The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-02
Fair Enough
By WESTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1945, by King Features Syndics

BY WESTBkOOK PEGLEh
Copyright, 1945, by King Features syndicate.)
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. l. - Far be it
from me to throw down a story or pump one
| I'D. But this report on those unfortunate but
by no means unanimously wretched young
men who lost arms or legs or combinations OIL
both in the war will moderate shocking esti-
mate given some of us recently by Eddie Rick
enbacker of the number so manned and need
ing sympathetic consideration from employ
ers when they leave the hospitals to earn
their way.
At luncheon party of banshees, Ricker-
hacker said there were more than $4,000 OF
these patients and put the plausible and gen
orally feasible proposal that employers espec-
tally stout companies, find pleasant, interest
ing work for them in which they could serve
with inner knowledge that they were pulling
their weight and fully earning their salaries.
He said his airline, the Eastern, was absorb
ing few and suggested that there wer e
enough substantial and permanent companies,
as permanence goes in business to employ
them all in positions of dignity as long as they
might care to stay.
However, General Omar Bradley, the ad-
ministrator of the Veterans Administration,
was instantly skeptical of Rickenbacker's fig
ure of 10000 and Tipping a lever on black
talking-box on his desk, addressed a question
to a voice which answered
How many amputees were there, General
Bradley wanted to know, restoring to ghast-
ly form that has given us, ALSO trainees, dis
charges and retirees, the last being pension
ers, good-enough and valid word for them
which has served its purpose down to now
without provoking shudders.
In two minutes the voice from the box told
General Bradley there were $4,000 such pa.
tents from the Army and 1000 from the Navy.
Nor was the General impetuously in favor OF
Rickenbacker's plan, taking the view, as ]
understood him, that they are remarkably Opt.
mistic men on the whole, preferring not to be
distinguished from other wounded men carry
ing on with equal if less obvious imparments
In more than just many words, he convey
ed belief that there was in Rickenbacker' S
well-meant plan an element of mistaken kind
ness which would keep these men constantly
reminded that they are special or different
whereas there are ever so many normal jobs,
especially those calling for intelligence, in
which they may serve as well as any others,
rather objecting to special patience.
His gentle rebuff recalled Lord Nelson who
lacked an arm and an eye as we'll, man
whose name I disrecall who had no arms at
all and was said to shoot better golf than most
Of us with the handle tucked underneath his
chin some IS years. and the two ir@lomitables,
Pete Gary, of the Browns with only one ARM
and Lieut.. Bert Shepard, late of the Arizona
Texas league, who, at any rate, had the gunp-
ton to challenge the major leagues this year
Lieut. Shepard was shot down near Berlin in
1914 and came home with one leg gone below
the knee but the baseball news last spring re-
ported that he had practiced with the Wash
ington club and thought good artificial leg
would give him enough get-around to run bas-
es and field position, as who knows but it
might in some leagues, although hardly in the
majors.
Bruce Barton's daughter, Betsy beauti-
full girl, it it's any of your business, wrote a
book last year out of long suffering, disappoint-
ment and powerful courage, called. "Now
Live Again." which think should be spiritual
ly helpful to many of these IA, 900 men.
Betsy was paralyzed by spinal injury in
an automobile accident more than 10 years
ago, since which time she had been lied to by
friends with cheerio platitudes that came from
the heart not the mind, and victinized by
quacks who came in when the doctors had
failed. 1t would be futile to attempt to para.
phrase her story of the cure. wrought within
herself, the physical result of which has been
that now she goes alone about New York, even
riding the buses, and emancipated herself
from sympathy and help. Her case was more
trying than any but the worst casualties of
the war and yet today some among those who
love her draw comfort from Betsy in our own
exaggerated anxieties and fears.
wi
friend, Bill Gibson, who lost leg in the other
war and yet became professional tap dancer,
and friend Of mine who last year lost his
right arm at the shoulder, a redoubtable in
ventor and gadgeteer, again flies and builds
planes for sale and has promised himself an
arm or, as he says, reasonable facsimile
thereof, by which to accompany himself on his
mandolin as he sings ribald songs, like radio
cowboy, through his nose
General Bradley looks mainly to such as
him, ingenious men with a personal interest,
to invent better artificial limbs and tells of a
soldier who lost both arms in the other war
who lately tried new one on his left arm and
became left-handed that late in life because
it was so much better than his old-fashioned
right.
Those who have observed the dreadful sui.
fering of friends so hurt know that we cannot
imagine their agonies while the wounds and
| nerves are healing. But General Bradley know
hundreds of soldier patients, is heartened for
them by their optimism and foresees most
Of them, after training, valuable, confident
competent men.
And it was ~ though the voice from the
talking box had suddenly made whole $4,000
more victims