The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-09-02
MANY COLORED RX-SERyICR MEN
RECEIVE VOCATIONAL TRAIN.

ING.
Washington, ID. c., Aug 81, 1922.
There are approximately 100000 dis
abled veterans receiving vocational
training under the U. 6. Veterans
Bureau. This training is afforded in
technical schools, colleges, and uni
versities as well as in business esta-
blishments, shops and on farms. The
object of this training is to overcome
the vocational handicaps caused by
service disabilities by training them
in new vocation whereby they are
able to become self-supporting citi-
zens. This work is being carried on
under the direction of Col, Charles
R. Forbes, director of the Veterans
Bureal
There are several thousand ex-ser-
vice men receiving training under the
Veterans Bureau. A large number
of them are receiving training in such
we'll known negro educational insti-
buttons as the Tuskegee School in
Alabama and the Hampton Institute
in Virginia. At Hampton Institute
disabled negro soldiers from Virginia,
West Virginia, Maryland, North Caro-
lima. South Carolina and the District
of Columbia are being given vocation
al training. Training is being given
in this school in power plant manage
ment, automobile repairing, tailor
ing, business methods, agriculture,
cabinet making, upholstering, ma
chine work and carpentry, Hampton
Institute is the first industrial school
for negroes established in this coun-
try and was founded by General Sa-
muel C. Armstrong over SO years
ago More than 800 graduates and
former students of Hampton Insti-
tute enlisted in the service during
the World War. A number of these
service men became disabled.
In the Central Office of the Vete-
rams Bureau in Washington, DR.. j..
b. A. Grassland, Technical Assist
and he keeps in contact with those
is in charge of the colored ex-service
men receiving vocational training of
disabled negro soldiers in various
technical institutions as well as those
who are receiving practical training
in shops and on farms. A number of
these trainees have completed their
training and are now in employment.
Essex Smith, a colored veteran
from Isola, Mississippi whose pre-
vious vocation was that of farm la
borer has been trained as a shoe re-
pairer His disability consists of the
loss of leg, He also took elementary
subjects in addition to shoe re-
ing as he was illiterate at the time
he entered training. He is now the
owner and manager of a shoe repair
shop at Marks, Mississippi, and ac-
cording to reports forwarded to the
Veterans Bureau is now making ex-
cellent progress. He received his
training at Tuskegee Institute.
Another trainee who also received
his training at Tuskegee Institute
is Thomas Jones whose previous vo-
cation was that OF laborer. His edu
cation consisted Of four years in a
grade school He entered Tuskegee
Institute in September 1919 with the
employment objective of Tailoring,
including cleaning. pressing, repair
ing as well as taking elementarg sub
jects. He was rehabiliatated in May '22
and Immediately entered business for
himself at West Point, Mississippi.
Thomas Jones states in letter O
the vocational officer at Tuskegee
Institute that his first months work
netted him 1920
Another trainee who is also making
good is George Burkes of WoodyiIle.
Mississippi whose previous vocation
experience wa that a farm laborer.
His education consisted of two years
Of grad school. He entered training
at Tuskegee inSeptember 1919 with
the objective of creamery worker and
dairyman and he completed his course
in May 1922. This veteran is now en-
ployed with large creamy company
at Louisville, Ky. His record at Tus-
kegee Institute indicates that he Is
well qualified to earn a living at this
vocation.
Another successful case of rehabi-
litation is Eugene Gibson whose pre-
vious vocational experience was that
of farm laborer He entered training
in July 1919 az Tuskegee Institute
with the training objective as car
penter. He also took elementary sub
jects in addition 10 his trade work as
he was practically illiterate. Since re.
Mobilization he has been employed
as carpenter by contractor and
is receiving 80 cents per hour for a
ten hour day. These eases mentinned
accomplished by Conscientious stu.
dents who take advantage of theil
vocational training. Not all of these
colored ex-ser1 ice men are in training
in trades, however, as a large number
of them are receiving training in ayr
culture, commerce and the professions
A number of these trainees have beer
rehabilitatd IN agriculture and arr
now conductiDg their own farms OF
are employed as skilled farm laborer.
and dairymen.
There are 80 disabled coIored mer
in training in the different trades al
the Tuskegee Institute. One Of The
big problems has been in training
veteran VINO is lacking in the re-
quired qualifications. Many Of the
trainees who are taking up trades
are practically illiterate. Tuskege,
Institute requires that all regular
students must have reached the 6ti
grade before they can begin trad,
or vocational training Thus the We,
terans' Bureau traiaees due to III,
fact that they are accepted IN thii
practically illiterate condition must bt
handled and grouped separately Il