Evening star., 1945-10-14
Veterans Keep Red Cross
Busy Solving Problems
Bv Ruth Dean

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istration to review his case, in which 1t
appeared he should receive higher pen
sion, he was anxiously awaiting the de-
layed receipt of his second mastering
out pay.
Through the United States Employ
ment Service, he had been placed on
three successive jobs and remained with
none, because Of the condition of his
hand. After being referred to the Un-
employment Compensation Office, where
he learned his case would be delayed, his
patience gave way to desperation, and
in an overwrought and disillusioned
frame of mind, he turned to Home Serv-
ice. He was hungry, he had no place to
sleep and he had no money-what was
he to do. A case worker was assigned
to him and he was assured that the Red
Cross would plan with him for what he
needed in the way Of financial assistance
for room and meals until some of his
Government benefits came through or he
found job
Home Service has also been con-
fronted with many problems which its
services cannot meet, but which it has
been able to refer to the right agencies.
For example, an Army family which
just recently had been freed from a
japanese internment camp in the Phil
ippines, where they had been stationed
before the war, came to Home Service
with nothing more than the few per-
sonal belongings they had and requested
Home Services assistance in finding
them house. Home Service had to
refer them to a Government housing
agency, but helped in every other way
possible to secure them the essentials
OF living until proper adjustment in
the family allowance had been made.
One OF the most typical problems
confronting Home Service workers Is
that of the younger veteran with no
prewar record of consistent work ex-
perlence, going home to new experiences
and responsibilities. The change frem
life filled with danger, excitement.
obedience to commands, friendship and
esprit de corps" to one of individual
responsibility and decision where life
by contrast seems duly monotonous, is
often too big gap for the young vet
eran to face. Home Service workers
realize that if it took a year to make
a soldier out of civilian, it takes Just
as long for the veteran to find his way
back again, and they do all they can
to make this way easier.
Finding Jobs
Often the veteran will disguise this
bewildered state of mind under other
causes. In one case disabled veteran
refused the pleas of an anxious family
to return home because of his disfigure-
ment. After discussing his case with
him, a Home Service case worker dis
covered that the real reason for his
refusal to return was not his disability
but his dread of assuming new RESPONSE
hilities and fear of not finding Job
fitting his capabilities.
The veteran had studied to be an
architect, but as jobs had been scarce
during the depression, he had not had
any consistent work. The field worker
took his case in hand, solicited his
family's cooperation in understanding
the problem and contacted local
oASAiAeSSot&1a al Al Ill WIAlClk WuS dbiC W
place him in branch Office In his
home town. This was an unusual case.
however A majority of the time Home
Service will send the veteran to see a
veterans representative at the United
States Employment Office. who will
counsel him in the choice of job
fitting his abilities.
Home Services primary work still goes
on-carrying messages from families at
i home to loved ones on the faf-numg
battle fronts of the world. rsunitlng
family ties, Fastening news from newly
, liberated prisoners of war to anxious
relatives, but more and more, the bigger
Job Is with those who are trying to make
the adjustment back to normal livina
; in . war-scarred world.