Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-12-05
horrible Neglect of War Wounded
Barred in Congress by Legion Chief
Grim Report
bYAtherton
Hits Red Tape
Nv DAVID CAMELON
snse,sl n THF DETROIT TiMEs

Special % TAI DETROIT liNfs
WASHINGTON. Dec. A sol
der blinded in action, left PENN
less for months with only eternal
darkness 20 comfort him
Heroic veterans nerves snapped
and raw from the he'll Of war
tossed into the imprisonment OF
sSylums
A veteran discharged in March
with active tuberculosis, still
waiting for help from his govern
ment
Those are only some Of the
cases submitted to Congress to-
day by National Commander
Warren II. Atherton Of the Amer
lean Legion 10 ten me fVlI INC
of the neglect. delays and red
tape which are making an un'
wanted battalion Of the sick and
wounded from Americas battles.
Worst Of all-are the delays,
when help should be immediate.
NEGLECT HORRORS CITED
In cold. dispassionate language,
Comdr. Atherton cited the record.
No names were used. but the hor-
ror Of neglect grows more shock
ING by the terse, compact reclta-
ton.
Here are some cases. typical
of thousands
Case /. In this claim the vet
eran served honorably in the
navy from March 4, 1892 10
Feb. s. 1888 He re-enlisted on
Nav 4, 1898, and was hon.
orably discharged on medical
certificate on account of active
tuberculosis, incurred IN line of
duty, on April 6. 1913.
The form 526 was received in
ar Office Of the Veterans Ad-
rlinistration on April n. 1913,
and II has not been adJucated.
as yet because complete rec
ords have not been received
from the navy.
Contact was made with the
adjudication officer about the
delay in this claim on Oct. p,
1913, and again on Nov. %, l943.
PLIGHT OF INSANE MAN
Case 2. This veteran was dis
charged insane, unable 10 sign
his discharge. Claim was filed
April II and we have not yet
been able 10 get this veteran
examined. While il is true that
the Veterans Administration
wrote to the sister and a service
officer, no letters were written
to either or any one in the
months of September and Oc-
tober.
Request was made for an at
tendant by this office on Aug. 2
and the Veterans Administra-
!. ton under date of Nov. 9, finally
- complied with this request and
wrote the veteran.
Case 3. This boy enlisted on
July -, 1910. and was declared
unfit for service on Jan. Is,
1913. with this notation:
Patient was struck In the
head while in combat against
the Japanese In Guadalcanal.
Penetrating wound right pari-
eto-occipital region produced by
grenade. Diagnosis, hemiplegia,
spastic, left"
BUREAU DELAYS TOLD
He was examined at a Veter-
ans Administration hospital and
claim was filed the same date.
He was rated 50 per cent dis
abled Oct 25. 1913, and advised
OF this rating on Nov. q. 1913,
with rating effective from July
5, 1943. Vocational rehabilita-
ton recommended.
Case 4. Claim was filed In
this case yulys3 The case file
: .',sets' gg5si .pxtstf iU' t2ntr5 fF;EfRi2, -
for consideration by the vet
Grams claim service on Oct. 6.
1913. One reason for the delay
IN this particular case is that
the veteran had claim pending
Tor officers retirement paw.
which had 10 be disposed of.
Case 5. This claimant was
discharged from the hospital
Aug. IS. 1913. and on Nov. II.
1913, an office Of the Veterans
Administration had 10 make a
second request OF the war de-
partment for a medical report.
lie was examined at a Veter.
ans Administration hospital and
some adjustment was made.
DECISION DEFERRED
Case s This claimant vas
discharged Aug Is, 1912. from
The Army Nurse Corps. and
claim was filed Feb. 4, 1919.
Reports from the adJutant gen
erals Office. for which requests
had been made several times.
were not received until The lat
ter part Of August. 1913. The
decision has been deferred IN
I'll completion of the requested
neuro psychIatriC examination
by the Veterans Administra-
ton.
Case :. This veteran was
discharged from service July
~. 1913, with a diagnosis Of