The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-01-31
TRYING TO HELP
SICK EX-SERyICE MEN

Editor Star: AS a result of the
Florida cleanup campaign recently
completed by the U. S. Veterans Bu-
reau, there were 4144 ex-service men
interviewed, 1899 new compensation
claims filed, 1888 physical examina-
tions made, 152 disabled ex-service
men hospitalized and 1924 new claims
filed for vocational training. All of
these claims were filed by ex-service
men in the state of Florida.
In this cleanup campaign through
out the United States 1922 ex-serv-
ice men were interviewed by the clean
up squad in the various states. AS a
result of this campaign, 1O1, TIA cases
have been handled by the u. S. Vet
erans' Bureau. Less than 1000 of these
cases remain pending in the central
office, Washington; the remainder
have been adjudicated and notices of
settlement forwarded to the claim
ants; 66,647 of the cases handled were
entirely new claims, %, ,440 being new
vocational training claims.
Thousands of new claims would un-
doubtedly never have been filed had it
had been for the efforts of the repre-
sentatives of the U. S. Veterans Bu-
reau. These thousands of veterans
who were entitled to government as
sistance had failed to file their claims,
/ due to lack of information as to the
proper procedure. There were also
thousands of cases discovered during
this campaign who were suffering
from serious disabilities, but they
were unaware of any benefits offered
by the government through the U. S.
Veterans Bureau act of August 8,
1921.
Please assist me in bringing to the
attention of every disabled veteran in
the state of Florida the fact that the
u. S. Veterans Bureau has decentral-
lied, and that there is at the present
time a Florida district Office, located
on the fifth floor, Graham building,
Jacksonville, with adequate admins
trative and medical personnel to
handle the problems of all ex-service
men in the state of Florida. The Flor
ida district Office is for the benefit of
the entire state, and not a local Office
for the city of Jacksonville as sup
: posed by many.
The work of this Office is to receive
applications, hear complaints, hold ex-
J aminations, and furnish information
regarding reinstatement and conver-
sion of government insurance, deter.
mine feasibility of training, examina-
tions in regard to disqualification
etc. All matters regarding claims IN
the state of Florida should be referred
to this Office, and wish to assure you
} that the ex-service men will receive
immediate and proper attention at the
, Florida district Office
: 1t is my sincere desire that every
t disabled veteran in Florida know ths
( benefits offered by the government be
i. fore March l, 1922
= Your cooperation is earnestly so
!. licited, also the cooperation of ths
l churches, the American Legion, tn.
American Red Cross, chamber of com
merce, Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs
women's clubs and lodges In fact, al
organizations in the state of Florida.
:. | believe that there are many ex
= service men in the state of Florida TO
= day who are entitled to government
aid, but due to lack of knowledge O.
< proper procedure in presenting thei
f claims, or the person to apply to, hav'
y never applied for relief.
e Please advise all ex-service men t
}. write me about their claims, reinstate
d ments or conversion of insurance, ets
l wish particularly to invite the at
T tention of all ex-service men in tn
+ state of Florida to the fact that les
Il than a year from the present dat
marks the end of the period in whic