Evening star., 1945-09-14
Service Point System r
Defended by Observer
Veterans Can't All Go Home in
Few Months, He Contends
By Dapid Laurence

0p D1pJd Laurence
Although the authors OF the various
point systems used for discharges from
the Army. Navy and Marine Corps may
wish to conceal their identity for
while, judging by the rump,s that has
developed throughout the armed serv-
ices, the fact of the matter Is that
there Is much TO be said In behalf Of
each system.
What the average servicemsn who
Is restlessly awaiting discharge doesn't
know is that none OF the point systems
devised was designed TO allow every
body to go home at once or in a few
months. 1t was developed primarily TO
enable certain outflow Of veterans and
the retention OF enough personnel to
do the necessary jobs OF occupation and
patrol in enemy countries.
1t takes time to broadcast informa-
tion In explanation OF any public policy
and there just hasn't been time enough
since VI day TO disseminate through
the armed services all the reasons why
the point system has TO be carried out
In the manner specified
Take, for instance, the Navy There
has been a wide clamor to the effect
that credits should have been given for
overseas service. But it SO happens that
81 per cent of the total naval personnel
are classed as having performed over
seas duty. There wouldn't be much
sense In adding overseas credits and
then increasing the total score, for If
that had been done, the result would
not have caused the earlier discharge
of many more Navy men, though 1t
might have removed one source of pro-
test
Battle Star Credits.
Then there is the claim that battle
star credits should be given for the
Navy personnel just as Is the case with
the Army. But the Navy doesn't have
q record here Of all the individuals
who would be entitled to battle stars.
In fact, only now are the records being
In which battles. The Navy high COM
mand and area commanders have been
too busy fighting the war to write an
individual history Of the achievements
OF each man. The Army could keep
such records because its personnel were
in fixed positions for longer intervals
But if battle stars were to be counted,
wears battle star just because his
ship happened to be in the vicinity of
an engagement but many hundreds Of
miles away? And If this is a proper
award, what shall be said of the men
on the supply ships back of the fighting
zones without whom the battles could
not have been won? And what Of the
pilots in the Navy transport services who
few tens of thousands of miles back
and forth across the Pacific but never
engaged in combat? They don't wear
battle stars but they played vital
role in the communications system that
made victory possible.
The more the question of battle stars
and credits for them is studied, the
more complex the problem becomes.
especially for the Navy. The Marine
Corps for once pulled itself quietly out
OF the Navy family and decided to use
the Army system Of IS points.
Some Have to Remain.
As for the total scores for each serv-
ice, they are to be reduced as soon as
practicable. Present plans call for dis
charges within the next IL to l8 months
of nearly everybody in all services who
wants to be discharged. But somebody
has to remain in the Army to occupy
the enemy countries and maintain or
der and assure the victory. Somebody
has to work in the Army service forces,
for example, in this country cooking
food, washing laundry, operating trucks
and transport vehicles as large units
are moved back from the Pacific or from
this country to replace those overseas.
The Army cannot be disbanded over
night. AL the usual service and supply
activities have to be maintained, and
that takes personnel.
Doubtless experts among the person.
mel of all armed services could have
devised better system but such ex-
perts might never have realized the re.
sponsibility. for instance, that the cap.
tain OF cruiser or battleship would
have if he suddenly had to release his
chief engineer and assistants, his navi-
eating officer and all his cooks Just be-
cause some one back in Washington de-
vised a point system that required their
immediate release.
There has to be transition period
and 1T takes time to work out individual
cases. There will be isolated instances
of hardship due to delays that might
have been avoided, but with nearly H.
900 900 men in the armed forces and
with volunteer system for replace
ments and training not yet fully in op-
Grafton, patience is more than ever
needed by the parents of servicemen as
we'll as the veterans themselves.
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