Detroit evening times., 1942-07-16
Years Paw
After War
Approved
Ex-SoIdiers Bac ck Plan
4 as Fair Play TO Vet
BY DAMON RUNYON

NAPI. DANIEL j. SULLlV AN,
~ u. S. A., retired, of Tu-
junga, CAL, is one of the many
former army men who are eX-
pressing approval of my idea of
continuing the pay of the sol
diers and sailors in this war for
a year after honorable discharge.
Captain Sullivan was In the
army 80 years, serving in Cuba,
the Philippines, with Pershing
in Mexico and in the first World
War. He was assigned to the
high schools of Los Angeles until
he retired in 1924.
He agrees with my theory that
the payment of monthly sums to
the service men after discharge
would mean more TO them than
any bonus that might be paid
later on in a lump sum, recalling
that in only too many cases the
bonus money given the veterans
OF the last war soon slipped
through their fingers without
doing them much good.
1t has been suggested that the
pay increase given the service
men recently is designed in lieu
of any subsequent adjustment of
compensation, or bonus, but l
doubt that the boost will FORE
stall the demand and certainly
IL does not constitute a waiver.
The new pay is the highest ever
received by the service men Of
this government. yet il is poor
enough as against the return de-
manded.
IT is poor enough as against
the pay of the men in soft
noncombatant jobs of Washing
ton or those who have received
compissions through political
favoritism and without previous
service experience of any kind
who will probably not be called
on for any heavier duty than
wearing their uniforms. II is
dirt-poor as against the sacri-
flee demanded of millions of our
boys who will be serving in the
face of death in far-off lands.
/ have no patience whatever
with persons who say that be-
slowing cash on the service men
is putting premium on patri-
otism; generally, these are per-
sons who have never served and
never expect to serve the colors
and who probably consider the
donation of the rubber mats out
of their automobiles a supreme
sacrifice, if they have gone that
far.
DERHAPS some of them are
descendants of gentlemen
who paid big money TO substi-
tutes 10 take their places in the
ranks in the Civil War and thus
developed the theory that cash
can be a premium on patriotism.
If giving a man sufficient sal
ary TO guarantee the comfort
Of his loved ones at home and
afford him peace Of mind in
that respect as he offers his life
10 his country, is a premium. |
say let us have more premiums.
The most important individual
In the United States today is the
service man in the combat lines.
On him demends the present and
future safety Of all of us.
Nothing is too good for him
now and nothing is too good
for him after the bands stop
playing and the cheering dies
away. The saddest thing about
our wars in the past has been
the readiness of the people who
remained at home TO forget our
soldiers and sailors after the
fighting ended.
Johnny has always come
- marching home 10 jobless.
ungrateful civilian world and a
period of mental confusion and
often poverty. l have twice seen
il happen that the former
service men were left more or
less stranded in despair because
of difficulty in readjusting
themselves 10 civil life. and
that is a situation ! would not
care to see again.
/ believe the possibility can
be eliminated by continuing the
pay OF the men for a year after
their honorable discharge in
this war; Not all of them would
accept. Of course. because not
all of them will be confronted
by the same conditions.
Many will slip back into their
former places without difficulty,
but the great ma iorit' - -
at loose ends and with no idea
of where to turn and il is these
that / think should be placed in
a position TO reflect while they
decide what to do.
Copyright 1912. by King Features
Distributed by International News Service