Evening star., 1946-03-02
ID. T.. Center Winning
Fame for SoIvinq
Veterans Problems

veterans Problems
A large slice of the problems facing
veterans is passing in daily review
at the Districts Veterans Informa-
tion Center, but there's new GER
tainty among eX-servicemen in
what they seek.
Gone is the confusion that marked
the early efforts of veterans to dis
cover what it was they wanted.
They have settled down now and
have had time to think" explained
Col Waldron E. Leonard, director of
the center. Mostly they know
what they want when they come
here and we get it for them, if it's
possible"
Many things are possible under
the present staff of 80 members.
A Chinese American soldier, wear
ing freshly stitched discharge in
sigma on his uniform, wanted to
know how he could return to China
to bring back his wife. He didn't
need to go there, explained Mrs.
Roma Wilhoit, 1923 Lanier place
NV, representing the American
Red Cross. immigration laws would
permit him to have the Army bring
her to this country He went out
beaming, his hands stuffed with
forms to be filled in triplicate to
get the request on its way through
Channels
Counseling for Ex-WAC.
A Puerto Rico veteran, discharged
by some miSchance in the United
States, wanted to get home. He had
been overseas two and half years.
He wanted to return to his wife and
child. An aide dialed a few num-
bers and arrangements were COM
plete for an Air Transport Com
mand ride back to Puerto Rico.
A young woman began to weep
as she told her problems. An ex-
WAC who married a soldier, she
was expecting a baby. Her hus-
band had left her. There had been
differences of religion, objections
by parents, she had more schooling
than her husband and wartime
glamor had spent itself. A social
agency promptly took her in hand
for counselling.
A brawny colored veteran had a
tale of woe. He was widow
man." he explained, and he was
having rough time forgetting the
girl he had met down South. He
kept thinking of her and couldn't
commemorate on his job; he had
lost one because of that Could he
get a loan to bring her to Wash
ington? A few moments later, he
walked out cheerfully, minus the
loan but determined to get a job
and save enough to pay her fare.
Check Solves Difficulty.
One youth had spent all his avail
able funds while waiting to be re-
instated in a Government job. He
was broke and lived in the Mid
die West. There was a long dis
cussion and finally he pulled out his
documents. The alert aide spied
a check book. Yes, he explained,
he had a checking account in a
bank back home but no one in
Washington would cash one for
him. 1t was cashed.
Among the hundreds of veterans
seeking assistance from the center,
few have problems more mundane
than that faced by any one in civil
ian life who has been away from
home for several years, at an age
when most youths are being initi-
ated to complex manhood.
Many needed copies made of their
discharge papers to qualify for Gov
ernment employment. One photostat
machine is in constant operation
and another is expected to arrive
next week. Many wanted typine
help to fill the numerous forms sc
essential for civilian existence
mostly in triplicate. And several
typists are available at the center
A young income tax expert from
the Bureau of Internal Revenue is
swamped with requests for as
sistance. The results are not al
ways gratifying to the veteran who
is faced with the prospect of paying
tax for several years. But the an
swers are given patiently and cour-
teously. "The toughest problem, u
he explained, sis for the veteran to
find out if his wife took credit fol-
his exemptions while he was away y
Seek Civil Service Jobs.
More than 200 requests for civil
service jobs have been made in the
past nine days from Mrs. Ruby
Gusack, a Civil Service Commits
sion representative. Many, she ex-
planned, are disappointed at the
low rating given by the commission
to veterans training in the Army
along personnel and administrative
lines. Many want to be parachut-
lists to fight forest fires, and tire
mendous" number are interested in
jobs having to do with airplanes
A majority, however, are finding
what they want, Mrs. Gusack said
Not all the problems come from
veterans of World War II. One TO
year-old woman wrote from Wich-
ita, Kans., that her husband, vet
eran of the Spanish-American War
had deserted her in 1885. She
wanted part of his pension so thai
she could be taken off relief rolls
Center officials believe she'll get it
Several hundred veterans of the
World War were dismissed from
their jobs at the Naval Gun Fac
tory here and wanted redress.
Numerous letters are received
daily by Col. Leonard from veterans
asking for information on small
business opportunities in Washing
ton. One wanted to set up ane
manage a small cinema house; an.
other wanted to open sporting
goods store; one was interested ir
setting up optician establishments
There was one Californian whit