Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-07-30
'Joey's' Patron Explains the Case

'Joey's' Patron Explains the Case
To the Editor of The Star:
Will you please publish this letter in re-
buttal to the statements of M. M. c., as ap-
pearing in the July n issue Of The Star?
The public should know the facts.
The action of Attorney General Clark was
in response to my request to admit Joey
Guerrero to the United States. 1t was taken
after mature elaboration and study, not only
of her heroic war record, but of the medical
aspects of the case, such as its communica-
bility and the lack of appropriate facilities
to administer adequate treatment in the
Philippines.
That the disease is remotely communicable
was stated over radio station WTOP on the pro-
gram I'VE the People" on July ~ in q broad
cast from the Carville Leprosarium where
Joey is undergoing treatment. AS a matter
Of fact it is so remote that none of the Ameri-
can soldiers she fed during the occupation,
that she led past mine fields into the Battle
Of Manila, and those she carried wounded, of
the battlefield has been known to have con-
tracted the disease.
The story of this remarkable woman has been
related from time to time in various ways, per-
haps the more noted of which is Forbes Mon
aghan's account in his book, Under the Red
Sun" But do not believe the full account has
ever been told at one recording except in War
Department documents.
AS my wife, recently deceased, and have
been devotedly interested in Joey and the cause
Of leprosy sufferers which Joey, thus afdicted,
espouses, I too am anxious that some active
funding be accomplished. To give you some
idea Of circumstances in the Philippine lepro-
saria, shall try to describe what we saw in the
Tala Leprosarium where joey was = patient.
Tala's Leper Colony.
Last June, while patient in the Tenth Cen
eral Hospital, in Manila, was approached by
1t. Ug0 Reinhaleter, doctor Of dentistry, and
Capt. Simmons, an Army nurse, to inquire what
could be done to obtain beds and other much
needed equipment for the leprosarium at Tala,
Novaliches. They described the work done by
Father A. L. Hofstee, who has dedicated his
lifes work to the lepers; and Of joey Guerrero,
who were fighting a courageous battle to ale
viate sufferings and to improve the physical
and moral standards of some TOO leprous pa
tients There were about rs children among
them-all leprous.
The institution is owned by the Philippine
government. Here was q nation, then less than
one year old, torn by the war, and struggling
to rise from its devastation Consequently,
there were, and still remain insufficient funds
disqualification to some 10000 lepers. OF which
about 5000 are in their institutions. Disease
ratios having climbed enormously during and
after the war because of privation during
Japanese occupation the government Is sadly
taxed to provide an appropriate budget Tor
such purposes.
short time later Mary, my wife, ana
visited Tala The conditions, we were informed,
offered considerable improvement over those
existing few months previously. NOW tney
had Army cotsl These were not sumcient 10
take care of al! the inmates, although tney
were damned about Is inches apart in the var
ions dormitories But at least all OF them dlo
not have to sleep on the floor
A lighting system was recent acquisition
It was a 2 kilowatt generator unit, which, IN
order to save fuel, was used only until pm
This unit served some TOO people anordins one
dim light in each dormitory housing 30 or more
humans.
Food and Clothes Inadequate.
There were no appropriations or provisions
for clothing the patients. They relied on dona-
tons from time to time, and by remaking gar
ments and passing them on from one to the
other. they we're made to last longer.
r. ia a known fact that because leprosy Is
wasting. debilitating disease, the application Of
known remedies, such as proEnine (when avail
able). lowers the blood values. Consequently
fortifying media in the form Of diet and treat
ments with liver, iron and vitamins are ex-
tremely essential.
The diet at Tala consisted Of fish and riee
once q week, perhaps they received some cara
bao meat. Food was prepared by the patients
themselves over bonhres No central kitchen Or
mess hall existed. Rice was cooked and distrib-
uted On masss b. the various dnfmitories. 1ns