Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-19
Con+inuedPay
Seen Best Aid
To War Vets
Allowance for 3 Months
After Discharge Urged
By DAMON RUNYON

BY DAMON RUNfON
I BELIEVE that continuing the
i pay of the soldiers and sail
ors for a year after their dis
charge would eliminate many OF
the serious problems that con-
front most men when they are
turned back into civil life follow
ing a period of war service.
My first suggestion on this
matter was for six months con-
tinuance of pay. but reflection
convinces me that year would
not be too long.
II could be made the readjust-
ment or bonus that the former
soldiers are sure to demand later
on in spite of the increase in pay
now provided for in legislation
before Congress-, and which still
is not the highest service pay in
the world as you would expect
of the United States.
In the course Of time the serv-
ice men OF this war would prob
ably get the bonus. but il might
be a long drawnout struggle as il
was for the veterans of the first
World War and in a great many
cases the reward would arrive
too late.
My plan would give the boys
the money at a time when II
will be needed most and do away
with pickering in future years.
MOREOVER. il would lessen
A'A the burden of vast lump
sum on another generation of
taxpayers, VIII ich wAl have
plenty 10 carry as il is bat most
important of all il would give
the discharged soldiers and
sailors time to readiust them
selves TO the conditions Of civil
life without undue worry about
hooking onto pay roll at once.
There is no more trying period
in a mans life than the months
following discharge from the
service after war.
He is apt to be mentally con-
fused for awhile. Things are
new. things are different. 1t
takes time for him 10 get back
into the swing of civilian exist
ence. When he is chopped off
with a few dollars and has no
prospect OF job he becomes
restless and sometimes bitter.
1t is idle 10 say that the jobs
the men left TO 90 TO war will
be waiting for them on their
return. II has been my obServa-
ton Of the aftermath Of two
wars that the percentage Of Jobs
recovered by service men is ex-
tremely small.
The fellows who for one rea-
son or another manage 10 dodge
service seem to have amazing
facility for mailing down the jobs
permanently.
Another thing. they resent the
very presence of the former sol
diers. This is perhaps a matter
Of conscience. The civilian pop
ulation generally is always eager
to forget war and the ex-Service
man soon finds himself eased
into the background of events
Without any more money than
the pittance handed him on his
discharge, he runs into the prob
lem Of room and board in a short
time.
I SUPPOSE ceiling should be
L put on the amount paid the
lads after discharge. perhaps
some compromise figure between
the lowest and the highest sum
paid enlisted men, but that is
detail 10 be worked out later.
OF course. il is my idea that
officers should be included in
the scheme because officers can
be just as badly broke as en-
listed men after a war.
l know that the first criticism
Of my plan will be the continued
load on the taxpayers, but il
must be remembered that VIC
tory will come only through the
patriotic spirit and valor Of our
fighting men without which the
load will be a hundred times
heavier.
It would be little enough 10
give these men the opportunity
Of making a new start in civil
life if cash will do il.
The money that was made out
Of our other wars by men who
never saw an hour of service
would have financed the boys
who fought the battles for a
long time after their discharge
and / will be surprised If that
is not also true of this war.
There is no adequate reward
in mere money for the sacrifice
that the service men in this war
are now making and will con-
tinue 10 make, but let us show
them that republics are not
always ungrateful.
Copyright. 1892 by King Features
Distributed by International News Service