Evening star., 1943-04-28
Press Club Hears
Soldiers Criticize
Morbid Curiosity
q. S. Wounded Held
Loafhe to Talk of
HozC They We're Hurt
By Frances Lide.

BY Frances Lfde.
A reminder that most, of Americas
war wounded have been through
terrible experiences and aren't in
terested in talking about them
was made by one of four soldiers
back from as many battle fronts
who were honor guests at luncheon
meeting yesterday at the Women's
National Press Club.
Pvt. Hardie E. Robbins, who saw
action in Fedala Harbor, told how
perfect strangers often come up to
the wounded and ask questions
which display morbid curiosity
rather than patriotic interest.
He appealed to the press to help
the public understand that to talk
about such personal matters is bad
mental hygiene both for the per-
sons injured and for those who ask
questions.
TT would be fine" suggested an
other guest, Corpl. A. Murray Sal
kin, "if such curiosity could be
changed into fuller realization of
what we're up against" Corpl. Sal
kin, who was with the Rangers in
England, went on the Dieppe raid
but received his injuries in Scotland.
He expressed the opinion that
with the exception of those with
sons, husbands, brothers or other
close relatives in the service, few
really and truly know that we are
at war"
I'VE are sitting here having a
pleasant afternoon-at least I am"
he remarked. And we don't know
who is dying right now"
The group yesterday also included
Pvt. Maurice A. Umans, who re-
ceived injuries on Guadalcanal and
Pfc. John Larson, who was in the
first invasion of North Africa and
returned home wearing the Silver
Star.
One Is From Baltimore.
The quartet made an interesting
cross section of Americas fighting
men. Pvt. Umans, who is Is, is
from New York and was in the ad-
vertising business before entering
the Army. Pvt. Larson, who is %
and from Baker, Greg, entered the
Army from school. Pvt. Robbins
of San Francisco Is 33 and formerly
was a teacher and musician, and
Corpl. Salkin, who was a salesman
in Baltimore, is Is. All wore the
Purple Heart.
In their informal remarks they
also gave a good picture of what
Americas fighting men think of
their enemies as well as the home
front.
Pvt. Umans and Pfc. Larson, who
made brief talks before the ques-
tion and answer period, evaluated
the japanese and Germans as
fighters from their respective ex-
periences.
Stories about the fanaticism of
the Japanese were corroborated by
Pvt. Umans, who recalled one occa-
sion in particular when the Japanese
had charged with bayonets, leading
the Americans to think that they
didn't have any equipment. Later" Z"
he said, I'VE found they had all
sorts of stuff"
Japs Like Combat.
Il wouldn't call the Japanese SOL
dier brave" he declared. He throws
his life away because he likes the
idea of personal combat. And a
man is not very good soldier If
he's a dead soldier.
In comparison, Pfc. Larson said
that the Germans aren't fanatical.
They are well-ti aimed fighters and
plenty tough" he continued. But
they don't go to extremes. I'd rather
fight them than the Japanese.
"As for the Italians" he added,
that's nice because they don't like
to fight"
Pfc. Larson spoke tersely of his
own experiences, declaring, Il got
there, got shot and came back"
Even with prompting he would give
little detail of the exploit for which
he received the Silver Star. There
was just job that had to be DONE"
he said, and I was handy to do it."
He emphasized, however, the CO.
operation of the Army and Navy
and continued: Our boys over there
are still doing a swell job. If every
body gets behind them, I think it
will be all right"
Describes Guadalcanal
Pvt. Umans, giving a graphic &C
count of the role the Army played
at Guadalcanal, remarked in con-
clusion. There's enough glory for
everybody, but people didn't know
much about the Army there and
that's what I wanted to tell you"
His regiment, he explained, was
the first Army unit to be brought
into Guadalcanal. Their job, he
continued, was to dig the Japs out
of the jungle.
"I think we came in to see how
the Army could do after the marines
had made such a wonderful record,
he remarked.
Recalling that the men had
canned rations when they went into
the Jungle, Pvt. Umans told how
they managed to really enjoy them.
When there wasn't any action, he
said, they would start talking about
the wonderful steaks they had back
home.
And we got so hungry the canned
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