The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-12-27
Best Doctors for Veterans
Is Promise of General Bradley

111 O1u uOIle tOWu Is LQe emo OF
L the road for the soldier who has
come back to be a civilian. and his
rehabilitation depends largely on
how the home folks treat him. That,
in substance, is the view of 1t. Gen.
Omar ". Bradley, head of the Vet
erans' administration.
When he addressed the 9th annu-
al convention Of the American Le-
gion in Chicago recently. General
Bradley pointed out that America
had to make good on her promise 10
veterans. Until they have been re-
stored to health and are back on
their jobs, the war is not ended.
After World War I I'VE saw the
banners of welcome fade" General
Bradley recalled. But if the home
folks do their part, he envisioned a
"healthy national future" with
Americas "enterprising and imag-
NATIVE youth" the ex-G.I.s, as it's
bulwark.
THE veteran is not a problem,
but we can make him one," Gen.
eral Bradley told the Legion dele
gates. as he outlined jobs and COM
munity attitude as two factors in re-
facilitating the ex-service man Of
World War II. Whether he is shown
gratitude or is ignored will make
the difference.
General Bradley asked Legion
support-and community support
for six major detectives in legisla-
ton sought by the Veterans admin
%istration. He listed them as:
1. Competent doctors, ade-
quately paid.
2. Promotion of doctors on
their ability to perform services.
3. Retirement for doctors who
serve the Veterans administra-
ton.
4. Hiring of resident physi-
clans to aid in veterans hospit-
ais when they are understaffed.
S. Postgraduate courses for
all VA doctors.
6. Development and procure
ment of specialists, to be given
higher pay than other doctors.
General Bradley wants enough
hospitals. fully stated, to give the
veterans 1.-The best care available,
equal to any the rich can buy.
Also. he wants the hospitals locat-
ed near medical centers where doc
tors and specialists can be found.
not in out-of-the-way places that will
not attract competent personnel. He
would locate hospitals, especially
smaller ones, right at the veterans
door, for emergency cases.
The administration may take over
some of the go U. S. army hospitals
now declared excess, General Brad
ley stated. but he pointed out that
most OF them are of temporary con-
struction, are not fire-proof, are at
isolated camps far from medical
centers, and should be used only as
stop-gaps in the program.
The general considers the building
Of proper hospitals as a part of the
cost of winning the war, just as
guns and planes were part of the
cost. Also, these hospitals should
De located where the veteran needs
them, and not where some commu-
atty wants a hospital built!
There are four million veterans If
World War I who are eligible for vet
erans' disqualification, and to this
may be added another IS million
from World War II who are return
ing home at the rate of about d
million a month. Thus, the Vcter-
ans administration is faced with
the job Of providing adequate hos
pital facilities for 10 million veter-
ans.
And we've got only two years to
10 it," General Bradley declared.
Washington can't do the job alone,
ne told the Legionnaires. The home