Evening star., 1943-01-28
Place in War Effort
For Handicapped
Workers Found
Blind Radio Techniciun,
18, Works on Planes
To Keep EN- Flying

A blind radio technician and a
one armed painter employed here
represent working, heartening proof
that the physically handicapped are
being used by the Federal Govern
ment to ease the critical manpower
shortage.
Both represent, too, victory over
a physically handicapped persons
toughest obstacle to perfection in
any occupation aff1iction since
birth or childhood.
Irwin HershowitZ, blind for all 18
years of his life, does his compe-
tent bit for the war effort as
civilian radio technician at Boiling
Field. Victor E. Sharar, painter
employed at Walter Reed Hospital.
has been without the use of one
of his arms for all but six of his
4s years. 81
Irwin is the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry Hershowitz of 4120 Nine
teenth street NE. A ponderous fel-
low in size, Irwin has the sensitive
fingers Of the blind.
Graduate Of Mckinley.
He attended the Maryland School
for the Blind in Baltimore and later
was graduated from Mckinley High
School here, where he kept pace
with and topped many Of his school
mates by his amazing memory. He
learned to type and answered most
oral examination questions by this
method.
1t still amazes his fellow workers
at Boiling Field to see Irwin work on
a radio. His fingers find compli-
Gated wires and tubes with the ex-
pertness of a concert pianist play
ing a difficult score.
Twins interest in radio began
when he attended school in Mary
land. There he played around"
with small sets under the guidance
of q teacher who was a ham"
The instructor read instructions to
him while Twins nimble fingers
learned" the mechanism.
Irwin soon could dismantle and
put together the average home radio
set. He thought he should be in
the Army Specialist Corps. The
Army, though, thought Irwin was
too young.
Boss Is Skeptical.
Desiring to do something to help
the war effort, Irwin finally became
an apprentice radio technician at
81 080 year.
Naturally" says Christopher G.
King, assistant foreman, Il was a
bit skeptical about Twins ability to
hold down job at Boiling Field
Aircraft radio is a long way from
the family set, and we can't af-
ford to make mistakes. The trans
mitters and receivers must be let
ter-perfect for the ships, and I don't
mind admitting now I was dubious
about the boys ability to stay in
fast company.
But I found Irwin not only
could tune a tranSmitter but could
do the job better than any one in
the shop because of his amazing
sense of sound"
That was last September Since
then young Hershowltz has been
raised to $1,000 year and soon will
be eligible for another increase.
Forty-tWo years ago, when Mr.
Sharar was a child of 6, he was
playing tag" with other youngsters
near the railroad tracks in Will
Transport Md. He slipped off the
depot platform and under the
wheels of freight train, losing his
! right arm just above the elbow.
Took Up Painting Early.
Determined to make his own way,
Mr.. Sharar learned to paint at the
age of IL Except for a short period,
he has been a painter since he was
l6. He has worked all over the
country, including the Grand Coulee
| Dam.
He has worked at Walter Reed
! for about three years, and his fore
man. Roy C. Gordy, says "he is bet
ter than most men who have full
use of both their arms
He has a son, Victor, jr., q, who is
stationed al Fort Worth, Tex, as
an air cadet, and a daughter. Alice
IL. Besides contributing through
| his job to the war effort, Mr.. Sharar
manages to buy two $25 War bonds
! a month.
Men who hold a gun in their two
hands need TO be helped, too," he
said.