Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-02
Army Ignores
Veterans for
Clerical Jobs
Keeps Youths There Who
Should Be Fighting
BY DAMON RUNYON

THERE is downright pathos in
Il many Of the letters coming
10 me from middle-aged though
able-bodied men eager TO serve
their country yet denied the
privilege because of their years
while young fellows who ought
10 be on combat service are
holding army and navy admins
trative posts that should be
turned over 10 the oldsters.
Thousands OF veterans from
the, first World War of high pro-
fessional standing have volun-
teered their services only to be
wholly disregarded.
Among them are lawyers and
business executives who are
commanding big salaries in
civilian life and whose exper-
fence and judgment would be
most valuable to the government
at this time.
Private corporations compete
for them and consider them
great prizes, but the army and
navy policy seems TO be to dis
courage their efforts TO render
service.
Meantime commissions are
being dished out to the most i'm
probable characters, some OF
whom do little more than dis
play themselves in uniform,
while others are put in jobs for
which they have no capacity
whatever.
7 AM inclined to the belief that
L there will be a fine row over
some of the commissioning be-
fore long. The absurdity of many
of the commissions is too patent
TO be long overlooked, especially
when they are being given TO
inexperienced men no younger
than those of experience and in
finitely greater capability who
cannot get hearing.
The conjuring up of vague
and even wholly fictitious duties
as an excuse for commissions is
commencing to irritate fathers
and mothers whose sons are
doing the fighting.
You might think that sense
of shame would prevent young
man from accepting commits
sion for which he has had no
qualification of previous expert
ence in active service or the
reserve. and which he knows is
an empty honor acquired
through influence and carrying
no duties that he could not dis
charge as a civilian.
But since we have had the
mail order officers in all our
wars. we must assume that
shame is a trif1e scarce in war
times.
What burns me up about the
army and navy policy toward
men of middle age or a trif1e
beyond. especially veterans of
the First World War. when they
offer their services is that most
of the master minds of both
branches are past so years of
age.
l can almost guarantee that
among the high ranking officers
you will find many members of
the plate-men of America-yet
no one would want to trade
them for younger and toothier
chaps in a bear fight.
IF MIDDLE age does not mill
L tate against the directors of
the battling, l cannot see why
II should be a knock to others
who want TO serve. The combat
divisions always need young Of
fcers and a large number of
them could be released to ac-
tive. service by putting the old
'uns 10 work at the desks.
The gentle young civilian en-
busqueS who are performing
tasks in Washington and else
where that could be done even
better by war veterans, could
be sent to the recruiting SER
geants.
Some OF the jobs that have
been cooked up under the guise
OF war work are unnecessary 10
say the least, but allowing that
they are all essential, l do not
think they should be permitted
10 harbor service eligibles when
It is possible 10 fill all the places
with competent veterans.
The American Legion, which
so far has been overlooked as
an organization in this war.
could supply the veterans from
It's membership. In saying il has
been overlooked, l mean that
the government does not seem
10 appreciate the potentialities
Of the Legion as a civilian de-
tense force, taking il as a BODY.
or course. l realize that all
my squawking is going 10 get
me nowhere. The old blokes
Will register. per instructions,
and M y subsequently be in
vited TO little light duty,
though I doubt it.
Meantime, the kids will con-
tlnue on the clerical jobs, per-