New-York tribune., 1920-08-18
Disability Allowances
Unfair Discrimination Bctwce5
Glasses of Officers

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: A disabled Regular Army off,
cer-a provisional army officer--is re-
tired upon three fourths Of his full
pay when he is pronounced physically
disabled, which is perfectly just and
right. But Reserve, National Army
and National Guard officers do not re-
ceive such an allowance upon their
discharge for q disability.
On August II, 1918, General Orders
No. %, War Department, 1918, pre-
scrbed that
"This country has but one army
the United States Army. 1t includes
all the land forces in the service of
the United States. These forces,
however raised, lose their identity
in that of the United States Army.
Distinctive appellations, such as the
Reserve Corps, Regular Army, Ma
tional Guard and the National Army,
heretofore employed in adminstra-
tion and command, will be discon-
tinucd, and the single term the
United States Army will be exclu-
sively used"
Army, marine and naval regulations
provide that an officer shal! be retired
from active duty with a certain pro-
portion of the pay he was receiving
at the time the disability was received
when, in the judgment of a board of
officers, he has become incapacitatcd,
from any cause, to perform the duties
of an officer. Length of service is not
considered, nor is his earning capacity
in civil life. In the army this is three
fourths pay.
The National Guard, the Reserve,
the National Army officer, the tempo
rary or emergency officer, disabled in
the line Of duty, is absolutely barred
from the benefits aSd aid of retire
mcnt, or equal aid in lieu of retire
ment.
The duties performed by them dur
ing this war were identical with those
of the Regular Army officers, and there
is nothing but praise for their dovo-
tion to their country. 1t is only when
these officers were disabled in line Of
duty that the discrimination against
them becomes apparent. They are
virtually Dcnalized for their disability.
The disabled emergency officers are
specially deserving of legislation
which will remove this injustice, as
most Of these men have families. They
are no longer able to engage in their
former professions, and their disabili-
ties cause extreme hardships.
In the case of
Lieutenant B. Age twenty-three
Married, one child In school at out
break of war. Commissioned lieu
tenant Provisional. Attack of flu
followed by pulmonary tuberculosis.
Unable to engage in any work of
hard or confning nature Has been
retired on three-fourthx pay.
and in tnat of
Captain D. Age Twenty-Five Single.
Just out of West Point at beginning
of war. No overseas service Regu-
lar Army. tuberculosis. Will be
retired on ce-fourths pay.
there is great discrimination, COM
Jared with the case of
Captain NJ. Age Gfty-two. Married,
one child. Linotype operator and
compositor. Twenty-nine years. serv-
ice in National Guard. Served in
Cuban campaign, Cuban army of oc-
cupation, Mexican border CAMPAIGN.
Wounded in attack on Hindenburr
line. Partial paralysis of bladder,
limbs and bowels. Unable to sit or
stand more than half an hour at a
time. Is not eligible for retirement.
and in that of
FIRST Lieutenant R. Age thirty
three. Single. Served thirteen years
in infantry of the Regular Army.
Wounded in the Argonne. Left hin
and leg permanently disabled. Emer-
gency commission. Is not eligible
for retirement.
Cases like these may be cited by
the hundreds. That your attention be
called to this is all that is needed. |
am sure, to excite your interest in
doing all that you can to help to cor
rect this gross injustice and to do
away with this unfair discrimination.
There is bill before CONGRESS- now
which will do this
GRANT SHEPHERD.
New York, Aug. IA, 1920