, moth
ers, fathers, sisters and brothers Of these
men. lust as | have received numerous
letters from the families of men in my
command who have been killed in action.
These letters will ask yops whether or
not the sacrifice made was necessary,
whet her or MT by any act of omission or
commission, or by reason OF any incom-
petenee on your part, You added to the
dangers necessarily incident TO battle
service. Are you men satisfied that YOU
are doing everything that lies in your
power TO SO equip yourselves that when
these letters come to you YOU may be
able to answer them to the satisfaction Of
the families and to the satisfaction OF
your own conscience2 1t is serious work
you are doing, tremendous responsible
ity YOU are assuming, and nothing must
be left pndone that can in any way add to
your efficiency"
G2-The War Risk Insurance Act now
places another responsibility upon you.
The dependents of any uninsured man in
YOUR command who may be killed in ae-
ton viii very properly inquire of you as
Ito whether or not you did all in your pow
er TO brig to the attention of yanr men
their duties and privileges under the act.
(2t-There arc men in your company
whose rights to government insurance
win be forfeited on February 18th il
they do not apply before that time. See
that they apply at once.
(3)--InsuFe your recruits as soon as
possible after they arrive in camp. Do
not wait for them to be permanently as
signed to your command, and do not feel
that you hay9 properly performed your
duty il you allow them to be without in
surance until they reach their permanent
stations whether within or without your
division. XoE cannot afford to take the
moral responsibility involved in having
man in your command uninsured even
fer a day If the delay is NJ ANY WAY
ANOtDABLE.
(4)-lmpress upon your men that the
primary obligation of every citizen is to
his country. That particular obligation
every man in the service is meeting by
his enlistment but there remains duty
second only to that primary duty, namely,
a mans duty to protect his family and
himself from any eventu2iities of war.
The Soldiers and Sailors Insurance Act
makes it possible for the soldier to pro-
vide that. no matter what NAV come, he
may be assured that his loxed ones will
never become the objects Of charity, and
it is the duty of the company commander
to explain this to his men and to see that
thew take advantage of the act
f5)--The fact that soldier at the pres
ent time has no dependents within the
permitted class of beneficiaries is no rsa-
son why he should not apply for govern
ment Insurance.
(a)-After the war is over and he re-
turns to civil life. there will be many rea-
sons why he needs insurance: For self
protection, for investments, for savings,
or for various other business purposes.
His physical condition may be such that
commercial companies win not accept
him as a risk. IMPRESS UPON HIM
HIS DUTY TO TAKE OUT A GOVERN
NENT POLICY NOW AND THUS pREn
SERVE HIS INSURABILITY.
(b)-Ask him if it is his intention to
always live alone. May not the desire to
have a home come to him some time?
IMPRESS UPON HIM HIS DUTY TO
TAKE OUT A GOVERNMENT POLICY
NOW so THAT He MAY LATER PRO-
TEC'T THOSE WHO ARE DEAR TO
HIM.
c)-HelpIessness at best is a very
heavy burden. even when you are sur
rounded by those who are ear to you
and whose pleasure it is to attend to your
every want and comfort-to the man
alone and without financial means to Sc
cure the even necessary care and atfen-
ton. it becomes unbarsble. IMPRESS
Upon YOUR MEN THEIR DUTY TO
TAKE OFT 4 GOVERNMENT POLICY
NOW AND PROTECT THEMSELVES
AGAINST THE HARDSHIPS OF TOTAL
DISABILITY.