Evening star., 1946-02-11
Eisenhower Urges
Disabled Veterans 10
Fight Causes Of War

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Army
Chief of Staff, yesterday urged
group of disabled veterans. who
best understand the terrible alterna-
tive" to work for a safe, enduring
and democratic peace.
He made his plea for peace to
36 national service officer trainees,
graduating from special course at
American University to teach them
to work among their fellow disabled.
Among those he addressed as
comrades in arms" were a young
veteran with one leg who marched
on crutches to get his diploma, an
other with shell fragments still
lodged in his heart: others who have
lost sight and hearing in the war.
Gen. Eisenhower spoke after Irv-
ing Peltz of Brooklyn, who lost a
leg, an arm and an eye on the
Anzio beachhead, read the scripture
lesson beginning BE strong and of
good courage 9" and John
Goelz Of Ohio, who lost his hearing
in a plane explosion in the South
Pacific. said in valedictory that dis
abled men are not useless"
Must Eliminate Suspicion.
Calling for leadership from the
disabled, Gen. Eisenhower told the
graduates that the visible evidence
of their physical suffering makes
you also marked men in the auto
matte respect and dignity that will
be accorded your words by others
who have not undergone the trials
of the battlefield" He said people
will listen to them because all the
world acknowledges the dignity of
sacrifice.
In discussing the problems of OBJ
tanning a permanent peace, Gen.
Eisenhower said, I'VE must deal with
those who do not understand us,
just as we do not fully understand
them. We must work with those
who view our motives with suspicion
as we may sometimes be suspicious
of their intent. To achieve true
concert of action, these suspicious
must be eliminated"
He warned, however, that until
the world is ready completely. to
repudiate force in settling interna-
tional difficulties, this country must
have strong forces, must feel secure
or else fear will warp our own
judgment and reduce our influence
to futility."
AS the certainty of security de-
velops, he added, this country-like
all the others-must keep in step
so that a diminishing portion OF
our labor and our wealth will be
devoted to security organizations
and their essentially negative pur-
poses"
Urges Fight on Indifference.
He urged the graduates to fight
indifference, blind complacency and
sheer selfish laziness that more than
once have permitted war to burst
on u.s."
Gen. Omar N. Bradley, veterans
administrator, who spoke briefly, told
the graduates the problems of vet
Grams were twofold. The immedi-
ate problem, he said, was to help
them readjust to civilian life. The
problem that will continue for many
years, he added, involves taking care
of the sick and disabled.
Among those congratulated by the
two generals were Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Stevens, who met and mar
ried while taking the course. The
two will be assigned to San Fran
cisco to continue their studies to-
gether.
Only Washington veteran in the
group was former Staff Sergt. Jo-
seph M. O'Connell. 16 Buchanan
street NE, who holds the Purple
Heart and the Silver Star for action
in Normandy. One of five brothers in
the service, the former sergeant will
continue his training as a national
service officer in Boston. Mass.
The graduation exercises held atI
the Metropolitan Memorial Church,
were followed by reception at the
home of American University's pres
ident, Dr.. Paul Douglass.