The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-05-10

the regulations governing the dis
charge, promotion and transfer of
men and women in the Armed
Forces.
Pointing out that people frequent
ly write to members of Congress
asking them to use their influence in
assisting some member of the
Armed Forces to obtain a promotion,
transfer, or a discharge, the Sena-
tor explained that should a member
of Congress endeavour to use his
influence in such matters, it would
hurt, rather than help the member
of the Armed Force concerned.
The text of the Senator's address
follows:
First, Let me tell those who do
not know, that there is only one
way that soldier or sailor can be
discharged from the armed forces.
The Army and Navy have laid down
the firm rule that the service man
must apply himself for his own dis
charge in writing, giving his reasons
why he should be discharged and
supporting his application for dis
charge with any affidavits or other
written matter he may care to tend
er. Whether it be a hardship case
necessitating his return, a case of
death, or even serious sickness in
his family, or whatever the condi-
tions may be the service men must
make the application themselves
and support that application, where
possible, with affidavits, from pers-
ons who can substantiate the facts
presented as reasons for his dis
charge.
''This is also true of men who feel
they have such physical disabilities
that they are unable to render mill
tary service. This group, also, must
personally file an application for
medical examination looking to dis
charge. In no case can it be granted
otherwise.
''The same applies to transfers
from one post to another which men
in the services may want to obtain.
The man himself has to apply for
the transfer.
$50, in cases of both discharge
from the service and of transfers
from one post to another in the
service, the soldier or sailor him
self must make the request and send
it through military channels for APP
proval.
''In spite of widespread opinion
to the contrary, letters from mem
bers of Congress requesting either
transfer or discharge from the serv-
ice are frowned upon by the mill
tary and naval authorities They do
no good-they do not help to obtain
either the transfer, or discharge for
the service man, and, in many cases,
actually act as a bar to transfers
and discharge. In some cases SOL
diers and sailors have been court
martialed for attempting to use po-
litical influence, or because their
families have attempted to use po-
litical influence to obtain transfers
or discharges for them.
In the case of promotions sought
to be obtained by political inter
ference, the rule is even more strict.
The Surest way to stop service
man from getting a promotion is to
have some member of Congress
write to his commanding officer.
Such letters from Congressman only
hurt the chances of the service man
to get whatever he desires.
have tried to explain this humid
reds of times in letters and personal
interviews to persons who have
come to me to get transfers for
their sons, or to get discharges for
their sons, or to get promotions for
their sons. Nevertheless, the opinion
seems to prevail in some quarters
that, in spite of all the history of
such matters, letters from Senators
and Congressman for promotions,
transfers, or discharges are helpful.
Let me assure you just the opposite
is the case.
eff people could get their sons
transferred by political influence,
then Congressional offices would be
deluged with hundreds, yes, thous-
ands, of requests for such transfers.
This is SO for the reason that most
families want their sons stationed
at some post near them, wherever
it is possible. With twelve million
men in the Army and Navy, it is
apparent at once that if politics get
into the services in the fashion
have indicated, the whole place
would be demoralized. Both at home
and abroad Army and Navy COM
manders would be deluged by humid
reds of letters a week asking that