San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-08
Alamo Posts Existence Is
Justified by Many Acts
of Kindness Which Are
Unknown to General Pub
lie.

| lie.
| Buddy everyone nova
| days knows that that is term made
famous by the American soldiers OF
] the World War. 1t means brother.
yet. in long days and longer nights
in front line trenches, "Buddy" beg0t
significance far greater than the
commonly accepted definition of kim
ship. Hardships, fear, courage, hope,
despair and too often death. made q
Buddy" of the war more than a pal,
brought him closer than brother.
Today the term eau almost be said
to be the password of the American
Legion. To those who see the legion
only at its regular meetings, at lunch
cons, or on holidays when its men,
bers dig out the old uniform with the
overseas cap and parade the streets,
it might at first appear that the much
used name of Buddy" has degenerat-
ed into mere sham of its former sig
nificance. Such conclusion hastily
drawn is small justice to those who.
in the moment of greatest emergency,
proved their willingness and ability to
be brothers TO humanity. Buddy"
still means Buddy with the legion.
1t is only necessary to take peep be-
hind the curtain to be convinced.
One day not so long ago wreck
of a man arrived in the city from
one of the towns of Mexico where
loose living, together with long spell
of tropical fever had almost ruined
his life. Dope had gotten its hold on
him. When he arrived here he was
penniless and his clothes and body
were in such a filthy condition that
no one would even assist him. He
had he served in the World War.
However. he had seen service in the
Spanish-American War and that was
enough. In time of trouble he had
answered his country's call and so the
Alamo Post of the legion took him in
tow.
A "Sh0t" His First Need.
He was n confirmed addict and as
he hadn't had n dose of the narcotic
for several days, "shot" was his
most immediate need. This was sup
piled through legion physician and
then an effort made to have him
placed in the city hospital. As no
narcotic cases are taken there, he was
barred. He told legion officials that
he had been trying to cure himself Of
the habit for some time and that he
was anxious to take the cure under ex-
pert supervision. Since he was try
ing to help himself, the legion did not
propose to leave him unassisted. After
many trials he was finally placed in
the county poor farm and there was
slowly weaned Of the habit.
Many months later he again made
his appearance at the legion headquar-
tiers. this time an entirely different
man. He. was clPan and walked with
head erect, look Of determination Or
his face.
at was long. hard fight, friend"
he said, land you helped me win it.
He then showed receipt for $50 that
he had sent to mother. and with a
parting shake of the hand. said. I'm
headed home. So long, Buddy, / won't
forget"
That is not an extreme case. AS
the records of Alamo Post Of the
American Legion show, it is only one
of hundreds of similar cases that are
the legion's daily task of being Buddy,
not only to its members. but to all eX-
service men who are in need of
helping hand.
at doesn't take legion card to get
help here officers Of the legion say.
"All that is necessary is that a man
has served his country when the coun-
try needed him."
Justifies Its Existence.
San Antonio, one of the largest
army centers in the country and the
place where hundreds of thousands OF
soldiers were trained during the war,
is perhaps, of all cities of the country,
the one best fitted to test the mettls
of such an organization as the legion.
Perhaps this is not evident to the
general public. No doubt there are
many who wonder what Alamo Post
of the legion does to justify its exist
ence. At first glance it might appear
that it does little, if anything. Closer
investigation, however, reveals activi-
ties so wide and so varied that won
der changes from, "What does the lie
gion do" to "How does it do it?"
CuHlihdIiIeu, It's HuJor dtliNiticS
are: Getting jobs for ex-service men
out of work and lending them money
to tide themselves and their families
over hard times; helping disabled men
TO get compensation and back pay that
is due them; taking medical aid to ex-
service men who become sick and
| placing them in hospitals when their
condition demands it; visiting the hos.
pital and the school for disabled and
assisting the boys in getting what
they need; handling funerals of ex-
service men who are buried here and
often assisting relatives of the de.
ceased to come here for the funeral !;
placing flowers on the Baskets Of ex-
service men passing through the city
and placing guards over them when
they remain over night.
During the last year the post here