The Washington herald., 1922-02-27
Reward for Service.
To the Editor, TIE Washington Herald:

TO the Editor, The Washington Herald:
Now that so many voices have
been heard. pro and con. on the
bonus question. I, wish to lay my
case before the public that IL might
ponder over the prize package
handed me by my dear old Uncle
Sam. 1 do so, Independent OF any
desire to enlist sympathy in my be-
half.
In March, 1918. 1 returned to the
United States from Canada. dis
charged from the Canadian Expedi-
tionary Forces as physically UNIT
for further military service. Though
America had entered the. war. no
provision had been made for the
restoration to citizenship of those
OF her citizens who had espousea
the allies cause prior to her ulti-
matum. Consequently. having ex-
patriated myself because of my
service TO the Canadians, I was held
up at the border and compelled to
pay an IS head tax, required OF all
"aliens" entering the country.
All well and good. ] swallowed
the bitter pill and the prodigaI son
returned to his native heath. Then,
to add insult to injury. I was draft
ed into the United States army. 1t
gave me an opportunity to laugh
and say: ooh, no. you refused to
recognize me as an American citi-
zen. Therefore. I am British sub
ject and a disabled one to boot. You
can't touch me-"
But happened to be 100 per cent
American, morally IL not techni-
calIy. So I laid aside my personal
feelings in the matter. / wouldn't
have had it said that l was a quit
ter-that I was hiding behind the
skirts of my previous experience at
the front. As long as there was any
fight left in me, I felt it my duty
to contribute-not my bit. but my
all. To the cause, especially when
had an opportunity to serve my own
country. And 1 wasn't looking Tor
an instructors job at some army
cantonment. either. / would nave
wanted to. 60 back to fight II mad
been a basket case"
However, patriotism doesn't seem
to warrant compensation. 1t is
criminal to place a price on
| GLORY" Shortly after my induction
into the. A. E. F., received notice
from Canada to appear for medical
denomination. was back in
France then and not only didn't
have the carfare for such an ex-
tensive trip, but urgent business de-
tanned me. AS a consequence, OF my
failure to report, my pension was
"furloughed." - =,
In the meantime, due to exposure.
NV health became further impaired.
NV disability in the Canadian army
had been by way OF gunshot
wounds. now had developed a
painful cSse Of bronchial asthma.
,, Notwithstanding, on my return to
the States, I re-enlisted for serv-
ice on the Mexican border. There
further complications set. In and
I had a bad case of pneumonia.
| 1 recovered and continued service
though 1 still suffered acuteiy from
asthma. When the army reduction
hill went into effect sent In my
"rssirnation" claiming disability.
Nv ,applicaton, for discharge was
accepted and my claim was recog-
nized. was given a disability
rating Of IS per cent.
After going through bunch Of
rcd tape here. in Washington, j
and that my rating has been cut
down to less than 10 per cent,
which disqualifies me for compen-
sation. AT my request a report
was sent to the Canadian board OF
pensioners, with the result that
my Canadian pension was resumed,
taking effect october 1 last But
Though my. disability. is greater
now than eyer. 1t has been cut SO
per cent which leaves me a MONTH
Nv allowance that will hardly cover
Ecarfare. In addition to which my
claim for the pension that accrued
during my three years in the
American army is refused. .
There you are! This government
comedies me not q thing but; a raw
deal. As the matter stands am
/ far more Handicapped by having
been extremely patriotic than IL
had been content to rest on my
laurels and kent out Of the army
of my own country, for. then my
Canadian pension would rave con-
a. ~