The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-07-15
WAR RISK BUREAU
PAYS INSURANCE CLAIMS

Among the 341,-347 active COM
pensation and insurance claims on
file in the Bureau Of War Risk in
surance there are three cases on:
which a compensation award for dou-
BILE pemanent-total disability is be-
ing paid, the only three coming under
that provision of the War Risk Act.
Each case gives evidence Of the de-
gree of ingenuity and courage which
survive in these former service men
both blinded and manned.
Henry A. Bitter Gigs 3ss) Cor
poral, Company C, 352nd Infantry,
sS Division. Bitter was injured in
foul Sector, France, on the 18th of
November, 1918, by accidental ex-
plosion of hand grenade. His COM
pany was assigned to gas training at
French training camp. On the last
day at gas school, maneuvers were
ordered. While advancing through a
smoke screen under orders, with
hand grenade to be thrown at an i'm
aginary enemy, the pin in the hand
grenade became loosened and the
hand grenade exploded, causing in
jury that resulted in the amputation
Of botn hands and loss of sight of
both eyes. He was awarded 5000
month, and on his $4,000 insurance
the monthly payments Of $3.50. An
attendant was furnished him and he
was fitted with artificial hands. Be-
fore entering the service he had been
a registered pharmacist. He was Civ
en- vocational training and recently
has notified the Federal Board that
he had, with his brother acting as
associate and personal attendant,
completed the formula for proprie-
tary medicine. 49,.
Pearl Perry (C-2s5 11O) Private,
Field Artillery. The premature ex-
plosion of hand grenade at Verdun,
October 8, 1918, entirely destroyed
both hands, right eye destroyed and
hearing impaired, and he was under
hospital treatment from date Of in
jury until August 2, 1919, when he
was discharged. Besides his double
permanent-total award Of 5000, COM
pensation from the date of discharge
there was also made to him the insur-
ance award of $3.50 month retro
active to the date of his injury. He
was truck driver before joining the
army and recent report from a
hospital where he had received treat
ment for a minor accident contains
the information, che wears artificial
arms and drives his auto,'' i.
Charles Joseph Bromer (C-358
1862 Seaman 1st class, U. S. N. Bron-
ner received his injuries in Italy,
August 19, 1919,. while on a recrea-
ten party with some sixty other sail
ors from his ship, the U. S. S. J.
Fred Talbot. While going through
the trenches near the battlefield Mon
falcone, Istria, looking for souvenirs
a hand grenade or some, similar ex-
plosive was discharged and blew off
both hands and blew out both eyes.
These injuries were Judged as re-
ceived mot in line of duty, but not
the result of his own misconduct"
end he was awarded $22C compensa-
tion and attendant allowance, and on
the $4,000 insurance which he had ap-
piled for and had been granted he is
receiving monthly payment of
s11.50. Immediately upon discharge
from the navy, Bronner applied for
Vocational Training and was given
a course at the Red Cross Institute
for the blind, at Baltimore, Maryland
the Federal Board paying him $4,000
month and the Bureau of War Risk
Insurance continuing to pay S140
during the course. Bronner has sue
cessfully adjusted himself to his ap-
parent unsurmountable handicap by
the use of artificial arms terminating
in complicated attachments with
L -.