Evening star., 1945-08-05
New Governor Plans Postwar Days at Soldiers Home
BY Joseph H. Baird.

diers' Home, Maj. Gen. Howard K.
Loughry, arrived recently to assume
his duties, one of his first moves was to
establish friendly relationship with
its members. AS the home is organized
an inspection of barracks" to meet the
men.
In one of the first dormitories he en-
tered, he encountered a grey-haired
veteran, and, extending his hand, in
troduced himself by saying:
I'm Gen. Loughry, the new gov
ernor"
The old soldier looked him over but
made no reply. Some: one standing
nearby whispered to the general that
the oldster was hard OF hearing. So,
in louder voice, he began again:
I'm Gen. Loughry, the new gov
ernor'
This time he had reply In calm
voice indicating that new governors
were an old story to him, the aged
veteran observed:
Eyes. I heard you. I've been here a
long time. Seen three governors die"
His Mind Is Full Plans
Gen. Loughry considers that a good
joke on himself But the 63-year-old
veterans of some A years in the Reg
ular Army who recently retired as chief
of finance in the War Department is
giving little thought just now to dying
Instead, his mind Is full of plans and
projects for enlarging the facilities of
the home against the postwar days
when hundreds of additional veterans
will seek admission to its large, airy
rooms, ample board and peaceful estate
like atmosphere.
A recent War Department civil func-
tions bill included an appropriation of
$45,000 to prepare plans and specifica-
tions for $4,000 000-plus building pro-
gram which will be carried out at the
Soldiers Home as soon as labor and
materials are available and funds are
appropriated by the Congress.
Gen. Loughry and the Board of Com
missioners who control the home expect
great increase in applications as soon
as the war is over. Although it is open
only to veterans of the Regular Army
not draftees or even wartime volunteers
in the Army of the United States-it is
expected that many of the former will
seek its shelter, after Japan's doom has
been sealed, under one of the two pro-
visions governing entry. It's doors are
open to any honorably discharged Reg
ular Army man, regardless of age or
physical condition, who has served 20
years with the colors; or to any others
who, no matter what their length of
service:
/. Are incapable of earning their own
livelihood by reasons of disease or wounds
incurred in the military service of the
United States, in line of duty and not
as the result of their own misconduct.
2. Or have served during any war or
military operation in which their lives
were haZarded or who have contributed,
except through fines or forfeitures, to
the support of the United States Sol
diers' Home, and who, by reason of
wounds, sickness, old age, or other dis
ability incurred after enlistment or ag-
gravated by military service, are unable
to earn their own livelihood
The New Governor
But, before considering the home
further, take look at the new gov
ernor:
Gen. Loughry is thick-set man with
a tanned complexion and a ready
smile. As he sits in the governors Of
flee at the home today, he is still in
major general on his collar. He is now
on terminal leave and is technically an
active officer, but will go on the re-
tired list next September when he will
don civilian clothes regularly for the
first time in four decades.
Until last month he rode herd on the
multi-million details which center in
the Office of the Armys chief of finance
during a global war in which some g.
100000 American soldiers must be paid
and provisioned. Then, in view of his
imminent retirement in the fall, Presi-
dent Truman, upon the recommended
tion of the homes Board of Commis-
sioners and the Secretary of War
named him to succeed the late governor,
Maj. Gen. Frederick w. Coleman, who
died last January. Gen. Coleman, Incl
dentally, also had served as chief Of
finance before assuming the governor
ship.
From the Ranks
An Indianan by birth-he was born
in Monticello on March 81, 18S2-Gen.
Loughry's first taste of Army life was
as an enlisted man. 1t is fortunate that
he has this background, for the men
who are his responsibility today are all
from the ranks. Of1icers are not eligi-
BILE for the home. He served during the
Spanish American War as a private,
later corporal, of the 161st Indiana Vol
unteerS.
After the war, however, he obtained an
appointment to West Point and gradu-
ated in the class of 1906. One of his,
classmates was Maj Gen. Jonathan M.
Wainwright, who made the famous
last stand at Corregidor and is now
prisoner of the japanese.
Gen. Loughry, too, served in the
Philippines, going there first as young
lieutenant of infantry in 1907 and serv-
ing second tour of duty from 1888 to
1885.
His peacetime career was much like
that of any Regular Army offcer-a
series of prosaic assignments to various
posts. He transferred in 1907 from the
infantry to the Coast Artillery Corps.
The World War brought plenty of &C.