Evening star., 1951-09-15

tion-when we have been blown over
hedgerows by the conclusion, OF an S8
and are mysteriously given to loss OF
equilibrium.
In short, we are polished up, re-
treaded, pressed and cleaned for tour
in :. the fur-lined foxhole known as
Washington, only to be met by lament
that our careers are carefully guided,
we'll paid and much more desirable than
that of the umbrella commuter whose
l5-day sick leave is confined to fall
attack Of hayfever or a devastating
cold.
AS 1 lower the flag at half-mast and
silently grind my cross-rif1es into the
dust and give the mothball treatment
to my Combat Infantrymans Badge
shall include the Purple Heart in my
bequest to the Civil Service fund for
the poor souls whose fortunes never
allowed them to gain the enviable posi-
ton attained by the greatest Indian of
them all-the high and mighty Army
captain-whose only qualification for his
present rank required that he could,
among other perfunctory things, lead
200 men and live to tell the tale.
Let's do away with him and replace
him with grade lis, who will I am
sure, spring to action at the whine of
the air-raid siren and lead their country
to victory while the Army captains bask
in the sun in some secluded rendezvous
while poor privates fan them with $50
bills, and pretty girls in gold-plated
jeeps deliver, on hand-tooled genuine
Russian saddle leather trays, emolu-
mentS from Uncle Sam-designed to af-
ford them the comfort befitting their
station in life. Then we can add the
fitting climax by changing the slogan OF
the Infantry School from Follow Me"
to After You" This will be the feather
that puts the scales of justice on an even
balance in favor of the bombast -fatigued
GS-11.
Indians Indian.
Thank you for publishing the Hayden
letter. Perhaps it will make tired
Army wives and tired Navy wives, who
have been complaining, stop and appre-
ciate what they have. AS pointed out
in Mr.. Haydon's letter. an Army captain
is Junior officer while GS-11 in civil
service is senior grade at which many
professional men chemists, engineers,
years service to the Government. How
many Army captains are there today
over 33 years of age? How many retire
at that grade?
Why should it cost the taxpayers
$4,000 year for each man in uni
form (ss reported in your paper last
spring. when the 1850 census revealed
that the average national per-family
income was less than SO 900 and many
whole families are living on that? Why
should it cost us $4,000 to train each
cadet OF midshipman for four years at
the academies when it is still possible
to get an education in our best univer-
sites for $4,000 year or $4,000 for
four years?
Young Mother,
Bravo to Mr.. Hayden / have no quar-
rel with his most convincing figures.
do, however. take exception to the i'm
pressionS that such comparison of
naked figures may leave with the casual
reader.
The captain does get 1854 allow
ances, all of it tax free, but he is forced
to throw every nickel of it out to land
lords who have a very neat little trick
of asking what your rank is and then
tacking $40 to $50 per month onto your
rental allowance.
Who is going to pay for medical eX-
penses and disqualification for the cap
tain and his family who might be sta
toned in Manchester, NJ H.; Gaines
vile, Fla; Manhattan, Kans., Tus-