The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-31
By DOUGLAS LARSEN

Ft. Bragg, N. C., July 31-(NEA The rigors of civilian life are forcing thousands of veterans back into the Army and making it's shelt- cred life mighty attractive to new enlistees.
 This, more than the Army's new increase in pay, is responsible for the current success of its recruit ing program. This report is based on recent interviews with scores of men at induction and reception centers in seven of the nations largest military reservations.
 Whether this spurt in recruiting will materially help the Army's drastic manpower shortage isn't known yet. It is too soon for the figures to be gathered from all over the country and it isn't known how long the influx will last.
 Not Enough Money
 The typical reason for wanting to get back in the Army came from a corporal who had been sweating out discharge here for several months after coming back from overseas. He had only been out a short time when he showed up in the office of his surprised former commanding officer He said:
 Please let me back in, sir, I've been out four days, spent $500 and had to come back to the post to buy beer"
 It's the same story with slight notifications from most of the re- enlisteeS. A private came back after being out for three months. He said.
 T was making S35 week when was drafted. I got my old job back at the same salary when I got out. That was fair money be- fore. Now it doesn't mean a thing l just couldn't get along on it. And new jobs were hard to get. I hope things will be. strengthened out in couple of years. know I'll eat in the Army"
 Has Plenty to Offer
 Heres the typical attitude of a Air Base, sc:
 "A young fellow can't get a job that pays enough money to live on. let alone get married, l plan to get married now that l am in and my wife can get her aIot- ment. After three years, things should be better outside and under the GI Bill of Rights I can go to college.
 hn -F I3-n ha1,, installations revealed that Army life today isn't what it was during the war The purse strings of the War Department are being pulled tighter and it is even being felt by the enlisted man. Most of the troops are still housed in the thouSands of temporary barracks which mushroomed al lover the nation at the start of the war Only built to be used for four years, they are in bad shape. Roofs leak. the plumbing is going bad, and as the result of the rugged GI use given them during the war they aren't very liEable.
 Maj.-Gen. James M. Gavin, com manding general of the famed 82d Airborne Division now station ed here said:
 If We expect to get and keep good men in the Army we've got to give them decent places to live flrst. The barracks they're in now just aren't fit. We must provide them good comfortable day rooms and plenty of recreation facih- ties"
 Some of Gavin's officers have used their own money to buy paint for their mems barracks.
 Old Routine Returns
 There is a brighter side for the officers stationed at the old perma- nent posts, however. There has been a rather rapid return to the old graceful Army social existence. Most posts are operating five days 8 week, with Wednesday after moons of. The swimming pools and golf courses are crowded.
 Morale among the officers and men varies greatly from post to post and among outfits. Many if the younger officers are on edge waiting for Congress to decide how many of them will be permitted to get permanent commissions The older officers are uneasy waiting to see if the trend toward letting the Army sink to its decadence of the sos will continue.
 Both the men and officers are angered by the sudden change of