Evening star., 1943-04-11
1Ob'PrOblem
Machinery Functioning
to Give Veterans Work
Continued From Page B-l.)

right back in their own towns, or in
other places they may care to go to-,
there are re employment committee
men, associated with the local draft
boards to help guide them.
Ever since Pearl Harbor, the Office of
Education has been engaged in voca-
tional rehabilitation training of all dis
charged, disabled veterans of the pres
ent war, whether their disability is serv-
ice-connected or otherwise
Approximately 5000 such cases had
applied for training at the last report
Here's sample of the sort of thing
the office does:
A 30-year-old man lost one eye after
serving as flying engineer with the
American voluntary group in China
After a complete eye examination, he
was fitted with shatterproof goggles and
was placed as a service man with a big
aircraft company.
Under a measure signed recently by
the President, the Veterans Administra-
ton hereafter will administer the train
ing of men whose disabilities are service
connected
The program provides compensation
amounting to between $50 and $1O0 a
month for such qualified veterans during
the training period, which may last as
long as four years. Provision is made
both for men and women.
Veterans Administration officials who
now are organizing the program in detail
say these steps will be taken:
l. Making contact with eligible vet
Grams and deciding with them what kind
of training they want and need;
2. Selecting place of training, rang
ing from a shop or mill to a school or
even university;
3. Supervising the training and watch
Ing the trainee so that if he breaks
down, medical treatment can be given;
4. Helping the veteran find employ
ment when he is ready.
For disabled veterans who are unable
to work, facilities in veterans hospitals
are provided
Office of Education Active.
The Office of Education still has with
In its scope the rehabilitation training
Of all others whose disabilities might
prevent them from getting job or hold
Ing one-veterans with non- service con-
nected disabilities, merchant sailors and
industrial and civilian defense workers.
Terry c. Foster, research agent for the
vocational rehabilitation division, says
civilian defense activities already have
placed number of persons on the dis
abled list.
The number is not large as yet" Fos-
ter says, but the danger is always pres
ent. For example, we have one person
on our lists who lost an eye when he ran
into fence during a blackout, and an
other who had both legs broken when
struck by an automobile during an air.
raid test"
He said that accidents in war indus
try have increased the responsibilities
of the Office in aiding the disabled
Last year, Foster said, the Office of
Education rehabilitated 25,6OO persons
Of various classifications, and attempts
will be made this year to rehabilitate
$4,000. Training is provided in agricul-
tural. industrial, commercial, profess
sional, skilled and unskilled occupations.
The Navy began the job hunt for dis
abled sailors many months ago by con-
tacting private industry direct, partic-
ularly aircraft manufacturing plants.
Many Respond to Appeal.
A large number of firms have re-
sponded to the Navy's appeal, and let
tiers from the manufacturers are being
turned over to the United States EN-
ployment Service for the actual con-
tacting.
One aircraft manufacturer wrote:
I'VE not only need men, but are more
than anxious to offer employment to
those who have served in the Navy"
Meanwhile. the Federal Government
and a number of States are studying
means OF providing large-scale job prof.
ects to take care of great numbers of
returning veterans In hurry after the
war.
The Federal Works Agency and the
National Resources Planning Board
some time ago sent 500 engineers and
other experts to help States and cities
prepare long-range plans. Detroit, for
example, had some street-paving prof.
ects in mind, Alabama was considering
a series Of State ofice buildings, Dallas
was planning an auditorium.
Federal Budget Director Harold D.
Smith, one of the leaders of the move
ment, says he hopes that consistent ac-
ton by all governments Federal, State
and local-"vill successfully cni,nters IT
the forces of unemployment and defia-
ton In the post-defense period"