THE AMERICAN 2 O c • DECEMBER 1974

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THE AMERICAN

DECEMBER 1974 Volume 97, Number 6 National Commander LEGION James M. Wagonseller CHANGE OF ADDRESS MAGAZINE DECEMBER 1974 Subscribers, please notify Circulation Dept., P. O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206 using Form 3578 which is available at your local post office. Attach old address label and give old and new addresses with ZIP Code number and current membership card num- ber. Also, notify your Post Adjutant or other Table of Confents officer charged with such responsibilities.

The American Legion Magazine Editorial & Advertising Offices OUR ILLEGAL ALIEN PROBLEM 1345 Avenue of the Americas 6 New York, New York 10019 BY HARVEY ARDMAN Publisher, James F. O'Neil A look at the millions of illegal aliens in our midst; at the Editor Robert B. Pitkin continuing flood of them; at their economic threat to legal Americans; at Assistant to Publisher and the thorny problem of stemming the tide. John Andreola Art Editor Walter H. Boll FAREWELL TO YOUTH Assistant Editor 10 James S. Swartz BY ISAAC ASIMOV Associate Editor Roy Miller Mr. Asimov's mathematics indicate that if this world should find Production Manager a happy solution to its direct problems, the elderly will Art Bretzfield become the majority. What then? Copy Editor Grail S. Hanford Editorial Specialist Irene Christodouiou SHOULD THE U.S. BAN Circulation Manager NONRETURNABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS? 14 Dean B. Nelson Indianapolis, Ind. Two Sides Of A National Question Advertising Sales pro: SEN. MARK O. HATFIELD (R-ORE.) Robert Redden Associates, Inc. con: REP. CHARLES W. SANDMAN, JR. (R-N.J.) P. O. Box 999 Teaneck, N.J. 07666 201-837-5511 SEVERSKY—AVIATION'S VERSATILE GENIUS 16 The American Legion BY EUGENE LYONS Magazine Commission: Benjamin The life of the man who, his arrival in B. Truskoski, Bristol, Conn. from America in 1921 (Chairman): Milford A. until Forrester, Green- his death last summer, fought against odds to make ville, S.C. (Vice Chairman); James R. Kel- the U.S. the world's No. 1 air power. ley, Radnor, Pa. (National Commander's Representative) ; Billy Anderson, Miami, Fla.; Lang Armstrong, Spokane, Wash.; Norman Biebel, Belleville, 111.; Adolph Bremer, A PAUSE ON WALL STREET II inona, Minn.; B. C. Connelly, Hunting- ton, IV. Va.; Andrew J. Cooper, Gulf TO OBSERVE THE BILL OF RIGHTS 20 Shores, Ala.; Raymond Fields, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Chris Hernandez, Savannah, Ga.; Text and photo commemorating the Congressional passage James V. Kissner, Palatine, 111.; Russell H. of Laird, Des Moines, Iowa; Henry S. Lemay, The Bill of Rights on September 25, 1789. Lancaster, Ohio; Loyd McDermott. Benton, Ark.; Morris Meyer, Starkville, Miss.; J. H. Morris, Baton Rouge, La.; Robert F. Mur- A HOLIDAY MESSAGE 22 phy, Chelmsford, Mass.; Frank W. Naylor, Jr., Kansas City, Kans.; Harry H. Schaffer, BY JAMES M. WAGONSELLER Pittsburgh, Pa.; George Sinopoli, Fresno, National Commander, The American Legion Calif.; Wayne L. Talbert, Delphi, Ind.; Frank C. Love, Syracuse, N.Y. (Consultant), Season's greetings and some New Year's resolutions from the Edward McSweeney, New York, N.Y. (Con- sultant) National Commander. .

The American Legion Magazine is owned and published monthly by The American Legion. COVER: DRAWING BY JAMES FLORA Copyright 1974 by The American Legion. Second class postage paid at Indianapolis, Ind., 46204 and additional mailing offices. Price: single copy, 20 cents; yearly sub- scription, 92.00. Direct inquiries regarding Departments circulation to: Circulation Department, P. 0. Box 1954, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. LETTERS 2 DATELINE WASHINGTON 34 Send editorial and advertising material to: The American LIFE IN THE OUTDOORS 4 PERSONAL Legion Magazine, 1345 Avenue 36 of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10019. VETERANS NEWSLETTER 23 LEGION SHOPPER 47 NEWS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION ...25 PARTING SHOTS 48 NON-MEMBER SUBSCRIPTIONS Send name and address, including ZIP number, with $2 check or money order to Circulation Dept., P.O. Box 1954, Manuscripts, artwork, cartoons submitted for consideration will not be returned unless a self-ad- Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. dressed, stamped envelope is included. This magoiine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. POSTMASTER If undeliverable, please send Form 3579 to P. O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 Jluthentic. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters published do not necessarily ex- a report on it is published in our press the policy of The American Legion. Keep letters short. Name and address must "News" section in 11 issues each year. be furnished. Expressions of opinion and It does have a special appeal for requests for personal service are appreci- ated, but they cannot be acknowledged or younger veterans because it is "reduc- answered, due to lack of magazine staff for ing" life insurance. Instead of increas- these purposes. Requests for personal serv- ices which may be legitimately asked of ing the premiums as the risk increases The American Legion should be made to with age, the premiums are the same your Post Service Officer or your state (Department) American Legion Hq. Send at all ages, and the amount of insur- letters to the editor to: Letters, The ance is reduced with age. Thus the American Legion Magazine, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10019. young can carry the most for the same money—and usually need it that way. Skipping special conditions in HIGHWAY JUST OFF THE some states (as noted in the ad op- article sir: Congratulations on the posite) the general plan is that any- featuring the Baker Memorial monu- one up to age 29 who is a paid-up ment in Owego, N.Y. ("Just Off the Legionnaire in satisfactory health can Sept.) It excellent, as Highway," was get $JfO,000 of life insurance for $96 was the picture. As a boy of 12, I was a year (and proportionately lesser present that hot July day in 1914 when amounts for $72, for $48, for $2h and dedicated and pre- the monument was for $12J. From age 30-3 k the maximum sented to the village by Mr. Frank for the same premium plan is $32,000; and Baker. I knew and remember him from ages 35 to 44 it is $18,000. And son, Jr., well. Ralph A. his Frank, if you apply after the first of the year, N.Y. Prince, Johnson City, the first year's premiums are reduced by a twelfth for each month of that sir: The article, "Just Off the High- year not covered. Thus Legion life in- eye. Living way," really caught my surance is a strong personal insurance "White Label with a family that travels a lot, it's program for the young, more of a DE WAR'S, amazing how many towns you pass supplementary one for insureds as Blended Scotch Whism by without a second thought being they get older. given to them. I will be looking for- 'OOUCT OF SCO' ward to the continuing articles in the ON NAMING PEOPLE FOR THE John'DewarTSonst' series. Please don't forget about the HALL OF FAME Midwestern states; we have points of sir: Tom Mahoney's article (October) interest, too. Cindy Claude, Marshall- on the original Hall of Fame was very town, Iowa. interesting. I note that anyone can file a form with the Hall of Fame to U.S.-RED CHINA RELATIONS nominate someone for election to the

sir : Putting aside for the moment my Hall of Fame in 1976, and such nomi- negative feelings about our new rela- nations can be made any time between tions with Communist China, I would next April 1 and April 1, 1976. congratulate you on the well- like to Question: How soon will the forms article on this balanced and accurate be ready? ("The subject in the November issue. Another question: Who selects the Rela- First Two Years of Our New approximately 125 Electors who vote tions with Red China.") J.R. Gradow- DEWARS on admitting nominees to the Hall of N.Y. ski, Garden City, Fame? B.F.P. Jones, Worcester, Mass. "White Label; ATTN: 312TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP sir: The 312th Bombardment Group The forms for 1976 nominations are There are more than a thousand served with distinction in the South- not presently available, but ivill be "early ways to blend whiskies in Scot- west Pacific during WW2, and for a available on request in the history of the Group, known as "The spring" (by April 1, for sure), ac- land, but few are authentic enough Roarin' 20's," I would like to hear cording to the Hall of Fame Executive for Dewar's "White Label." The from all former members. Russell L. Office, 1 Fifth Avenue, New York, quality standards we set down in Sturzebecker, 503 Owen Rd., West N.Y., 10003. The Hall Fame was originally 1846 have never varied. Into Chester, Pa. 19380. of established under a gift, ivith New each drop goes only the THE LEGION'S INSURANCE PLAN York University as the responsible Legion has governing body. In the past, a sub- J^B finest whiskies from sir : I have heard that the a group life insurance plan for mem- committee of the N.Y.U. Senate rec- f$ the Highlands, the jQP attractive to ommended names of new Electors K^*"*/ bers that is especially Lowlands, the younger veterans. when vacancies had to be filled, sub- Hebrides. As a Vietnam veteran I would like ject to ratification by the full Senate. to know a little about it. There seem In practice, the Electors chosen have to be a lot of different insurance plans been prominent people in various Dewar's offered to veterans, and they get con- walks of life in America. never varies fusing. Ralph Menkins, Des Moines, The Administration of the Hall of Ioiva. Fame is presently in the midst of re- organization, which will broaden the The only insurance offered by the na- responsibility beyond N.Y.U. itself. tional American Legion is "The Amer- This is still being worked out, and Insurance Plan." may change the precise method of BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY • 86.8 PROOF ican Legion Life and choosing Electors. © SCHENLEY IMPORTS CO., N.Y.. N.Y. Details appear on opposite page

2 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZWE • DECEMBER 1974 -

In These Days of Economic Uncertainty, Isn't It Comforting to Know That Your Dollar Buys Just As Much American Legion Life Insurance As It Did 12 Years Ago?

And cost isn't the only reason you should consider this valuable pro- You're eligible to apply for up to 4 Units of this fine- insurance if tection. As a responsible family person, you owe it to your loved ones you're a Legion Member in good standing, under age 70, and can meet to provide as much security as you can. What better form of security the underwriting requirements of the Insurance Company. For benefits is there than your life insurance estate? and rates, see the chart below.

Best of all, your American Legion Life Insurance protection lasts your Then, fill out and mail the Enrollment Card below along with your check entire lifetime. or money order for the coverage you select.

Benefits & Premiums-Annual Renewable Term Insurance (Policy Form GPC-5700-1073) 'PRORATED PREMIUM shown provides protection throughout 1975 Benefit determined by age at death. Maximum coverage under this Plan is limited to 4 Units. and assumes your completed Enrollment Card will be received by Age at death 4 Units 3 Units 2 Units 1 Unit the Administrator (and approved) during December with coverage Through age 29 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 effective January 1, 1975. If your Enrollment 30-34 is not approved your 32,000 24,000 16,000 8,000 money will be refunded. Prorated premiums for applications 35-44 18,000 13.500 9,000 4,500 re- 45-54 8,800 6,600 4,400 2,200 ceived in January will be $22 per Unit. 55-59 4,800 3,600 2,400 1,200 EFFECTIVE DATE: Insurance becomes effective on the 60-64 3,200 2,400 1,600 800 first day of 65-69 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 the month coinciding with or next following the date the mem- 70-74 1,320 990 660 330 ber's enrollment card is received in the office of the Adminis- 75-over 1,000 750 500 250 trator, subject to Insurance Company's approval. Insurance may Prorated Premium* $96 $72 $48 $24 be maintained in force by payment of premiums when due. IF YOU LIVE in Fla., III., N.J., N.Y., N.C., 0., PA., P.R.,Tex.,orWis. lump sum payment once of send proof death is received by the Insurance Company. for special card. Applications and benefits vary slightly in some areas. Offer does not EXCLUSIONS: No benefit is payable for death as a result of war or an act of war, apply in Idaho. Send for special brochure. if the cause of death occurs while serving, or within six after TO: months termina- OFFICIAL MAIL tion of service, in the military, naval or air forces of any country or combination AMERICAN The American Legion LEGION of countries. Life LIFE Insurance Plan, INCONTESTABILITY: Your coverage INSURANCEm n shall be incontestable after it has been in ^ ^ P.O. Box 5609, force during mNPLAN your lifetime for two years from its effective date. Chicago, III. 60680

NOTICE OF DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ENROLLMENT CARD FOR YEARLY RENEWABLE TERM LIFE INSURANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION Information regarding your Full Name- -Birth Date- insurability will be treated as Last First Middle Mo. Day Year confidential except that Occi- Permanent Residence- dental Life Insurance Company Street No. City State of California may make a brief Zip report to the Medical Informa- Name of Beneficiary -Relationship- Example: Print "Helen Louise mation Bureau (M.I.B.), a non- Jones," Not "Mrs. H. L. Jones" profit membership organization Membership Card No.- Year Post No State- of life insurance companies I apply for the amount of insurance indicated below, (check appropriate box or boxes). which operates an information 4 Units 3 Units 2 Units exchange on behalf of its mem- 1 Unit Vz Unit bers. Upon request by another The following representations shall a member insurance company to form basis for the Insurance Company's approval or rejection of this enrollment: Answer 1 which you have applied for life all questions. or health insurance, or to which Present occupation?-— . 1. — _ re A you now actively working? a claim is Yes submitted, the M.I.B. No If No, give reason ' _ will supply such company with 2. Have you been confined in a hospital within the last year? No Yes n If Yes, give date lengthIC the information it may have in ' 6 "S"' of stay and cause - ' its files. During 3. the last five years, have you ever had heart disease, circulatory Occidental may also release disease, kidney disease liver disease, lung disease diabetes, or cancer, or have you received treatment or information in its file to its re- medication for high' blood pressure or alcoholism? No Yes If yes, give details insurers and to other life in- surance companies to which you I represent that, to the best of my knowledge, all statements and answers recorded may apply for. life or health in- on this enrollment card are true and comp ete I agree that this enrollment card shall be a part of any insurance surance, or to which a claim is granted upon it under the policy. I authorize any physician or other person submitted. who has attended or examined me, or who mav attend or examine me, to disclose or to testify to any knowledge thus acquired. Upon receipt of a request from you, the M.I.B. will arrange dis- Signature of Dated 19 closure of any information it , Applicant GMA-300-19 10-70 (Univ.) may have in your file. Medical The American Legion offers this insurance through Occidental Life Insurance Company of California. Home Office- information will only be dis- Los Angeles closed to your attending physi- ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AUTHORIZATION I have received cian. If you question the ac- and read the Notice of Disclosure of Information left. at Further, I authorize any curacy of information in the physician, medical practitioner, hospital, clinic, or other medical or medically related facility in- Bureau's file you may seek cor- surance company, the Medical Information Bureau or other organization, institution or person having rection in accordance with the any records or knowledge of me or of my health to give Occidental Life Insurance procedures Company of set forth in the Fed- California any such information. eral- Fair Credit Reporting Act. A photographic copy of this authorization shall be as valid as the The address of the Bureau's in- original. Dated formation office is P.O. Box 105, 19— Signature of Applicant Essex Station, Boston, Mass. I apply for additional Legion Life Insurance. My present certificate number is_ 02112; Phone (617) 426-3660.

THE AMERICAN • LEGION MAGAZINE DECEMBER 1974 3 .

LIFE IN THE OUTDOORS Wildlife Poachers

Endangered animals are facing a new sands of dollars, has been confiscated menace: the commercial poacher. from some exclusive New York stores. Animal hides, exotic feathers, ivory, In the same city, a fur merchant was tortoise shell and other items, of which convicted of trading during 17 months import, export and sale are prohibited in over 70,000 hides of leopard, jaguar, by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, cheetah, otter, etc. At a tanning com- have become rare commodities and the pany in Newark, N.J., 518 alligator demand for them, by customers who hides were seized, valued at $45,000. often don't realize they are breaking Local "sportsmen" are involved in the law, has skyrocketed their prices. the endangered species rip-off, too. An High enough to tempt organized crime! Idaho man has been convicted of con- A tiger-skin coat sells for $80,000, a ducting "guaranteed" jaguar hunts in leopard coat for $30,000, an elephant New Mexico which hasn't seen a wild tusk for $3,000 or more, a sperm whale jaguar in almost a century. He im- tooth for $400, a pair of alligator shoes ported four tame jaguars and a black for $200, tortoise shell jewelry for as leopard. Price: $5,000 per hunter. An- much as $3,000. Some city department other guide was caught conducting elk stores boldly display these items in hunts, at $3,000 each, in Yellowstone their windows. Tourists buy them National Park. An investigation in "Aren't you going to say 'Goodnight' abroad and try to smuggle them Oklahoma uncovered a group of profi- to Mother?" through U.S. Customs. arrive teers who had killed thousands of Some THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE falsely labeled "personal effects" or migratory birds and bald and golden "leather goods." Exports are involved, eagles, and had accumulated 40,000 also. Our rare peregrine falcon is being feathers worth $35,000. Thus far, over You can stop this illegal trade not trapped and taken to the Middle East $2,000,000 worth of illegal animal pro- only by reporting violations but by where falconry is popular; wealthy po- ducts have been confiscated, but the recognizing products made of pro- tentates pay $20,000 a bird. lawmen feel the traffic must be far tected wildlife and refusing to pur- The Law Enforcement Branch of the larger. Unfortunately the penalty for chase them, even in those foreign Fish and Wildlife Service, its operators violating the Endangered Species Act countries where their sale may still be now training in the same school as the is only a slight deterrent to the poach- legal. Don't buy that fancy tortoise- FBI, is busy tracking down violators. ers; the offense is a misdemeanor with shell comb, scrimshaw-carved whale Tortoise shell jewelry, priced at thou- a $20,000 fine and a year in jail. tooth, Nile crocodile luggage or polar bear rug. If there's no market for them, the slaughter will cease. Learn which are the world's endangered species. Enjoy all cold Write for the United States List of En- dangered Fauna, Office of Endangered Species, Fish and Wildlife Service, weather sports! Washington, D.C. 20240.

NEVER take Kleenex or a white hand- KEEP WARM! kerchief on a deer-hunting trip, warns Mike Wichterman of Hutchinson, Minn. Take it out to wipe your nose and some other hunter might mistake it for the tail of a white-tail deer, then take a shot at you. Use a red or yellow handkerchief.

A SMALL plastic aspirin or other bottle makes a great bobber for still fishing, according to Donald Walker of Waldport, Ore. Spray it with fluores- cent paint so it's easily visible. Loop your line around the neck below the cap with a slip knot.

WHEN YOU leave your car parked in a crowded lakeside parking lot, or even on a lonely country road, raise Get more fun your radio aerial as high as it will go out of your favorite and tie a fluorescent cloth to the top cold weather sport Slip Jon-E Warmers. Available in Giant size, suggests Mrs. Pauline Fouts of Arma, in pockets or Jon-E Warmers your Standard size and Jon-E Twin-Pac. Kan. It will help you spot your car in a Jon-E Body Belt These personal "pocket Jon-E Fluid. It's Odorless! Get long more easily, even at night in the beam with your radiators" provide safe-flameless heat keeping lasting Jon-E Fluid along Jon-E Warmer. 8 or 16 oz. cans. from a flashlight. you warm and comfortable ... all over . all day on only one filling of Jon-E Fluid. So at work or If you have a helpful idea for this feature

play beat the cold this year ._. . take Jon-E along ! send it in. If we can use it we'll pay you $5.00. However, we cannot acknowledge, re- turn, or enter into correspondence concern- Be sure it's a genuine ing contributions. Address: Outdoor Editor, American Made. At ALADDIN LABORATORIES, INC. The American Legion Magazine, 1345 Ave- sptg. goods & hdwe. counters everywhere* 620 So. 8th St., Mpls. MN. 55404 nue of the Americas, New York,N.Y. 10019.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 There was a Grand American who came home on December 25, 1945.

Schenley Reserve American Whiskey. A Blend. 86 Proof. © 1974 Schenley Distillers Company. New York. N He left a boy and came home a man. And there were tears and kisses and toasts and laughter. And, mostly, there was indescribable joy. It was a good time shared by many that holiday season in 1945. And this holiday season, chenley Schenley wishes you joy The Grand American and a multitude of good times in the year to come. Whiskey.

Gift wrapped at no extra cost

W&re shared some good times together. Let& share a few more.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 —

By HARVEY ARDMAN

The United States is now experi- encing the greatest invasion of il- legal aliens in its history. In the 12-month period ending June 30, 1974, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) caught OUR ILLEGAL ALIEN more than 800,000 illegals, after they'd crossed American borders or entered through our ports. But the Service concedes that for one caught, two or three get QBfeEM every by to join the millions of illegal aliens already living here. These aliens take jobs that would otherwise be filled by American citi- zens or legal immigrants, siphoning off an estimated $10.4 billion a year in wages. Much of this money is not spent here, on American goods and ser- vices, but is shipped back to the alien's families, in their countries of origin. In many cases, these earnings go untaxed. Illegals who fail to find work here or who get jobs and lose them often stay to go on U.S. welfare, unemploy- ment and medical programs. Los Angeles and New York alone each deal with an estimated 60,000 children of illegal aliens in their school systems, at a cost to each city of as much as $100 million annually. It's impossible to be sure how many illegal aliens have become per- manent residents, blending into our Illegal aliens apprehended near Laredo, Texas, by Border multi-racial, multi-lingual popula- tion. "My best guess," says Leonard F. Many arrive here legally, as tourists, totaled 16 million persons. As of last Chapman, Jr., Commissioner of the visitors or students, and stay on year, 40% of it was believed either Immigration and Naturalization Ser- after their visas have expired. A jobless or unemployed or performing vice, "is that it's on the order of five, number come in with forged or al- only seasonal labor. By 1985, that six or seven million. But I hasten to tered visas, or under the wing of so- labor force will swell to 28 million, point out that the number is growing phisticated smuggling rings. and, by 1995, to 40 million. And every day." The AFL-CIO estimates The great majority of the illegals that's not speculation. Those work- that the total U.S. illegal population —90%, according to Chapman—are ers have already been born. If the is over 8 million, and could reach Mexicans. The other 10% hail from past is any indication, many will four times that within ten years. Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, head for the United States seeking If foreigners are determined to get Korea, Central America, the Do- work. And, unless the present law in illegally, it is not difficult. The im- minican Republic, Haiti, Colombia, governing the hiring of illegals is migration service has about 2,000 Nigeria, Ethiopia, Iran and the Mid- changed, they will come as their border patrolmen to cover the 2,013- dle East and Italy. "Actually," Chap- fathers and grandfathers came mile border between the U.S. and man points out, "they come from alone, or with cronies, or shepherded Mexico, the 3,987-mile U.S.-Canada every country in the world, par- in groups by smugglers. border and 433 official ports of entry ticularly those with lower standards According to testimony given at a —an insufficient force that is spread of living than ours." House Judiciary subcommittee hear- thinly. The majority of illegals enter- Two factors explain Mexico's top- ing last year, the smuggling of hu- ing the country simply walk across heavy position at the head of the mans into the United States can be the open borders. Others swim the illegals' list: (a) a mutual border very profitable—to the tune of $1 Rio Grande to Texas, or clamber lightly patrolled and (b) Mexico's billion a year. over the ten-foot chain-link fence worsening economic picture. Poverty Active smuggling rings work both that runs along the California-Mexico is widespread, particularly in Mexi- borders and inside Mexico and Cana- border. The well-heeled from the co's rural areas where about half of da, as well. A couple of rings in Caribbean and Central and South her population lives. About half of Montreal, now broken up, concen- America fly in to Canadian or Mexi- this group has no reportable income trated on Chinese-Oriental and Ital- can cities and make their way over at all, while the other half earns an ian aliens, at a fee of anywhere from the border. Stowaways and merchant average of $800 a year, $100 less $200 to $2,000, depending on the ser- seamen leave ships in Vancouver, than the national average. vices provided—distance traveled, Toronto or Montreal and head south. In 1970, Mexico's labor force phony papers supplied, housing and

6 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 ALL UNCREDITED PHOTOS COURTESY OF U.S. IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION SERVICE spread thin. The INS has roughly 500 patrolmen for each eight-hour duty shift to cover the entire Mexi- can border. Perhaps the busiest INS Border Patrol station is in Chula Vista, Calif. It covers about 70 miles of U.S. -Mexico border, starting at the Pacific and heading east to about halfway across the state. It's staffed by 267 patrol agents, less than four to a mile, on the average. The Chula Vista sector catches hundreds of illegal immigrants each night, but agents guess that as many as 3,000 successfully get past them nightly. The reason for the manpower shortage, say INS officials, is the Service's relatively low budget. In fiscal 1973, it received $129 million, up $5.3 million from 1972, though the alien influx nearly doubled. In Los Angeles, the INS has 15,000 complaints on file identifying illegals. But it is unable to follow them up because of insufficient personnel and time. The major California check- point for catching aliens is at San Clemente, which sits astride the main road leading north to the big

- ~ . . _ , ...... p m--; cities. But the INS doesn't have the Aliens here illegally, mostly Mexican, are now put funds to man it around the clock. at around seven million, and the flood continues. According to the House Judiciary subcommittee, "There have been oc- casions when aliens who had been

apprehended are released . . . be- cause word was passed to the arrest- Patrol Agents. Most come looking for jobs. ing agent that there were no funds available to retain [them]." tion and Naturalization Service took Still, the Border Patrol is working more than 200,000 pounds of mari- to slow the flood. Last year's "catch" juana from illegal aliens, most of it of 800,000 illegals is up substantially seized at the point of entry. This from the 505,000 caught in 1972 and figure, however, does not match the far above the 110,000 caught in 1965. quantities brought into the country The main reason for the improve- through other channels, according to ment is the use of modern technology Chapman. Nevertheless, it remains a —seismic, audio and infrared sensors part of the overall problem posed by like those used in Vietnam. illegal entrants. Few of the uneducated, unsophisti- Actually, like the legal immigrants cated Mexicans who cross the border of earlier days, most illegals who and head north have any idea that enter the United States today are, in their very foot-falls light up the San Diego's U.S. District Court Border Patrol monitor panel at Chula Judge Howard Turentine's words, Vista and send patrolmen scurrying "industrious, proud and hardworking to their jeeps to apprehend them. people who enter this country for Some Mexicans tie animal hooves the purpose of earning wages, ac- to their feet to avoid leaving a hu- cumulating savings and sending their man trail on the dirt roads that are savings home to Mexico." smoothed over every evening by How does the Immigration and Border Patrol jeeps. But they cannot Naturalization Service cope with the evade—even if they know about them burgeoning number of illegals —the helicopters that circle over- crowding in? On the whole, not very head with infrared Leonard F. Chapman, U.S. Commissioner detectors. of Immigration and Naturalization. well. If the INS had enough of this In many ways, the cards are modern technology and enough man- jobs provided, etc. The smugglers are stacked against the Service. power, it might stem the tidal wave mostly Americans, who control their Border Patrol agents are stationed of illegal aliens. But it doesn't. Even own rings and have no connection mainly where illegal immigration at- those who are caught and expelled with syndicated crime setups. Last tempts are expected—mostly along are often back again the next night year, U.S. Customs and the Immigra- the Mexican border—but they're still and the next, until they make it.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 7 CONTINUED WIDE WORLD Our Illegal Alien Problem

Most of the aliens who are caught and expelled are picked up by the INS within 72 hours after they cross the border. After that, they've usual- ly reached the big cities where they can blend with the large communi- ties of Chicanos, resident aliens or other illegals, and be shielded by friends and employers. Sometimes, the INS runs a drag- net in these communities, not al- ways with happy results. Agents have a hard time telling which Span- ish-speaking people have every right to be in the United States and which have none. As a result, the wrong people—some of them American citizens—are sometimes shipped to Mexico. On top of all this, the INS has been beset by serious internal prob- lems—corruption and malfeasance. In 1972, INS corruption prompted a major Department of Justice investi- Mexicans seek jobs legally under "bracero" agreements with the U.S., which ended gation, Operation Clean Sweep. A after 22 years in 1964, when unions complained about the vast numbers admitted. In this case, sought entry for 500 jobs in California's Imperial Valley. number of INS agents were either 7,500 indicted or dismissed. One major factories. They pick potatoes in enough was known about the rest to catch was Frank Castro, a San Idaho. be sure. Diego-based INS official. He and his Many end up in restaurants or Many of these aliens are taking wife received prison sentences last hotels as bellhops, busboys, waiters, jobs from American citizens or legal May following trials in which it was dishwashers, cooks or janitors. Oth- residents. INS files in New York and alleged that they had taken bribes, ers work as gardeners, mechanics' Los Angeles contain a backlog of sold bona fide entry documents for helpers or meatpackers. 57,000 complaints from job seekers, years and cleared better than In an INS study of deportable many of them Vietnam veterans, $250,000. Mexican aliens found working in who were unable to find work at The INS believes that Operation Los Angeles in 1972, 16% were found places that employed illegal aliens. Clean Sweep did its job, turning up employed in food handling, 50% as The Chicago INS District Director 228 separate cases of official miscon- unskilled labor in manufacturing told the House that, "We now have duct in the Southwest alone, but plants, 12% as semi-skilled labor and over 6,000 complaints of aliens il- Congress apparently thinks other- 6% in various crafts. About 19% legally in the area and most of those wise and has launched its own inves- were found to be receiving wages were from people who claimed they tigation. Rep. Leo J. Ryan (Calif.) within the prevailing scale, 17% took employment from them". calls the scandal "a major mess in definitely received less and not During the House subcommittee the federal government today." And Rep. John Murphy (N.Y.) sees it as WIDE WORLD "involving potentially widespread malfeasance." A dozen years ago or so, all but a few illegal Mexican aliens headed for jobs in nearby agricultural areas. Today, large numbers of them are flooding the big cities of the South- west, and also Denver; Milwaukee; Chicago; St. Louis; Washington, D.C.; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; De- troit, and even New York. "There is, in fact, a sort of popu- lation migration from Mexico into the United States," according to Chapman. "If it's posted on a chart, you can see the movement, the wave. It's not just into the Southwestern states, but all up through the Mid- west and the Northwest." Once in the U.S., illegal aliens take many different types of jobs. They as work menial laborers in found- Agents arrest 36 employees of a Gardena, Calif., food company as illegal aliens. ries, slaughterhouses and pottery Employers have no responsibility in the matter. They would under a proposed law.

8 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 )

hearings in El Paso, labor officials Don Horn, president of the Harris Welfare. Since we can't be sure of linked unemployment at the New County (Houston) AFL-CIO, says: exactly how many illegal aliens are Mexico and Texas borders directly "If an employer has a choice be- living here, there's no way to guess to the flood of illegal aliens. In the tween a local worker and an alien, how much they collect in welfare lower border area in Texas there was he'll almost automatically hire the payments, nationwide. Most state an unemployment rate among Amer- alien. The alien won't complain of laws don't require citizenship. But icans of 9.1% at the time of the working conditions, doesn't demand the amount is almost certainly in the hearings, compared to an average of overtime and won't report abuses to hundreds of millions of dollars—and 3.8% throughout the state. the government. Most often, the by taking jobs from Americans, they While illegal aliens face a constant native worker isn't even given a force native workers on welfare and threat of deportation, their Ameri- chance to compete for the job." unemployment rolls. can employers run no risk at all. Chavez says at least 20% of the The argument has been made that is "Not only the employment of un- 250,000 farm jobs available in Cali- illegals, afraid of anything official, lawful aliens not illegal under pres- fornia are now held by Mexican il- stay as far from welfare offices as ent law," notes the subcommittee legals and that in Idaho, "they rep- they can. The evidence says other- report, "but such employment ac- resent virtually 100% of the work wise. Back in 1955, the INS, in an tually appears to be condoned by the force in harvesting potatoes." Ac- all-out effort, managed to cut the existing proviso . . . that 'employ- cording to Chavez, they're also pres- rate of illegal entry an estimated ment shall not be deemed to con- ent in large numbers in the work 70%. Unemployment and welfare stitute the harboring of illegal forces that harvest cherries and claims in the states affected " promptly aliens.' strawberries in Oregon and Wash- dropped by 8%. Almost to a man, the leaders of ington. Medical aid. Again, it is impossible American unions want to keep il- Entirely apart from their impact to estimate just how much illegal legals out of the country, and that on the American job market, illegal aliens get in medical aid, nationwide,

A Border Patrol sensor device, developed for Vietnam, plots signal that someone has Aliens caught entering U.S. in secret intruded on U.S. territory (left). At right, word is passed to agent in car to compartment under false truck cargo. make intercept. Though effective, such devices barely check the flood of aliens. They probably tried again and made it.

includes those unions in the South- aliens are having an enormous effect but the amount is surely substantial, west whose membership is largely on nearly every other aspect of accounting for much hospital space Mexican-American. American society: and physician and nurse time. Cesar Chavez, president of the Housing. The simple fact that mil- According to Dr. Clifton Govan, of United Farm Workers Union and of lions of illegals are living in this the Colorado Department of Health, Mexican descent himself, says, "The country, most of them in big-city "Last year, the illegal aliens—we illegal workers from Mexico are a slums along with others at the bot- assume—used between a sixth and severe problem ... a problem out of tom of the economic ladder, has in- a fifth of our health money." His as- control. These illegal workers will tensified the poor housing conditions sumption is based on the fact that accept 30% to [lower wages] our 50% own low-income minorities face. one-fifth of the health care recipients than Chicanos [American citizens of Schools. The children of illegal refused to say where they lived. Los Mexican descent]." aliens are adding to the burden of Angeles County hospitals are pres- Peter C. Garcia, an organizer for our already overcrowded school sys- ently seeking annual federal pay- the International Brotherhood of tem and straining school budgets ments of $7 million for medical care Pottery and Allied Workers in the that have long since reached the rendered each year to illegal aliens. Los Angeles area, and also a Mexi- breaking point. Taxes. While they obviously par- can-American, says the illegal work- In Los Angeles alone, authorities take of many public benefits, illegals ers make it almost impossible for have estimated that if all the illegals contribute far less than their share him to unionize some pottery and suddenly vanished from the county, to public coffers, according to the In- plumbing fixture firms and very dif- they could close two high schools, ternal Revenue Service. It found that ficult to improve existing contracts four junior highs 19 and elementary at least 5% of illegal aliens fail to with others. schools. (Continued on page 37

THE AMERICAN • LEGION MAGAZINE DECEMBER 1974 g — —

Farewell To Youth

If we ever solve the world's most difficult problems, what then? The old should outnumber the young.

By ISAAC ASIMOV on the young? The nature of our main problem says this is so, for our most serious problems are all survive! Suppose we traceable to the rapid growth in Here we have been going along human population. with the idea that something was We will control human popula- going to get us, sooner or later tion—or else. And if we do, we will pollution, famine, mighty weapons, create a brand new kind of society depleted resources, revolution, an- in which the old vastly outnumber archy, genocide, poisoned environ- the young. It would be a very dif- ment, moral and political disintegra- ferent world from the one we are tion, overcrowding—and such. used to. Before examining it, let's really But suppose humanity make sure that it is our only choice, survives its present ills—as a going, if civilization is to survive. progressing civilization, rather than The world's population now shortages and worldwide inflation, of some surviving in the sorry sense stands at 4 billion, far more than it is hard to see how the food sup- poor, bedraggled, leftover human it ever has been before. It is in- ply can be increased in the coming the creatures stumbling through creasing at a rate of 2% a year, decades, or even kept at its present remains of the great industrial civil- and that figure is also far greater level. Fertilizer and pesticides are ization that was. On what terms than it ever has been before. becoming more expensive. Energy could we manage a happy survival, We see that there will be 80 mil- for irrigation pumps and farm on into the centuries ahead, if we lion more people to feed next year machinery has also become more have the sense to do it? And what than there are this year, and 80 expensive. Farm productivity is kind of new world would we create, million more the year after. The bound to decline in consequence in which the problems that now rate of increase will itself increase and the famines are already start- plague us are brought under con- each year until something (what?) ing. trol? checks it. Suppose we do not control the Would you believe that our best The majority of the additional population ourselves, but let things chance to survive as civilized people people will appear in the non-in- go on as they will. If, by the year on this earth requires a future with dustrial nations which can least af- 2000, the population is indeed 7 bil- more emphasis on the aged and less ford to feed additional mouths. By lion and has somehow avoided di- the year 2000, unless disaster in- saster through the natural workings tervenes, the world population will of overcrowding and overconsump- Ed. Note: At our invitation, Mr. Asimov here enlarges on the theme, which he presented on be over 7 billion. tion of the world's resources—and TV last summer, that civilization had better take a new look at the role of older people in society. If we don't control it, disaster if it is still increasing at the rate By profession a biochemist, Mr. Asimov has become better known as one of the most pro- will. It is already difficult to feed of 2% a year, that will mean 140 lific and imaginative writers of our time, on sub- jects from science to Shakespeare. the 4 billion today. With energy million additional people each year

We'll control the human population, or else. Here's the way things are going right now, and if that keeps up this earth can only end up as a "man-ravaged" planet. The only alternative to dog-eat-dog is population control, or far fewer young people.

10 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 —

and 15 billion total population by material shortages suggest that the of energy, new sources of food, new 2040. How long will this man- breaking point is close at hand, or methods of food distribution and a ravaged planet stand up under this? can we muddle on somehow toward new era of world peace all develop- The only question is where the 15 billion? ing marvelously in the next 30 final breaking point will come. Do It makes no difference. Sooner or years, that will only give mankind the present famines and energy and later the population problems must a short additional breathing space be beaten, or civilization will vanish unless we take steps to control the under the weight of human misery. population before disaster does it Man will become like the locusts for us. And the longer we postpone of Exodus, sent to punish Egypt, the date of decision to take charge ". who . . shall cover the face of ourselves, the more difficult it will the earth, that one cannot be able to be to avoid the crash at the first see the earth; and they shall eat misstep, and the more horrible that the residue of that which is es- crash will be.

caped . . . and shall eat every tree Once it comes, of course, the pop- which groweth for you out of the ulation will decline drastically as a ." field. . . result of a vastly increased death Being men and not locusts, we rate. The survivors may then never can expect barbaric conflicts to again rebuild a technological civili- arise among these unchecked bil- zation. The easy sources of energy lions as the whole effort for life be- will be largely destroyed, the comes a competitive struggle to planet's supply of metals will have hang on at the lowest level of ex- been thinly scattered over the Earth, istence—fulfilling in some measure while much of the soil will have the threat in Jeremiah that "they been ruined and may, perhaps, even shall die by the sword, by the fam- have become partly radioactive as a ine, and by the pestilence; and none result of nuclear war. of them shall remain or escape from Therefore, if we are going to sup- the evil that I will bring upon pose that there will be a working DRAWINGS BY JAMES FLORA them. ..." civilization in the 21st Century, we Even if we imagine new sources had better suppose that the popula-

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 H CONTINUED rate was high. Life expectancy Farewell To Youth varied from 25 to (very occasionally) 35, so that where the birth rate and tion problem will be well along death rate were equal, half the pop- toward a managed solution by the ulation was under 30. Where the year 2000. By then, the people of birth rate was considerably higher the world will have agreed (with than the death rate, so that the pop- despair and ruin as the clearly ulation was growing rapidly in num- visible alternatives) to bring the bers at the young end of the scale, population rise to a halt and even half the population might be under to reduce the population to some 15. Through most of history, the reasonable level—to perhaps no number of people over 40 was never more than a billion people. more than perhaps 20% of the Now unless we decide to start kill- whole, while the number of people ing people wholesale, the only al- over 65 was never more than per- ternative is a lowering of the birth haps 1% of the whole. rate to where it remains steadily In essence, then, almost all the lower than the death rate. If we as- societies mankind has experienced sume a flourishing 21st Century, consisted largely of young people. then we must also assume that by Middle-aged people were a minority the year 2000 the world will, one and old people were a rarity. way or another, have begun to In a society in which the birth lower its birth rate, and will intend rate was lowered and kept low and to continue to lower it and keep it in which life expectancy was 70, lowered for at least a century to then for the first time in the history come. of the human race, the accent would But if civilization survives, we no longer be on youth. can expect science and medicine to If the birth rate and death rate continue to win victories over dis- were equal, half the population ease and to continue to extend the would be over 70, at least two-thirds average life span—which means would be over 40. And if the birth If the old vastly outnumber the young, that the birth rate must be lowered rate sank lower than the death rate, will they be an unsuperable burden? Not still more, if the population is not as would be necessary in the 21st necessarily so, if we change old habits. to explode again. If that is the case, Century if civilization is to survive, then we will have to look forward then the percentage of the aging In 1900, when the life expectancy to a society utterly different from would increase even further. in the United States was only about any that has ever existed on Earth As a matter of fact, we are hav- 40 years, there were 3.1 million peo- before one with the old increasing- ing a foretaste of such conditions — ple over 65 out of a total popula- ly more numerous than the young. here in the United States now, tion of 77 million, or just about 4%. During almost all the history of where, for a century, life expec- By 1940, there were 9.0 million peo- the human race, mankind has lived tancy has lengthened and the birth ple over 65 out of a total population under conditions where the death rate fallen. of 134 million, or 6.7%. In 1970, there were 20.2 million people over 65 out of a total population of 208 million, or nearly 10%. By the year 2000 there may be as many as 29 million people over 65 out of an estimated 240 million, or 12%. If civilization is to survive, we must see this trend become world- wide. It will be farewell to youth, and welcome to a world in which the accent will be on the middle- aged and elderly. What would such a world of the middle-aged and elderly be like? Many might at once suppose the following: A world in which those over 40 form a substantial majority would be one in which the spirit, adventure and imagination of youth would dwindle and die under the stodgy conservatism and dullness of age. It would be one in which the burden of innovation and daring would rest on so few and the dead weight of the old would add so heavy an ad- ditional burden that mankind would The trend in the United States is already toward more and more older people, but it sink and fall apart. A world of the can't be said that we have revamped our outlook or values to fit this change. Elders are still a "problem," and the accent is still on the front end of life. middle-aged and elderly, many

12 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 We'll have to stop chopping education off short, and continue it through life.

would insist, would be a static and him, we forcibly retire the old at so, then surely the outlook for the even a decaying world in which all 65 or less, give each retiree a watch, 21st Century is dim, since if civiliza- that man has always valued would a pension and a ticket to a park tion is to survive at all, we will see disappear. bench. then a society of the aging. Would this indeed be so? Are old In short, the notion that the mid- Let's think about it. Suppose we people really a dead weight? Are dle-aged and elderly are necessarily consider, in the first place, what they really a force for stagnation? a dead weight on society is a very would seem to all of us a self- The difficulty in answering this modern notion, born of the fact that evident example of the inferiority of question rests in the fact that man- their numbers have increased and age. Surely there can be no ar- kind has never experienced a really their functions have disappeared. gument that old people are not as age-centered society. And yet what if this modern strong or as healthy as young peo- In almost all societies Earth has notion is right? What if it were ple and are not as capable of hard seen—only our own excepted—old the ancients who were wrong, valu- and extended labor. people were a rarity, and were, for ing the aged only because there Since this is so, isn't it clear that that very reason, valued. The oc- were so few of them and mistaking the expanding population of the casional person who survived into feebleness for wisdom? If that were (Continued on page 44) old age could remember how things were before anyone else was born. He or she was the repository of past ways, the record-keeper of tradition, the village reference-book, library and oracle. But all those values, natural in a pre-industrial culture, are gone now. Old people are too common to be re- vered for their longevity. Nor does anyone need their memories and knowledge of ancient ways now that we keep records on paper, on micro- film, and within computers. In ancient times, it was the old men who ruled the church and the state. The word "priest" is from the Greek word for "old," the word "senator" is from the Latin word for "old." But now, with old people too common to regard, we value youth and vigor in government. Politicians dye their hair and prac- tice moving with an athletic swing. In societies in which technology changed slowly, it was the old arti- san, rich in experience and know- how, who could be depended on for the good job, the skilled eye, the shrewd judgment. Now technology changes rapidly and it is the downy- want, cheeked college graduate we When and if learning never ceases, more people will know more about more things. expecting him to bring with him the That should arrest our trend toward overspecialization of knowledge, and develop of their ancestors were. latest techniques. To make room for more people who are as versatile as many

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 13 .

Opposing Views by Congressmen on The Question . .

SHOULD THE U. S. BAN

"YES" Since the end of World War 2, the roads and high- the cost of disposing of ways throughout our country have become it as well, which is in- characterized by millions of bottles and cans marked creased if it is tossed out "No Deposit—No Return." Why? The answer is of a car window. that container manufacturers no longer make many As for jobs, a study returnable beverage containers. Between 1946 and conducted at the Univer- 1969, for example, the production of nonreturnable sity of Illinois concluded beer bottles increased an astounding 3378% per cap- that employment in that ita, while 64% fewer returnable beer bottles per state would actually be capita were made. Almost 56 billion containers were increased by 6,500 jobs used in 1972 alone, an increase of 221% in only 13 by switching to return- years. ables. Here in Washing- Sen. Mark O. Hatfield Because these containers amounted to between ton, the Administration, (R-Ore.) 54%. and 70%. of the volume of highway litter in which supports such a my state of Oregon, the State Legislature in 1971 shift, has proposed that it be phased in over a period adopted a bill banning all nonreturnable beverage of time to make this transition period easier. containers. At the time, there were dire predictions In addition to the dramatic litter reduction, an- by the container manufacturers of widespread un- other compelling argument for returnables is that employment, increasing prices and no litter reduc- they save energy while protecting the environment. tion. They were wrong on each point. Today, two It takes three times more energy to deliver a drink years after the Oregon law became effective, the in a throwaway container than in one which is re- beverage container share of highway litter has turned. With every bottle being returned about ten dropped by about 90%. The rather small number of times, the equivalent of 92 thousand barrels of oil jobs lost due to the law was more than offset by a per day would be saved. corresponding job gain in other related areas. And It is clear that we can no longer afford to treat our consumers in Oregon are probably paying less for resources with the "No Deposit—No Return" atti- their beverages than they would be without the tude. Adoption of legislation banning nonreturnable bottle bill. soft drink and beer containers, as well as the "flip- To many who have studied this issue, these results top" can, would save energy, reduce litter and signal are not surprising. The purchase price for soft the end of a throwaway society drinks in throwaway glass is 30% more than when sold in returnable containers. When you buy a drink in a returnable can or bottle, and then return it for the deposit, you are paying only a fraction of the cost of manufacturing that container. But if you buy the "No Deposit—No Return" variety, you're not only paying the entire cost of the container, but

If you wish to let your Congressman or one of your Senators know how you feel on this

14 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 NONRETURNABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ?

"NO" The proposed ban on items can and should be returned to the resource interstate shipment of cycle. the so-called "nonreturn- Instead of burying used, no deposit cans and bot- able" beverage containers tles in the dumps and landfills of the nation, progress such as cans and bottles is now being made to reclaim and recycle these ma- is not only impractical, terials. Technology in the recycling field is advanc- unworkable and expen- ing rapidly and it is in this area where I feel our sive, it's typical of some best efforts should be applied. of the fuzzy thinking go- Much more can be done in the fields of public re- ing on in government lations, education and law enforcement before Big these days. Brother should be allowed to start passing laws to We can all agree that ban things that are littered and otherwise misused. Rep. Charles W. Sandman, Jr Finally, the idea of requiring a deposit on every (R-N.J.) the goals of eliminating litter, pollution and beverage container in the nation boggles the minds waste of natural resources are desirable ones. And of even the most power-hungry bureaucrats. Such the problems posed by solid and liquid waste dis- a scheme would be a financial and paper-work night- posal are very real and serious. mare for every wholesaler and retailer in the land. I do not like to see cans, bottles and other refuse Compulsory deposits on every can and bottle strewn along streets and highways and dumped in would also be a terrible burden on consumers and our waterways anymore than anyone else. a nuisance to everybody. Experience has shown that But the proposed ban is not the answer. These deposits simply don't work. inanimate things are not the problem: the people No, the proposed ban on no deposit beverage con- who litter them are. Litter is a behavioral problem tainers is not a good idea. It is a very bad idea: bad best solved by education and stricter enforcement for consumers, bad for business and a bad legal of anti-litter laws now on the books. precedent in that it attempts to outlaw things, in- The biggest percentage of litter in America today stead of our misuse of them. by far consists of discarded paper products, notably newsprint. It would make as much sense to ban or require a nickel deposit on every newspaper as to do the same for cans and bottles, as proposed. By the same silly logic, Congress should ban matches, because arson is a problem. Of course, such an approach is ridiculous. Representing the area with the largest concentra-

tion of glass-products manufacturing in the world, I have read in The American Legion Magazine for De- cember the arguments in PRO & CON: Should The I am perhaps more conscious than most of the nat- U. S. Ban Nonreturnable Beverage Containers? ural resource requirements of such containers. IN MY OPINION THE TO THIS QUESTION IS: The word "nonreturnable" is a misnomer. These ANSWER YES NO

SIGNED issue, fill out the "ballot" and mail it to him. ¥\ address

TOWN STATE.

You can address any Representative c/o U.S. House of Representatives, Wash- ington, O.C. 20515; any Senator c/o U.S. Senate, Washington. D.C. 20510.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 15 SEVERSKY- Aviation's Versatile Genius

Seversky at his desk, before a mural of the fighter escort planes he struggled to have adopted in time.

being "too far out." He conceived es- A look at the life and times of Alexander P. de sential missions for military planes in war that we only belatedly Seversky, who made the world catch up with him. adopted in WW2. Carrying on where Billy Mitchell left off, he fought to make us adopt them, finally going By EUGENE LYONS You cannot fly on an airplane that to the public with his best-selling does not bear Seversky's stamp. He book "Victory Through Air Power" Major Alexander P. de Seversky did more than any other man to cre- (1942), and a Disney adaptation of died in New York on Aug. 14, ate the difference between the plod- it for the screen in 1943. 1974, at the age of 80. Seversky was ding old "jennies" with their struts, The wing flap is Seversky's, as is a Russian who lost a leg flying for and the streamlined thing we con- the gyroscopic bombsight, and the the Czar in the First World War. But ceive any plane to be today. wing whose strutless strength is in he died a great American, whose He could fly with the best of them, its "skin," permitting fuel tanks in- name belongs in the stratosphere of and he made planes that were so far side it. With Sperry, he developed the roster of those who developed ahead of their time that they were the automatic pilot. More than that, aviation in general, and military avi- thought odd and unreal—planes so the very look of airplanes as we ation in particular. None were as advanced that his financial backers know them today first appeared in- versatile as Seversky. ousted him from his own company for side the head of this man who was

16 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 — ——

very nearly thrown out of the Czar's He was a colorful personality, end- air force in 1916. lessly energetic, life-loving, with a In that Spring of 1916, at a naval great zest for physical activity air base on the Black Sea, a demon- swimming, diving, ice-skating, danc- stration of Russian military aviation ing—despite, and because of, his was under way for high-ranking physical handicap. army and navy brass. Suddenly all As in the case of so many foreign- eyes were turned to an airplane born Americans, Seversky was patri- giving an exhibition of stunting. The otic beyond many of the native born, plane spun, rolled and looped, dived who tend to take American freedoms and zoomed, whining in breath-tak- and achievements for granted. But ing acrobatics. Who was the superb while detesting the communist re- flier, everyone wanted to know. A gime, he loved the land of his birth. check of the station's combat and In 56 years in his adopted country test fliers accounted for everyone he never quite lost his Russian ac- who had any authority to be up cent, and his prolific writings needed there. "Englishing" and editing. I know, Finally the craft landed and the because that need brought us to- pilot stepped out. It was the lean gether in collaboration that made an young man with an artificial leg enduring friendship. not quite 22—who had arrived from During the eight years when he Petrograd by rail some days earlier was neck-deep in the aviation in- P. Seversky as a to deliver a batch of bombers and Alexander de young dustry, conventional financial back- combat flier in the Czar's WW1 navy. had been supervising their assembly. ers, on arriving at his home to make The commanding officer's pride business decisions, might find him turned to anger. Even the gold- that he could fly despite the handi- wearing a Russian blouse, playing braided dignitaries pretended to be cap. The scheme worked. He was re- UPI outraged. The young man had taken assigned to the Baltic area where he the plane without permission and in had suffered the mishap. defiance of his orders against pilot- Two years later, the communist ing. He was arrested at once, and takeover of the Russian Revolution confined to quarters to await chas- caused Seversky to settle permanent- tisement. ly in the United States, whose hos- News of the episode spread through pitality he repaid during every one the country. Czar Nicholas II asked of the next 56 years. the Navy Ministry for a full report. Aviation for him was at once a Though he deplored the breach of sport, a passion, a business, a life- discipline, the Czar appreciated the long cause. His role in the develop- spirit of the exploit and ordered that ment of air power in this century the flier be restored immediately to was as significant as that of Admiral full flying duty. Mahan on behalf of sea power in the The offender was—of course closing decades of the preceding cen- Alexander P. de Seversky. He had tury. His zeal for the cause led those lost his right leg on his first combat who couldn't or wouldn't understand mission the year before, and had his concepts to call him an extremist, been petitioning in vain to be re- a fanatic and worse. In the critical President Franklin Roosevelt presents turned to flying. In the show on the years of WW2 his name became Harmon trophy to Seversky after fliers voted him the Black Sea he saw a chance to prove virtually a synonym for air power. world's outstanding airman in 1939. Tough years were still ahead.

Russian folk songs an oversized WIDE WORLD on accordion. Some of them worried about their investments under the management of such a man. Matters were hardly improved when he stub- bornly proceeded to design and man- ufacture—with his backers' money advanced types of planes that he con- sidered indispensable in a coming war, when the sole domestic "custom- er," the War Department, insisted they were not needed. Seversky was remarkably versa- tile. Probably alone among aviation leaders he was a record-smashing flier, combat and test pilot; aero- nautical inventor, designer and man- ufacturer; engineer and scientist; author and lecturer. The Gold Sword and the Order of St. George presented to him by the last Czar of Russia and the Medal of Merit presented

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 17 COURTESY MAJOR ALEXANDER P. do SEVERSKY U. S. AIR FORCE PHOTOGRAPH

Four years before WW2 we still used "pursuit planes" with cloth wings and wire The P-47 Thunderbolt, offspring of the struts, and didn't think bombers needed long-range fighter escorts. Seversky protested P-43, which proved to be vital to our and made the first metal-winged escorts at his own risk (and loss). Above, his P-43's. strategic bombing in World War Two.

CONTI nued Seversky—Aviation's Versatile Genius

about 30 years later by President acclaimed by others. Taking off from a commission as naval lieutenant. Truman symbolically spanned the the doctrines pioneered by the Italian Further courses followed in the Mili- breadth of his military background. General Giulio Douhet before WW1 tary School of Aeronautics at Se- The scores of Seversky inventions and by General William E. (Billy) bastopol. "Flying came too easily for range from the first fully automatic Mitchell after that war, he carried my own good," he said later. "I was bombsight in 1923 to the "ionocraft" their ideas far beyond them. able to solo after four minutes of in- and other devices based on ionic Sasha, as he was generally called, struction and did not hesitate to risk emission patented in the last decades was born in Tiflis (now Tbilisi) on the Czar's planes and my own neck of his life. The New York Times June 7, 1894, into a well-off family. in stunt and record flying a week or rightly declared on Aug. 1, 1943, His father, Nicholas, a prominent two later." that Major de Seversky "prides him- theatre owner, a producer of musical At 21, he was assigned to the self on never having advocated an shows and a sportsman in St. Peters- Naval Air Station on Oesel Island in aero-nautical idea which he was not burg, was the first Russian to buy the Baltic Sea. He had been there ready to translate into engineering and fly a private airplane. Alexander only a few days when the command- reality." It is a literal fact that prac- and his younger brother George ing officer, on July 15, 1915, asked tically all aircraft today embody naturally became juvenile aviation for a volunteer to join him in a some Seversky innovations. buffs, building model planes powered two-plane bombing mission against What assured him an honored with rubber bands. He recalled later German ships in unfavorable weath- place in military history, however, that in his teens his inventive streak er. Seversky jumped at the chance. was his thinking on strategy and "showed up in improved designs, The weather worsened. The com- tactics in the new air age. The day rudimentary counter-propellers, a mander sensibly turned back, but came when his fundamental con- primitive automatic pendulum to Seversky held to course. cepts, many of them dramatically give my models stability and other He found the German warships, substantiated in WW2, were so fully crude devices." which opened fire and hit the plane. accepted that they seemed elemen- Seversky graduated from the Rus- He dropped some bombs and headed tary. But they were revolutionary in sian Imperial Naval Academy in for home. The plane steadily lost their time, denounced by some and 1914 with degrees in engineering and altitude. Within view of the base he

WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS

Scenes from the Disney-Seversky movie based on Seversky's "Victory Through Air Power." Churchill insisted that Roosevelt view it as a must in planning the invasion of Normandy.

18 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 WIDE WORLD for planes and patented a series of hydraulic retractable and braking mechanisms. Aware that in time of distress a one-legged flier would find it especially difficult to jump clear of a spinning aircraft, he invented a "spin chute" for arresting a flat spin. In late 1917, after the Revolution, the Provisional Government of Kerensky appointed Seversky to a Russian Naval Mission to the United States. His departure was delayed by his superiors at the base; then came a long journey across civil-war-torn Siberia. By the time he arrived in the United States, in March 1918, the Bolsheviks had ousted Kerensky and seized power in Russia. Seversky at once offered himself to the WWI U.S. Army Air Service. He was ac-

Seversky had to fight for his ideas in WW2, was hailed in the end. Here, War Secre- tary Rob't Patterson decorates him in 1947, as Air Force Gen. Carl Spaatz approves. had to land on the water. The bombs said. Even flying seemed just a su- remaining in the rack immediately perior sport. Now the brake on his exploded. He managed to cling to a natural exuberance imposed by the piece of wreckage and, in excruciat- crash made him serious and contem- ing pain, explored his body. Where plative. Aviation, he realized, was a his right leg had been he found only science and an art. He became "ex- mushy nothingness. citingly aware of the wonders of Doctors wanted the leg amputated aeronautics and hydrodynamics." to the hip at once. But Seversky, de- As Inspector of Aircraft and then termined to fly again, fought for as commander of pursuits, he tin- every inch of stump despite the risk kered endlessly to adjust planes to his of gangrene and death. A series of physical limitations. Among other operations whittled down the leg to things, he designed roller skis for just below the knee. While still on flying boats, which were adopted by crutches he was returned to war the Russian Navy. To reduce the service as Chief Naval Aircraft In- load on his wooden leg, he subse- spector for the Petrograd (St. Pe- quently developed hydraulic brakes tersburg) District. SPERRY DIVISION, SPERRY RAND CORPORATION In a few months he was fitted with an artificial leg and soon was fully Seversky conceived midair refueling as habituated to it. Friendly pilots sur- a youngster in the Czar's air force, de- reptitiously let him try the controls. veloped it for the U.S. Army in 1923. He was convinced that he could fly, but the authorities rejected his pe- cepted, but not for the fighting titions for reinstatement. There was fronts. Because of his engineering no precedent of a one-legged pilot in and production background he was the fighting forces. It took personal made consulting engineer and test intervention of the Czar, as we have pilot, to help put SE-5 fighters into seen, to restore him to full flying production in the Buffalo area. The duty. In 1917, he was in command work brought him into ever closer of all Baltic Sea pursuit aviation. contact with key figures in American Before the end of the war he flew 57 aviation. missions, shot down 13 German Through Horace Hickham, Sever- planes and became famous as Rus- sky in 1921 met General Billy Mitch- sia's number one naval aviation ace. ell. In a sense that was the true be- The accident worked a deep psy- ginning of his destined career in chological change. Until then he had America. Their total agreement on cared only for sport and fun—"the the future role of aviation proved to The Sperry-Seversky C-l bombsight of life of the party in the colorful stu- 1923, in its time superior to all pre- be a solid foundation for a close dent world of St. Petersburg," he vious instruments for aiming bombs. (Continued on page 40)

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 19 A PAUSE ON WALL STREET TO OBSERVE THE BILL OF RIGHTS

the facing page you see a people's rights. Many states, includ- based largely on Virginia's—adopted Onceremony at 26 Wall Street, ing Massachusetts, Virginia and New June 12, 1776—which also recognized New York City, which was held last York, had made it known at the time that it should be a stricture against Sept. 25—as it has been every Sept. they ratified the Constitution that government rather than a granting 25 since 1943. This was the site of the they agreed with Henry and expected of rights by law. Virginia's was first Capitol of the United States a Bill of Rights to follow. largely the handiwork of George Ma- under the Constitution. Here the The opposing views were hand- son, another who wanted no Consti- First Congress met, in 1789. Here somely compromised. The Bill of tution without such a bill. George Washington was inaugurated Rights—as adopted—says very little Thomas Jefferson borrowed from on April 30, 1789, as our first Presi- about what rights the people have. the Virginia document (including the dent. And here the Bill of Rights was It says a lot about what government idea of "inalienable rights") in draft- first introduced in Congress and was may not do to infringe on the liberties ing the Declaration of Independence. passed by it on Sept. 25, 1789. of the people. It actually restricts The original U.S. Capitol had been The ceremony that you see has only the federal government, but it a New York City Hall—begun in been conducted annually for 32 years has been increasingly interpreted 1699—and was renamed Federal Hall by Wall Street Post 1217, American ever since to restrict the states and when Congress moved in, in 1789. Legion, jointly with the New York lesser governments as well. But it was demolished in 1813 to City National Shrines Associates and And to accommodate the Hamilton make room for residences. The pres- the Bill of Rights Commemorative view, the Ninth and Tenth Amend- ent Federal H^.11 National Memorial Society. (Some details of this year's ments are devoted solely to stating was planned in the 1820's, finished in observance are noted on page 27.) It that the people's rights are in no way the 1840's. It was at first a Customs is an annual pause in the business of limited to those in the Bill of Rights, House before becoming a memorial Wall Street to observe the passage and that the powers of the people and building and museum marking the through Congress of the First Ten the states include all powers that are site of the old Federal Hall. Imbedded Amendments to the Constitution. By not specifically given to the United in its foundations is rubble salvaged the time enough states had ratified States in the Constitution. from the remains of early colonial them, it was Dec. 15, 1791—a date The national Bill of Rights was ramparts. that is also still marked as Bill of Rights Day—and Congress had moved to Philadelphia. The First Ten Amendments Congress actually passed 12 ARTICLE I. case to be a witness against himself, nor be de- Amendments Sept. 25, 1789. Two, on Religious Establishment Prohibited. Free- prived of life, liberty, or property, without due which had nothing to do with the dom of Speech, of the Press, and Right to process of law; nor shall private property be taken Petition. for public use without just compensation. people's rights, were not ratified. Congress shall make no law respecting an estab- ARTICLE VI. lishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exer- Right to Speedy Trial, Witnesses, etc. The Constitution had been adopted cise thereof; speech, or abridging the freedom of In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall or of the press; or the right of the people peace- earlier—in 1787—without a Bill of enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an ably to assemble, and to petition the Government impartial jury of the State and district wherein the Rights. Alexander Hamilton felt that for a redress of grievances. crime shall have been committed, which district ARTICLE n. a Bill of Rights would be superfluous, shall have been previously ascertained by law, and Right to Keep and Bear Arms. to be informed of the nature and cause of the while Patrick Henry did everything A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses security of a free State, the right of the people to against him; to have compulsory process for ob- he could to prevent adoption of a keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. taining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Constitution Bill of Rights. ARTICLE ni. assistance of counsel for his defense. without a Conditions for Quarters for Soldiers. ARTICLE VII. soldier shall, in time of be quartered Their opposing views were shared by No peace Right of Trial by Jury. in any house, without the consent of the owner, In suits at common law, where the value in many leaders and ordinary people of nor in time of war, but in a manner to be pre- controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right scribed by law. of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried the times. ARTICLE IV. by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any Right of Search and Seizure Regulated. Hamilton's position was that the court of the United States, than according to the The right of the people to be secure in their rules of the common law. people are born with their rights. persons, nouses, papers, and effects, against un- ARTICLE VIJJ. "inalienable" the reasonable searches and seizures, shall not be They are —and not violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon Excessive Bail or Fines and Cruel Punish- gift of any government. What a gov- probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, ment Prohibited. and particularly describing the place to be Excessive bail shall not be required, nor exces- ernment can give it can take away. searched, and the persons or things to be seized. sive fines imposed, nor cmel and unusual punish- ments inflicted. So let us not have our government ARTICLE V. Provisions concerning prosecution, Trial and ARTICLE IX. Rule of Construction of Constitution. list if it granting Punishment Private Property not to Be our rights, as were — Constitution, of certain Taken for Public Use Without Compensation. The enumeration in the rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage them to us. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, others retained by the people. Patrick Henry, speaking for many or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a present- ment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in ARTICLE X. as well as himself, said that European cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Rights of States Under Constitution. militia, when in actual service in time of war or The powers not delegated to the United States governments had granted and then public danger: nor shall any person be subject for by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the withdrawn or limited the rights of the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal the people. the people, in the absence of any binding supreme law specifying the

20 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 ftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftft

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

A Holiday Message

By James M. Wagonseller, National Commander, The American Legion

ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft- ft--ft ft' ft

IT IS no simple thing to say everything that comes poisons of profiteering, drug-peddling corruption to the mind and the heart as we move into the and from the influence of cynical amorality and year-end holiday season and the start of a New vicious surroundings. Year. Our Legion is a force to help these and similar To every member of The American Legion fam- wishes come true, through its Rehabilitation, Na- ily—Legionnaires, Auxiliaries, the Sons of The tional Security, Law and Order, Americanism, Chil- American Legion—I wish the very best of every- dren & Youth, Economic and other programs. thing, in the name of The American Legion as well But until they all come true no force on their as personally from myself to you. May your cup behalf is enough. run over. Let us then include in our New Year's Resolu- May God send a speedy recovery to all who lie tions a resolve to become more active in what we on sickbeds. I thank those comrades who have vis- stand for, and to raise a bigger Legion on behalf ited and brought cheer and gifts and companionship of what we believe in. to the sick in the last year. I pray that more may We can count millions of men and women who resolve to join them in the coming year. I thank fought for America who are not in our ranks for the many Posts and Units that will hold children's God and Country—many because they have never parties during the coming holiday season. I thank been asked and many more because there are not those who have provided so much assistance to enough Legion Posts to enlist them where they live. young and old in their communities during the old Let us ask all of those who live near our Posts to year. May their numbers increase in the New Year. join us. Let us form new Posts wherever there are I have wishes too, that need to come true but not enough. can't come true by wishing. I wish that every Viet- There is no such thing as having too many people nam veteran who wants to go to college and can enlisted for the Legion's preamble. There is no such be accepted, might actually go to college. I wish thing as being too active for our veterans, our that veterans—young and old—who want and need young people, our old and disabled, our national new homes might be able to buy them. I wish that security, the security of our people from crime and disabled and elderly veterans who are living from violence. hand to mouth on shrinking pensions might find Let us fill our stocking, and America's stocking, their stocking fuller, instead of finding a hole in with more Legionnaires, pledged to more activity the bottom of it, with their pensions trickling out to carry out the programs that you and I believe in. even as Uncle Sam stuffs Social Security increases This is a New Year's Resolution that I offer for in at the top. myself and all of you. I wish that our American people might be secure in their homes, and in their persons and in their places of business—in brightest day and in darkest night. I wish that our country might remain strong and secure among nations. I wish that our children might be free from crippling disease, and from the ftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftft 22 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 . .

VETERANS A DIGEST OF EVENTS WHICH ARE NEWSLETTER OF PERSONAL INTEREST TO YOU

DECEMBER 1974

VETS G.I. BILL IMPROVEMENTS PASSED STOP-GAP IMPROVEMENTS IN VETS AND AND PRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE AWAITED: DEPENDENTS PENSION PROGRAM STALLED: Just before recess for election The Congressional election recess campaigning, Congress passed HR12628, also halted action on proposed changes the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjust- in veterans and dependents pension

ment Assistance Act of 1974. . .At press- programs ... S4040 , which provides time, the bill was still being held stop-gap measures such as a $400 in- on Capitol Hill for fear it might be crease in income limitations and a

pocket vetoed by the President if 12% boost in rates , passed the Senate

sent to the White House during the unanimously before recess. . .It was recess ... If it were pocket vetoed Con- awaiting House Veterans Affairs Com- gress, due back to work on Nov. 18, mittee action at presstime but no would not have the opportunity to over- hitch was expected to hinder passage

ride the veto in this session. . . .However, the pension bill was also Here are the most significant subject to Presidential veto because

provisions of the act as finally of President Ford ' s expressed desire

adopted : It would increase by 22.7% to reduce governmental expenditures the rates of educational assistance . . .Here, again, Congress was reported allowance for eligible veterans, wives, ready to override a veto.

widows and children. . .For instance,

a single vet ' s monthly subsistence LEGION PROTESTS LEGISLATION BEING

would go from $220 to $270. . .It would DRAFTED WHICH COULD LIFT TAX EXEMPTION raise by 18.2% the monthly training FROM VA COMPENSATION AND PENSION, AND assistance allowance for vets taking MILITARY DISABILITY RETIREMENT PAY: full-time on-the-job training. .. Single Legion Legislative workers in our vet rate here goes from $160 to Washington office report much concern

$189. . .The same goes for vets taking about certain portions of the Tax Re- PREP, flight training or pursuing a form Act of 1974, which was being worked

correspondence education program. . .It on by the House Committee on Ways & would liberalize eligibility require- Means as we went to press. . . In a ments for disabled Viet vets to equalize letter to Committee Chmn Wilbur Mills, 1 them with those received by WWII and Nat 1 Cmdr James M. Wagonseller said :

Korean War vets . . . It would extend "It appears to us that subparagraph the maximum entitlement for education (b) of Section 105, if enacted, benefits from 36-46 months for study would result in depriving veterans leading only to an undergraduate who are in receipt of compensation

degree. . .It would permit the first six and pension, and former members of the services who are in months of active Nat ' 1 Guard and military Reserve duty to be counted toward receipt of disability retirement entitlement if members serve 12 con- benefits , of part or all of the tax secutive months or more ... It would exemption to which they are presently authorize direct loans up to $600 a statutorily entitled for these school year to help cover education benefits. We cannot believe that it costs not otherwise covered. is the intent of your Committee to All amendments in the act become achieve such an inequitable result. effective when and if the President It is our earnest request that it be " signs it or Congress overrides a veto, deleted from the draft measure. . . If except that the rate increase will be such a measure became law this bizarre effective Sept. 1, 1974. . .The new loan situation could result : the VA and program would be effective Jan. 1, 1975. the military services would dispense The bill is not all the Legion lawful benefits and the Internal sought but it does go a long way to- Revenue Service would lawfully take ward providing some measure of equi- them back ! table treatment of Vietnam veterans PASSES in today * s inflationary economy. . VETERANS DAY BILL (NOV. 11) The Legion lost its battle this year SENATE: HOUSE ACTION PENDING: for tuition payments up to $1,000 and In mid-October the Senate passed entitlement of 45 months for a combination S4081, the bill to restore Veterans . of undergraduate and graduate study Day to Nov. 11 , by vote of 50-4. along with some other provisions , but The measure then went to the House the battle will go on. where action was awaited following

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 23 . . , , . . . .

CONTINUED VETERANS NEWSLETTER

the Congressional recess for election date of discharge. . .The news may campaigning. . .If adopted by the House be important to some women veterans the bill will correct the action of who would like to take on-the- the 90th Congress over five years ago job training or education benefits which caused all the furor and confu- now that their children are reaching sion about which day to honor the ages where they no longer need constant nation' s veterans. . .At presstime, 42 care . . . The VA says about 100 , 000 women states had laws on the books for Nov. vets may be eligible. . .Those interested

11. . .The other eight : Ala. , Colo. should contact the local VA represen-

Hawaii, Nev. , N.J., R.I., Tex., and tatives or Legion service officers.

Utah. . . In the spring of 1974 the New Jersey Legislature overwhelmingly SOUTH DAKOTA LISTS JAN. 1, 1975 passed a Nov. 11 Veterans Day bill DEADLINE FOR VIET VETS BONUS: which was vetoed by Gov. Brendan The South Dakota Division of Vet- Byrne in mid-October. . .The N.J. As- erans Affairs has announced that all sembly promptly re-adopted the measure, claims for Vietnam Era Veterans state 64-3, and sent it to the state Senate bonuses must be received by Jan. 1, where it was assured quick passage . . 1975 to be considered valid claims. . Gov. Byrne indicated he would sign it if Interested South Dakota Vietnam vets the measure was re-passed. . .The N.J. may write for information and bonus

Legion and other veterans organiza- application forms to : South Dakota tions worked hard on this one Division of Veterans Affairs , State Capitol Bldg. Pierre, S.D. 57501. VA SETS JAN. 1 DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONNAIRES: PENSION INCOME DELAWARE STUDYING FEASIBILITY VA pensioners who received in- OF A STATE VETERANS CEMETERY: come questionnaires with their In Delaware, Gov. Sherman W. November benefit checks must re- Tribbit recently signed legisla- turn them to the VA by January 1 tion creating a 10-man committee instead of the customary January 15. . to study the feasibility of estab- The deadline was moved up in an lishing a veterans cemetery in that effort to relieve the last minute state. . .Members of the Legislature crush of questionnaires which some- and various veterans organizations times caused delays in the mailing will comprise the committee. of checks. . .Those 72 years old or older who have been on pension rolls consecutive years U.S. ARMY MILITARY HISTORY GROUP during the last two SEEKS MEMENTOS AND ARTIFACTS: are exempt from reporting unless they WW1 The History income changes which put them U.S. Army Military had Research over limits Collection at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., is seeking mementos, materials LEGION AWAITS CONGRESSIONAL artifacts, and archival ACTION TO CHANGE ITS CHARTER: from those who served in the U. S At presstime, the Legion was Army during WWI either in the U.S. awaiting action by the House Com- or overseas. . .The material can in- clude personal letters , journals, mittee on Judiciary on HR16761 , a bill to amend the act which incor- diaries, maps, photographs, unit porates The American Legion, so that histories, newspapers, badges, in- membership eligibility periods could signia, patches, unusual equipment any- be widened to accommodate more vet- (either U.S. or foreign) , and thing else which may be historically erans (see page 25) . . .A similar bill, or S4013, had already passed the Senate. useful. . .For donation submissions further information, write to : Di- Gl BILL BENEFITS STILL AVAILABLE rector, U.S. Army Military History FOR ELIGIBLE WOMEN VETERANS: Research Collection, Carlisle Bar- Some women veterans who did not racks, Pa. 17015 . . .Don't send anything use their G.I. Bill benefits after without checking first. . .The Army will the Korean War may not realize they pay postage if they agree to accept too are eligibile for schooling until your donation. . .The Army will also

May 31 , 1976 or ten years from the place your name on the collection.

24 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 —

AMERICAN LEGION NEWS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

DECEMBER, 1974

Legion Moves New Programs New Eligibility Dates In response to inquiries, News of the Legion herewith presents a brief To Boost Natl Membership recapitulation of the Legion's new membership eligibility dates and other Nat'l Exec Committee adopts paid-up-for-life membership pertinent information. At presstime, Congress was poised to amend the plan for 1976 at fall meetings; aiso set are cash incen- Legion's federal charter so that the tive plans keyed to new post growth and free trips to dates would conform. The new dates: WWI, April 6, 1917-Nov. 11, 1918 Minneapolis Nat'l Convention for 1975 membership highs. (no change); WWII, Dec. 7, 1941- Dec. 31, 1946 (formerly Sept. 2, The American Legion has adopted a and (2) free trips to the 1975 National 1945); Korean War, June 25, 1950- national paid-up-for-life membership Convention in Minneapolis (Aug. 15- Jan. 31, 1955 (formerly July 27. plan to be offered to Legion departments 21) for post, district and department 1953); Vietnam War, Aug. 5, 1964- in time for the 1976 membership year. commanders whose categories reached Aug. 15, 1973. In addition—and The plan, part of a two-pronged drive all-time highs in 1975 membership by which has not been widely noticed to increase and stabilize Legion member- certain specified dates. Details were be- all active duty members of the U.S. ship in the coming years, was adopted by ing distributed to departments and posts armed forces are eligible to join the the National Executive Committee at as we went to press. Legion provided any part of their ser- National Headquarters in Indianapolis, The national paid-up-for-life member- vice occurred during one of the eligi- Ind., Oct. 9-10. Also in session were the ship plan (not to be confused with honor- bility periods. Since active duty per- national commissions and committees of ary memberships) to be offered to de- sonnel may not have a discharge, the the Legion and the national Department partments was developed by joint study Legion's National Judge Advocate has Commanders & Adjutants Conference of the Nat'l Finance Commission, the ruled that, in the absence of other evi- (Oct. 6-8) . (A list of chairmen appointed Nat'l Membership & Post Activities dence, an official memorandum from to national commissions and a Digest of Committee and the Nat'l Internal Affairs the commanding officer of the pro- Resolutions adopted by the Nat'l Execu- Commission. Briefly, the cost to individ- spective member's military unit will tive Committee follows this story.) ual Legionnaires will be based on age suffice. The memorandum should During the fall meetings, National and the amount of dues charged by each show that active military service be- Commander James M. Wagonseller post at the time the plan is purchased. gan prior to August 15, 1973. Just one (Ohio) announced the other part of the Though the plan will be purchased from day of active, honorable military ser- membership campaign that would (1) the post the dues will also include de- vice during any one of the four eligi- provide cash incentives (prizes of $50, partment and national fees. All funds bility periods outlined above fully $75 and $100) to departments for estab- will go into a national trust fund and qualifies a veteran for Legion mem- lishment of new posts during the year payments will be made each year to bership.

Legion Leaders Briefed On President's Reconciliation Plan cover the members post, department and national dues. To get an idea of what the cost of a PUFL membership would be, let's take the case of three Legionnaires in good standing aged 45, 55 and 65, who belong to a post that charges $10.00 annual dues. The cost would be about $235.00 to the 45-year-old member, $186.00 to the 55 year-old member and $135.00 to the 65-year-old-member. Though PUFL is a national plan, de-

partments may opt out of it by vote of their Department Executive Committees or Department Conventions. It should be noted that PUFL, which a member

may purchase for himself, is not the same as an Honorary Life Membership which is awarded to a member by his post in recognition of outstanding ser- Selective Service Director Byron Pepitone (standing, left) and Col. Donald Connelly of the U. S. Army's Processing Center at Camp Atterbury/Ft. Harrison, Ind., (right) vice. Complete details on the paid-up- brief Legion Nat'l Security Commission members on the President's Reconcilia- for-life membership plan will be dis- military tion Program at fall meetings. Though the Army center can process 600 tributed to departments and posts in the deserters per day out of an estimated 12,500, by presstime less than 1,000 had coming months. moved through the program. The Legion announced it will not provide counsel to draft evaders and military deserters covered by the President's clemency program. In another action at the fall meet-

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 25 ,

NEWS months to the current 36 months of GI Meet Madame President F. B. I. Chief Speaks Bill education entitlement but limited them to undergraduate study. The Le- gion urges that the total of 45 months be okayed for undergraduate and graduate study. Other items of general interest re- ported at Nat'l Hq: The National Convention Commission listed the following tentative recommen-

* j ^ X7 _ _ _ _> >J dations for future national conventions: D a o Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 15-21, 1975; Seattle, Wash., Aug. 20-26, 1976; Den-

0 C ver, Colo., Aug. 19-25, 1977; New Or- " a a a'"?' leans, La., Aug. 18-24, 1978 and Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 17-23, 1979. Mrs. Maurice Kubby (Tex.), Nat'l Presi- dent of the Legion's Auxiliary, is intro- Some 1975 national meeting dates: duced to the National Executive Com- Midwinter Washington Conference, mittee during fall meetings. The two Mar. 3-6 with Banquet to the Congress leaders pledged "mutual helpfulness" Mar. 5 and Nat'l Cmdr's presentation of and set the annual friendly membership wager between the two organizations. Legion mandates to Congressional Com- mittees on Veterans Affairs on Mar. 4. F. B. I. Director Clarence M. Kelley was Spring 1975 Nat'l Executive Committee ings, the National Executive Committee guest speaker at Nat'l Cmdr's Banquet Meeting at Nat'l Hq. Indianapolis, Ind., to the Nat'l Executive Committee during adopted a resolution to support the April 30-May 1, preceded by meetings fall meetings. He warned that the "urban American Freedom Train and Freedom of national commissions and committees guerrilla" has declared war on America Bell project as part of the Legion's par- and that the nation "must not tolerate, on April 28-29. ticipation in national Bicentennial ob- condone or excuse terrorism in any shape, form or manner." Mr. Kelley is servances. Previous support for a statue Nat'l Commission Changes a member of the District of Columbia of WWI Gen. John "Blackjack" Persh- F. B. I. Legion post. ing to be placed in Washington, D.C., The National Executive Committee was withdrawn when it was learned the appointed chairmen and members to fill Area, W. D. Parker, Ala.; Midwestern site for the statue could not be ready in vacancies on 1974-75 national policy Area, Mrs. Elenor M. Hagen, Miss.; time for Bicentennial observances. As bodies. Here is a list of the national Western Area, Tom Clarkin, Ariz. seen now, the Freedom Train is planned chairmen whose appointments were ap- CONVENTION: Lawrence E. Hoff- to tour the nation during the Bicenten- proved. COMMISSIONS are in capital man, Fla.; Contests Supervisory, Deming nial period with American historical arti- letters with committees and other di- Smith, S.D.; Distinguished Guests, Mau- facts. It is hoped the Freedom Bell will visions of commissions printed in italics. rice E. Druhl, Ore. be placed on the grounds of the U.S. AMERICANISM: Daniel J. O'Con- ECONOMIC: Al Keller, Jr., 111.; Em- Capitol when the tour is completed. nor, N.Y.; Counter-Subversive Activi- ployment, Merrick W. Swords. Jr., La.; More details will be released as they are ties, J. E. Martie, Nev.; Americanism Veterans Preference, A. B. Fennell, S.C. developed. Council, Albert H. Woessner, N.Y. FINANCE: Churchill T. Williams, Another resolution adopted by the AMERICAN LEGION MAGA- Iowa; Life Insurance & Trust, Albert V. Committee called for an amendment to ZINE: Benjamin B. Truskoski, Conn. LaBiche, La.; Emblem, Clayton C. Sch- the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment CHILDREN & YOUTH: Earl D. lick, Iowa; Overseas Graves Decoration Act of 1974, awaiting President Ford's Franklin, Jr., Colo.; New England Area, Trust, Nat'l Cmdr James M. Wagon- action at the time of their meeting. The Lester R. Perham, N.H.; Middle Atlantic seller, Ohio. act, as adopted by Congress, added nine Area. Frank Piampiano, N.J.; Southern FOREIGN RELATIONS: Robert P.

John Spirit of '76 Report Andreola Four Legion department representa- tives reported on the progress of Spirit of '76 activities at the fall meetings. From left, Norm Arveson, Dep't Cmdr, Minn., H. Gordon Burleigh, Dep't Cmdr, N.Y., Bill Dunn, Dep't Adjt, Wash., and Pat Hone, Dep't Adjt, Ohio. Each said his department had budgeted funds for defi- nite Spirit of '76 programs. Among the ideas and projects being considered: pa- rade floats, school coloring contests, post open houses and renovation, tree plant- ings, cap pins and arm patches, special vehicles, flag selling programs, historical high school videotape dramas, county fair booths, patriotic awards, '76 speak- ers bureau, Bicentennial queen contests and donations of Americana items to libraries and schools.

26 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 Homecoming Celebration For National Commander Wagonseller At Columbus, O.

About 700 Legionnaires from around the nation gathered in next to the Cmdr is his wife, Mary, and at far right, Rep. Columbus, Ohio on the weekend of Oct. 4-6 to attend a Home- Clarence E. Miller, who represents the Cmdr's own district coming Celebration for National Commander James M. Wag- (10th). En route by bus to the fall meetings, the Homecom- onseller. Sen. Robert Taft, Jr., (above, left) and other digni- ing group stopped for lunch and toured the U. S. Air Force taries lauded the Cmdr at a banquet held in his honor. Seated Museum (above) at Wright Patterson A. F. Base, Dayton, O.

Foster, Mo.; Foreign Relations Council, • Urges the U.S. to limit military grants to • Authorizes use of excess over reserve allied or friendly nations threatened by ag- funds of The American Legion Life Insurance Martin T. Jansen, Wis. gression who are unable to pay rather than Trust Fund for furtherance of The American unwilling to pay for military equipment. (12) Legion Baseball Program for 1974 (1) and INTERNAL AFFAIRS: lohn M. • Urges adoption of federal legislation es- for 1975 (2). Carey, Mich.; Constitution & By-Laws, tablishing underground water quality stan- • Amends the National Constitution of the dards and laws against pollution of those Sons of The American Legion to set dues at Francis L. Giordano, N.Y.; Member- resources. (5) $1.00 per year and provide for appointment • Reaffirms Legion policy against the United and election of national officers. (6) ship & Post Activities, William F. Nations recommended Genocide Conven- • Establishes a consolidated post reporting Gormley, Pa.; Resolutions Assignment, tion. (9) system so that posts may report their major • Petitions the U.S. Congress to amend the activities and programs to Department and Alex M. Geiger, S. C; Trophies, Sedition Act of 1917 to equate the words National Headquarters. (7) "armed conflict" with war. (22) • Amends Legion statement of policy re- Awards & Ceremonials, Daniel A. • Urges legislation to provide VA benefits garding Temporary Financial Assistance to Canadian Armed Forces veterans and wid- Drew, Pa. Program for Children & Youth to conform ows resident in the U.S. ten or more years to new membership eligibility dates. (4) LEGISLATIVE: Frank I. Hamilton, on an equal basis with those received by • Authorizes contract between the Legion U.S. veterans and widows residing in Can- and the National Cash Register Corp. for Ind. ada. (8) leasing of computer system equipment. (11) NATIONAL SECURITY: Emmett • Seeks legislation to elevate the position • Approves reimbursement to the Legion of Director of Veterans Employment Service for Life Insurance Trust Fund expenses. (3) G. Lenihan, Wash.; Aerospace, Joseph to that of Assistant Secretary of Labor, up- • Appoints Clarence S. Campbell (Vt.) as grade the Veterans Employment Service and Chairman Emeritus of the Legion's Nat'l L. Hodges, Va.; Defense Civil Pre- provide it separate funding. (13) Economic Commission. (18) • Seeks legislative amendment to existing paredness, Stacey A. Garner, Tenn.; • Appoints Clarence C. Horton (Ala.) as law to stipulate that veterans preference in Chairman Emeritus of the Legion's Nat'l Law & Order, Paul S. Kinsey, Ohio; the public employment service be provided Legislative Commission. (19) only to honorably discharged veterans of the • Appoints Donald J. Smith (Mich.) as Merchant Marine, William D. Horan, U.S. armed forces. (14) Chairman Emeritus of the Legion's Nat'l In- • Urges legislation to provide that military ternal Commission. N.Y.; Military Francis P. Affairs (20) Affairs, Kane, retirees will have status as preference eli- • Amends Legion Nat'l Convention Require- gibles for appointment and retention in fed- 111.; Naval Affairs, John J. Wrenn, ments Booklet. (24) eral employment (with certain exceptions) • Dissolves the Legion's Advisory Commit- Mass.; Nat' I Security Council, Gran- the same as all other eligible veterans. (15) tee on Education and Scholarships and the • Supports legislation to reimburse states Prisoner of War Committee. (25) ville S. Ridley, Tenn. for workmen's compensation costs for dis- • Rescinds Rule 8B of the Rules of the Nat'l PUBLIC RELATIONS: C. D. De- abled service-connected veterans who suffer Executive Committee. (26) a second injury. (16) Loach, D. C. • Amends Legion policy on American edu- VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHA- cation. (21) Boys State Conference BILITATION: W. F. Lenker, S. D.; Eighty-six directors and assistants of Area A, Maurice J. Levesque, N.H.; Bill of Rights Medal Boys State programs from 41 Legion Area B, Ralph A. Westerfield, P.R.; Departments, under the chairmanship Area C, G. Ward Moody, Tex.; Area of Dr. Edwin L. Peterson (Utah), met D, Robert C. Munter, Ohio; Area E, at National Headquarters on Oct. 5 & 6 J. Earl Merifield, Cal.; Nat'l Cemetery, to discuss problems, programs and goals Carl L. Lundgren, Minn. of the various Boys States. Featured on the agenda was a panel- Digest of Resolutions audience discussion. "Aspects of a Joint Endeavor," on the jointly-held Boys Here is a digest of resolutions adopted Nation-Girls Nation program in Wash- at the fall 1974 meeting of the Legion's ington, D.C. set for July-August 1976, National Executive Committee. Identi- as part of the Legion's Bicentennial ob- fying numbers are in parentheses. servance. Tentative plans call for at- • Establishes a national paid-up-for-life Past Nat'l Cmdr James F. O'Neil (r), membership plan for The American Legion. tendance in the nation's capital of 300 Publisher of this magazine, is shown re- (10) youth delegates, three from each of the • Supports the American Freedom Train ceiving the 32nd Annual Bill of Rights and Freedom Bell project as part of the Le- Defense Gold Medal Award from Post Boys and Girls State programs. They gion's participation in national Bicentennial Arthur F. Acito, presented by Wall will in observances. (23) Cmdr spend 14 days Washington, one • Calls for elimination from the Vietnam Street Post 1217, Dep't of N.Y., at the day at the Colonial Restoration in Wil- Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974 of National Historic Site, Federal Hall Na- provisions which limit use of training eligi- liamsburg, Va., and three days in the tional Memorial in N.Y. City on Sept. 25. bility above 36 months to undergraduate Philadelphia-Valley area. study. (17) For more on Federal Hall, see pp. 20-21. Forge

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 27 Department Commanders, 1974-75

The American Legion Depart- ment Commanders and National Executive Committeemen for the 1974-75 term are shown on these facing pages. The Commanders were elected by Department Conventions in the late spring or summer of

1 974 and serve for one year. The Committeemen are elected in the same manner but serve for two years. The Nation- al Commander, the five National Vice Commanders and the Na-

0. A. "Al" Benton James W. White Darrell A. Loveland Melvin "Doc" Simon Donald S. Houser Frank Batchelor M. D. Herzbrun Henry F. Renard Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming 28 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 National Executive Committeemen ,1974-75

tional Chaplain are also mem- bers of the policy-making body with the Commander serving as Chairman. In addition, living Past National Commanders are life members of the Committee with a voice but no vote. The 58 Legion Departments include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Common- wealth of Puerto Rico, the Pana- ma Canal Zone, Mexico, Can- ada, the Philippines, Italy and France.

Clayton Mann Quinn Plowman Leo E. Wright Thomas J. Gear Joseph Feldman Charles E. Forsythe Keith A. Kreul James T. Anderson Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE DECEMBER 1974 29 .

NEWS Airmen "Bomb" Armed service, held at Pegnitz, Germany, com- Smith, Tacoma Post 197, who coordi- memorating the death of 37 Americans nated the Legion's efforts in this proj- Forces Chess Tourney in a CH 47 Chenook helicopter crash ect. Of the nation's grand total of $16 chess team took all The Air Force near the Nurnberg-Berlin Autobahn on million, this segment netted MD $170,- honors, except the award for the most August 19, 1971. The service was spon- 000. 15th annual Armed brilliant game, in the sored by the City of Pegnitz and Vil- the Forces chess championship, held in When Detroit businessman William Washington, Legion's Hall of Flags, Widger recently hosted 29 visiting the Thomas D.C. Air Force players won foreign dignitaries at his home on be- in Emery Trophy by amassing 49 points half of Michigan Governor William the 12 rounds of play to 37 Vi for the G. Milliken, The American Legion's Army and 2\V2 for the Sea Services 70-piece "Iron Brigade" Band and 20- (Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard) piece color guard entertained them places. Air Force swept the first four with music and historical pageantry. The champion is Sgt. Richard Busta- mante, Castle AFB, Calif., with a score Memorial to American air crash victims of IOV2. AWC Johan Hansen, NAS, Brunswick, Me., was selected by tourna- seek Post 100. The above photo shows ment director L.R. Rogers to receive the the memorial erected by the citizens of award for the most brilliant game. Pegnitz. Addressing the audience of The Thomas Emery Trophy was pre- 1,000 or more persons were Dep't sented to Brig. Gen. Andrew Iosue, AF Cmdr John Holmes, Post 100 Cmdr member of the Honorary Committee for Harold Witter, Pegnitz Mayor Konrad the tournament. Champion Bustamante Loehr, and BG Milton Key, 56th Art'y received the Bulova Watch-Time award Bde CG. Several German veterans orga- and The American Legion-Veterans Af- nizations attended. fairs award. An awards buffet was hosted by the Flood waters reach second step of Kampsville, III., post home as 20th Dis- American Chess Foundation and the Le- trict Legionnaires gather for Convention. gion, represented by Foundation Board chairman Thomas Parsons, 3rd, of New Kampsville, 111., is a town in Calhoun York, and Erie Cocke, Jr., Legion Past County where the Mississippi and Illi- Nat'l Cmdr (1950-51). nois Rivers come together, and on June 9 they certainly did. It was convention Confederate Graves Marked time for the 20th District and the meet- The task of identifying and mark- ing was held on four feet of water (see ing over 400 graves of Confederate photos). "On the appointed day," says soldiers and one nurse in the Confed- Historic gifts to Missouri Governor Bond Edward Akin, 20th District Cmdr, erate Circle at Mt. Olivet cemetery in A project of Post 245, St. Louis, and of "Legionnaires were loaded into Army Nashville, Tenn., has been undertaken the Dep't of Missouri is the presentation by Mrs. Florence Redelsheimer, a Post of authentic facsimile restoration copies 5 Legionnaire. She is a former WW2 of the Declaration of Independence and Army nurse. the Constitution of the United States to There are almost 1,600 veterans schools where American History would buried in the Circle, yet only 26 had be studied and taught. Gov. Christopher identity known by grave markers. Mrs. S. Bond (hatless, center in photo) was Redelsheimer, who is Public Relations given framed copies of those documents.

Administrator of the Nashville Ceme- The project, it is hoped, will stimulate tery, has spent two years in research- interest and participation in the Legion's ing to find the records of the Returned Bicentennial Observance. Kampsville, III., streets in June flood. War Dead buried in 1869 by the Ladies Memorial Assoc. The land is trucks and hauled to the Legion home, now owned by the United Daughters which was built on a terrace. The trans- of the Confederacy. The Nat'l Ceme- port went through four feet of water." tery Monuments Services are supplying Akin holds the flag in above picture. the markers. The Tenth Annual Wisconsin Legion BRIEFLY NOTED trap shoot, hosted by Somers Post 552, Eleven posts of the Dep't of France produced Dick Larrabee of Lodi as were represented at a special memorial "top gun." Tom Huck of Somers Post and his son, Mike, won the Father- Son shoot. The meet had 27 en- Washington Telethon brings $ for MD trants. Some 57 Legionnaires from 14 posts in the Dep't of Washington joined together When Trooper Robert Paris, Delaware to answer phones for a Jerry Lewis Tele- State Police, was killed while investigat- thon for Muscular Dystrophy. Tacoma's ing a robbery at a motel on Route 13, Channel 1 1 TV personality, Legionnaire leaving behind a wife and two minor Don St. Thomas (see photo), interviewed children, the Delaware Legion estab- Dep't of France Cmdr Holmes addresses mourners at services for dead soldiers. Dep't Sgt.-at-Arms J^mes (Rocky) lished an Operation Paris, Legion Schol-

30 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 rector Vol. Service; Lloyd Sowell, Post £ Cmdr; Bennie Leviton, Post VCmdr; | and Maurice Hammett, Post Chaplain.

Post 1508, Yonkers, N.Y., dedicated a memorial monument at the post home in honor of deceased comrades, of all wars, of the post.

Pembine, Wis., Post 546 gave Legion heroism medals to two youths who res- cued two boys from a wrecked burning Delaware gives a memorial scholarship. auto. Post Cmdr Wallace Thrall made Post 190, Portsmouth, Va., presented Le- gion ROTC awards for scholastic excel- the presentation to Pat Cleveland and arship Fund. This will help provide lence to 2nd Lt. M. Elliott, Mil. Intel., and Eric Anderson. Attending were Dep't higher education beyond high school ROTC Cadet 2nd Lt. L. Chambers, Nor- VCmdr Nedra Robinson and County folk State College. Making awards were level, or vocational training, for the Cmdr Jim Larson. 2nd Dist. VC Cephas Wright (left) and two daughters. In the photo, Dep't Post 190 Cmdr Warner Griffin. Cmdr Edward Phillips, Sr., presents the scholarship check to Kim Allison Paris, now enrolled in the Univ. of Delaware. Also shown are Raymond Trabbold, Nat'l Executive Committee- man (1973-74), and members of the Scholarship Committee: Dr. Carl Rees, Mrs. Catherine Bailey, and Nathan Rosbrow. The remaining half of the fund will be presented to Kim's sister, Beth G. Paris, at a later time.

The Wyoming County, N.Y., Legion has made an award to the Aronson Machine Co., of Arcade, in recognition of its policy of hiring veterans. Out of a total Post 444, Milwaukee, Wise, gave this 23" color TV to VA Hospital at Woods, work force of 305 people, 46% are vet- Wise, for enjoyment of all patients. erans the are veterans). (48% of males L. to Rt.: G. Lemanczyk, Serv. Officer; The company, in cooperation with the L. Bondar, Memb.; Post Cmdr 1973 F. State Dep't of Labor, has established 11 Nowak; J. Brodhan, Hospital Director of Vol. Serv.; Post Cmdr 1974 C. Konicki. on-the-job training programs for veter- ans with 47 Vietnam vets learning skilled trades. Presenting the award to General Post 30, Camden, Me., donated a car- Among those who have worked to put Manager Louis Fulkerson were County diac stretcher chair to the Camden Com- the Memorial Day observance back munity Hospital, adjustable to needs of Cmdr Richard Blankenship and Past "to where it belongs" is Laroy Beury, individual patients. Shown are Past Post charter Post Sunbury, CCmdr Robert Moran. Cmdrs Stewart Johnston and Douglas member of 201, Urquhart and nurse Freda Hand. Pa. For 53 years he has been chairman POSTS IN ACTION

JEANNETTE NEWS DISPATCH PHOTO

TV projection system gift to VA Hosp.

Post 1, Memphis, Tenn., gave to the Memphis VA Hospital a Sony color TV projection system which will pro- ject color pictures on a 50-inch screen. It can be used with the closed circuit TV system the post donated to the hospital last year. Shown with the new Jeannette, Pa., Post 344 paid for and installed the entrance to the town's new Com- munity Park (equipped for many sports) at a cost of $5,700. PPCmdr Pete Wasnesky system and screen are, 1. to rt.: Larry and Adjutant Ted Rucolas participated in the ribbon cutting along with Mayor Richard Director; Rowe, Hospital Recreational Miaskiewicz, post member, Dep't Adjutant Edward Hoak and Alt. Nat'l Executive Mrs. Genevieve Antonelli, Hosp. Di- Committeeman Steve Mikosky took part in the dedication ceremonies.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 31 —

NEWS

of the Sunbury Joint Veterans Com- Dr. Thomas H. S. Ely, 60, Jonesville, mittee (A.L. and V.F.W.) Beury, a re- Va., Past Nat'l Executive Committeeman tired Penn R.R. machinist, helps to dec- (1965-67) and Past Dep't Cmdr (1953- orate the more than 1,400 graves of 54). A VWV2 veteran, he was Alternate deceased veterans each Memorial Day. Nat'l Executive Committeeman in 1959- He compiles his list of the deceased 65. from obituaries published in the local newspaper. William Elmer Sayer, Jr., 77, at Sebring, Fla. A member of the Indiana Legion, he was Indiana Dep't Adjutant in 1933-49 and Nat'l Ass't Adjutant in 1949-52.

Forrest A. Harness, 79, Kokomo, Ind., Past Dep't Cmdr (1929-30).

John O. Banks, 78, Fairmount, Ind., Al- Prince, a police dog trained in finding ternate Nat'l Executive Committeeman drugs, is sponsored by Post 498, Ro- in 1955-57. chester, Pa. Shown here with Prince are Police Chief John Beighey, Officer Felix DeLucca, and Post Cmdr James Ellis. Milton L. Hubbard, Sr., Cambridge, Michigan Legion and Auxiliary officials Post 498 received two State Legion tro- Md., Alternate Nat'l Executive Commit- phies for school, services. join with Michigan American Revoluton community teeman in 1962-64. Bicentennial Commission to show first series of official Michigan Bicentennial Medallion. Duane Brigstock, Bicenten- nial chm; Auxiliary President Louise Ferguson; Lt. Gov. James Brickley; and Dep't Cmdr Milo Newer, Jr., display it.

COMRADES IN DISTRESS Readers who can help these veterans are urged to do so. Usually a statement is needed in support of a VA claim. Notices are run only at the request of American Legion Service Officers represent- ing claimants, using Search For Witness Forms available only from State Legion Service Officers. 85th Gen Sup Sqdn, Erfing AFB, Germany APO 207 N.Y. (Dec 15, 1949)—Need to hear from Charlotte, Beasley, Black, Kalena, Doing everything possible to encourage Tippin, Tingle, Haller and Light in the Lodge and any other comrades who recall Vietnam vets to join the Legion, Post Nat'l Guard Post 70, Detroit, gives its that Colin D. Murray hurt his back 415, Saddle Brook, N.J., installed a annual trophy honoring outstanding grad- (chipped three vertebrae) in jumping from sign depicting a warm welcome. Frank atop three airplane motor cases (ladder uate of Officer Candidate School, Mich- had been removed). He was given light Lapenta (left) and Ken Clark hold the igan Military Academy. PPCmdr Stanley duty for three weeks. Write "CD241, Amer- sign before installation at the post. Wilk hands award to 2nd Lt. D. French. ican Legion Magazine, 1345 Ave. of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10019" NEW POSTS 94th Bomb Gp, 332nd Sqd H, Bury St. Ed- American Legion Life Insurance monds England (late 1943, early '44) Need information from Francis, Liptzin, The American Legion has recently Month Ending Sept. 30, 1974 Dahl, Murphy, Haitt, Strieff, and any chartered the following new posts: other comrades and navigator and medics Benefits paid Jan. 1-Sept. 30, 1974. .? 1,746,671 who recall that Henry A. Carter hurt his Horseshoe Bend Post 344, Horseshoe Benefits paid since April 1958 17,280,097 Basic units in force (number) 146,069 hip on combat mission crash landing when Ark.; plane ran out of fuel, crashed on rock- Bend, Commack Post 327, Com- New Applications approved since strewn strip on the cliffs of Dover. He mack, Ind.; Kenner Post 377, Kenner, Jan. 1, 1974 6,195 also hurt his hip while hand-cranking New Applications declined 1,014 bomb bay doors open and closed because La.; Cox, Right, AMICI Post 888, State New Applications suspended of a malfunction over target area. Write (applicant failed to return "CD242, American Legion Magazine, 1345 College, Pa.; Parker Corner Post 103, health form) 622 Ave. of the Americas, New York, N.Y. Temperanceville, Va. and Dakota Post American Legion Life Insurance is an official 10019" program of The American Legion, adopted 2nd Marine Div, 2nd Med Bn, Co D Saipan 163, Dakota, Wis. by the National Executive Committee, 1958. Isl (appr. August 1944) —Need to hear It is decreasing term insurance, issued on from Schmidt, H/Al; Nordyke, PhM/lC; application to paid-up members of The Sgt Donahur; Kister, PhM/2C; Squillace, American Legion subject to approval based H/Al; and the navy commander, and any on health and employment statement. Death other comrades who recall that Edward benefits decrease with age, ranging from a A. Xheurer, Sr., was hospitalized for fun- Dr. Arthur R. Choppin, 76, a prominent maximum of $40,000 for four units up through age 29 (age 25 in Ohio) to a mini- gus infection of the ears. Write "CD243, educator at Louisiana State Univ., Baton American Legion Magazine. 1345 Ave. of mum of $250 for one unit at age 75 or over. the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10019" Rouge, La., and formerly head of the Protection no longer stops at age 75, cover- age be carried for life as long as the Pope AFB, Fort Bragg, N.C. (July 1954)— may Science Dep't there; a WW1 veteran, he annual premium is paid, the insured remains Need to hear from M/Sgt Tadlock, T/Sgt a member of The American Legion, and the Curry (both from of Carolinas) served as Nat'l one the Dep't Cmdr (1946-47), Plan stays in effect. Available up to four and any other comrades of Ike who knew units at a flat rate of $24 per unit a year on a L. Davis's record in Executive Committeeman (1953-57), service and can give calendar year basis, pro-rated during the information as to the sickness he had. and Nat'l Vice Cmdr (1965-66). He was first year at $2 a month per unit for insur- Davis worked under Sgt Curry at Can- ance approved after January 1. Underwritten non AFB, "CD244, N.M. Write American a member of the Legion's Nat'l Conven- by two commercial life insurance companies, Legion Magazine, 1345 Ave. of the Amer- tion Commission. He served as vice the Occidental Life Insurance Co. of Cali- icas, New York, N.Y. 10019" fornia and United States Life Insurance Co. 6th AF, Panama Canal Zone, West End Sta chairman of the Legion's Membership in the City of New York. American Legion 71 (1947)—Need information from Busta- Insurance Trust Fund is managed by trustees mente (Zapata, Tex.); Velasquez (Col.); and Post Activities Committee in 1949- operating under the laws of Missouri. No and any other comrades recall that use the full words who 53 and as its Executive Sec'y in 1950-54. other insurance may Jose A. Chavez suffered from dizziness "American Legion." Administered by The and blackout spells. Write "CD245, Amer- In 1953-55 he served on the Nat'l Ad- American Legion Life Insurance Division, ican Legion Magazine, 1345 Ave. of the P.O. Box 5609, Chicago, Illinois 60680, to Americas, New York, N.Y. 10019" visory Committee to the Nat'l Cmdr. which write for more details.

32 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 :

LIFE MEMBERSHIPS "L.M. Form, American Legion Magazine, 726th Amtrac Bn ( WW2)— (July) Bob Priest, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, 2359 N. 23rd St., Lafayette, Ind. 47904 The award of a life membership to a Le- N.Y. 10019." 740th Tank Bn— (Aug) Bill Wright, 5500 E. gionnaire by his Post is a testimonial by those On a corner of the return envelope write Kellogg, Wichita, Ks. 67218 who know him best that he has served The the number of names you wish to report. No 741st Tank Bn— (July) John Resar, 20 Sandy American Legion well. written letter necessary to get forms. Lane Dr., Elyria, O. 44035 Below are listed some of the previously un- 753rd Rwy Snop Bn— (June) Ray Tittle, Rt published life membership Post awards that 1, Huron, O.

NIPPING PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY POWERS. PROGRAMMING THE PORK-BARREL?

CRIME -GRIM FACT OF U.S. LIFE.

hide in the next decade for any American. Congress , after moving to reduce the "We may be near that point already," he adds. President ' s war powers and control over The Attorney General notes there were the national budget , is next proceeding to whittle away at his broad authority to act on 8.6 million serious crimes reported last his own in periods of emergency. year, a figure which does not include lesser A special Senate committee has revealed, crimes and unreported crimes. Serious after a two-year study, that over the crimes rose 6% last year, 16% in the fourth decades the White House has accumulated a quarter, and 15% in the first quarter of wide variety of discretionary powers from 1974. And the situation will worsen if the nearly 500 emergency laws, some of which nation doesn't react, he adds. have long since become obsolescent. Mr. Saxbe feels, despite some steps taken The Senate has recently acted to review to date, a concerted campaign must be under- these emergency powers and to set up pro- taken by the state and local governments, cedures for new emergency powers as needed, amply supported by federal funds, and keeping close Congressional watch on their strongly supported by the American people. use and retaining the right to end such Otherwise, he warns, a reign of terror and powers of the Presidency by a concurrent vigilante counteraction will imperil our resolution, not subject to veto. The House liberties. is expected to support the Senate ; and President Ford is believed to be sympathetic balance to the idea of further restoring PEOPLE & QUOTES- between Capitol Hill and the White House. SUPERIOR LIFE-STYLE SERVING AMERICA ". "The quality of life in our . . there are legions of One of the time - honored privileges of a industrial, capitalist society men and women in public is superior service who are serving hon- Member of Congress is the right to dip into so overwhelmingly to that of other societies that orably and faithfully our in- - his the pork barrel, that is, to obtain for the time has come to put to stitutions of government. In home district a fat appropriation for public rest the notion that it is not." a real sense they are the un- works such as a dam, highway, harbor and Z. D. Bonner, president, Gulf sung peace-time heroes of run into billions Oil-U.S. America's greatness at this the like. These projects hour." Leon Jaworski. a year, and while good for the home district, THE GOVERNMENT'S WAY Uncle Sam pays the bill. of Govern- PIRATING PRIVACY Now the House Public Works Committee is "The tendency is, when you have got- projects ment "As each new data bank is toying with the idea that these ten into a great deal of created and each additional ought not to be given out on the basis of trouble by over-regulation, to bit of personal information Congressional influence, but on a long-range try to regulate your way out is recorded, that precious investment policy." of it." Interior Sec'y Rogers sphere of privacy in which "national public works Morton. on the basis an individual can do as he Each project would be approved pleases without outside inter- of its impact on the nation, not simply RECESSION OUTLOOK ference is slowly but surely the local area. whittled away." Sen. Sam on the benefits to "None of us can hope to Ervin (N.C.). The new approach is nurtured by the avoid disaster if there is a committee's chairman, Rep. John A. Blatnik severe recession in the United States." Denis Healy, former DUTY (Minn.) , who has set up four task forces DEFENSE Chancellor of Ex- some fresh thinking British "We are prepared to con- of experts to bring in chequer. and planning. tinue in the arms race as long as we must and we will never AWARE OF LIMITS accept a strategic disadvan- "We are becoming pain- tage for the U.S., but we . . . Crime is perhaps the grimmest fact of fully aware that there are have an obligation to make a amass serious effort to explore how America, says Att Gen. William limits to our ability to life in 'y wealth and to exercise power the technological explosion Saxbe. He warns that if the present rising over the rest of the world." can be moderated." Sec'y of trend continues , there may be no place to Clare Booth Luce, author. State Henry Kissinger.

34 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 "When we foundout what AARPdid forpeople over 55, my wife didn't mind telling her age"

"After a friend of ours told us about AARP, I said to my ivife, 'Irma, everybody's having fun but us.' So I clipped out a coupon just like the one on this page. And got our AARP memberships. I ivish ive had done it 5 years earlier." What's AARP? Irma and Peter McNulty AARP is the American Association of Retired Persons. A non-profit association of more than 6 million people. Rich people. AH you have to be is 55 or over. Poor people. People the go. People on who We don't care who you are, where you live, like to stay put. It's one of the few or what you do, if you're 55 or over you can organizations that offers you the opportunity be a member of AARP. And find the purpose to give so much of yourself, and at the same and involvement you've been looking for. time provides so many benefits and services. So tell us your age. Because joining AARP is the best way we know to start feeling What does it give? younger. Primarily it gives you the opportunity for a new kind of life. A way to explore new interests. To save money on medicines, travel, auto and health insurance. To Join AARR strengthen the voice of older Americans in federal, state and local government. The new social security But, most of all, it's a way to maintain your for people 55 over. individuality, and your dignity. and

How does AARP work? i American Association of Retired Persons To become enrolled in AARP all you have i 1909 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006 to do is clip and mail this coupon. Your i Gentlemen : I am 55 or over. membership costs you $2 a year. That's it. i Please enroll me as a member of AARP. I under- i stand that it makes me eligible for all AARP What kind of benefits or services? i benefits and privileges. i Enclosed find : $2 (one year dues) Well, there's AARP's travel service. i $5 (3 year dues) Bill me later. There's information about a recommended i Life Insurance Plan and an Auto Insurance Name . Plan designed for mature persons. Eligibility i (Please Print) DCTV i Address, for a Group Health Insurance Plan to help i supplement Medicare. There's a home- City_ _Birthdate_ delivery pharmacy service. There are over i 1600 local chapters where you can meet new i State_ -Zip Code people and get involved in community One membership entitles both member and spouse programs. There's Mature Temps, a service to all AARP benefits and privileges. i to help you get part-time work. You even (Only one member may vote.) i receive subscriptions to Modem Maturity magazine and the AARP Neivs Bulletin. THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 3£ :

PERSONAL

CHRISTMAS GIFTS COST MORE. FINDING A GOOD DENTIST. EMPLOYEE PENSION LAW FACTS.

Playing Santa this Christmas obviously is going to be more expensive than a year ago. Here's a rundown on how price averages in some of the popular categories compare with 1973: of Women's and girls' clothing: Overall, tags are up 6% or better. Some the standard holiday items, however, top the average by a good bit: gloves hand, nylon are 8% to 10% more expensive; ditto handbags. On the other hose and pantyhose are no higher, and—in some cases—could be less. Men's and boys' clothing: Up 8% to 10%. Dress shirts show about that rise; socks cost about 5% more, but slacks are not up. Bicycles and tricycles: Figure at least a 10% rise. WITH THE HOTTEST TIP Major appliances: Price increases are rather small—4% at the outside. in this area. TV sets and radios are up even less (1% to 2%). Shop carefully occur in FUNd RAISING! Dealers don't like to carry large, expensive inventories. Markdowns

And, if you'll send for our free regularly. at least 12%. booklet we'll let you in on our Dinnerware: Way up. Fine china and flatware are up outside. Cal- little secret. We have the sure- Cameras, tape recorders and calculators: Up 2% at the very fire way to make any occasion a culators are down, and the quality is better. sell-out. You'll bring in more Jewelry: As you might expect—prices have shot up steeply. pos- money than you believed Personal care items (perfumes, etc.): Another high riser—10% and more. sible. Don't delay, send in today and get the hottest tip on fund raising. Write: Dept.C-10 More and more people are going to dentists each year, partly because of 271 Schilling Circle insurance a better appreciation of the value of dental care, partly because Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030 den- programs make it possible. How do you find a good or call collect and other assistance Citizens Action Group, in cooperation with the (301) 666-9222 tist? Now the Connecticut Connecticut Dental Assn. (and an assist from Aetna Life & Casualty), has come up with a manual that has some down-to-earth suggestions: dentist who will show you how to take ORDER 1. Look for a prevention-minded care of your teeth—proper brushing, use of floss, plaque-removal. DIRECT to yank 'em out. Some- 2. Beware of the fellow whose first impulse is explains from resort, be sure your dentist first explores—and ... times it's a last but is not as —the alternatives. Furthermore, in the long run tooth removal economical as it may first seem. a few minutes, then 3. Avoid the "chair-hopper"—the dentist who works considerable shoos you out. Good dentists do their best when working for a Send Today For stretch without interruption. do, he suggests 4. Find a dentist who tells you what he proposes to why MONROE terms. is willing to talk financial Catalog it, asks your permission to go ahead and Meantime, here are clues to the incidence of dental disease: bleeding when THE MONROE COMPANY breath; brushing; sore gums; teeth that seem loose or begin to protrude; bad 69 Church St., Colfax, Iowa 50054 r pain after eating sweets, drinking hot or cold liquids or chewing. HERNIA BRIEF law of the New, from England, no metal parts, light, com- The Employee Retirement Income Security Act at last is the fortable. Miracle Adjust-A-Pad—allows instant pad let your employer adjustment. Wear this modern support—forget your land. Because the legislation is so complex, you'd better hernia. 10 DAY FREE TRIAL - NO CASH NECESSARY - YOU PAY ONLY ON SATIS- explain it to you. Broadly, though, remember this FACTION. Send for details of fulL range includ- • The law doesn't force an employer to establish a pension plan. But if ing Medicare approved items. INC., 33 born, it will have to SURGICAL INTERNATIONAL Dept. one now is in existence, or a new one is about to be Box 24, 401 Kennedy Blvd., Somerdale, N.J. 08083__ comply with certain safeguards. (but not all) plans will be protected by insur- IAiUTM ANSWERING ADS— One safeguard is that many Writ. IN to pension GIVE YOUR ZIP CODE ance against collapse. Another is earlier access of employees that is, the plans—at age 25 with a year's service. A third is that "vesting"— furthermore employee's equity in a pension fund—will begin sooner, and Puzzled? job. But note this: If you shift I he will keep it even if he moves to another status as is; you M Puzzled over what to give for Christ- to another employer, you can't transfer your old pension ¥ mas? One of the best bargains still around accumulated up to that point. W (and a gift that lasts and lasts) is a non- do, however, keep whatever equity you have •f member subscription to The American your own re- • If you are not in a private pension fund, you can set up |? Legion Magazine. Get yours for Christ- gift-giving at to per year for em- sjj mas or other occasions tirement account by using tax-free income (up $1,500 $2.00 each from Circulation Dept., P. O. W. self-employed). f Box 1954, Indianapolis. Ind.. 46206. Send ployed persons; $7,500 for * name and address, including ZIP Code By Edgar A. Grunwald number, of each recipient along with ff check or money order for the proper total.

36 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 OUR ILLEGAL ALIEN PROBLEM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Bunny Sleeper file income tax returns on their earn- ings. Many more underpay. "Assuming that two-thirds of No female who has known and these aliens were employed for the full calendar year, the estimated loss loved and outgrown this "Classic of revenue would approach $100 mil- Favorite" will be able to resist it. lion to the federal government and $15 million to the various states," This is the original "wearable blanket" — the the IRS says. grownup version of a child's favorite, now in Balance of payments. According a frankly sexy, shape nattering, body warm- to Luis Velarde, Jr., the Southwest Regional Director of the U.S. Cath- ing sleeper. Styled in fuzzy, soft, machine- olic Conference, Migration and Ref- s' washable and dryable acrylic (just like the ugee Services, "We found out that crib-set's still-popular models), they there are . . . literally thousands of zip a gal up in the coziest top-to-toe foreign money orders that are comfort she's known since she was 6. bought and sent into small pueblos %- Slippers are detachable—even with- in Mexico for . . . $200 and $300 at out blankets there's never a draft. a time." So whether she (or any bunny on Again, no one knows what the anyone's "special" list) admits to yearly total is, but illegal aliens are unquestionably sending a large pro- 40 or proudly announces 14, our portion of the money they earn back Bunny Sleeper means deep-down home, contributing to our balance of luxury for lounging or dreaming. payments problem, and taking money (Matter of fact, fellow we know was out of the hands of merchants and heard to lament "too bad they don't service industries in the United make 'em for men!") Perfect for ski States who would get it if it were wardrobes, dorm, holiday gifts . . . dif- earned and spent by Americans. Esti- ferent and delightful to give or get! mates of the amount have run as high as $10.4 billion annually, ac- cording to testimony given to the $ 95 House. ORDER TODAY ... A beautiful value at . 19 In addition, the large numbers of SAVE Two Bunny Sleepers $37.50 illegal aliens living here increase the MORE! Three Bunny Sleepers $54.00 costs involved in maintaining our CHOICE OF FAVORITE COLORS police forces and fire departments, Baby Pink • Powder Blue • Sun Yellow • Fire Orange our garbage collection, roads, parks and administrative services. Mexicans have been coming into THE EVERYTHING GUARANTEE EVERYTHING: The quality, ac- the United States to work for de- The GALLERY guarantees curacy of description, availability, prompt delivery. If not de- cades. The practice began in earnest lighted, return the Bunny Sleeper(s) within three weeks after you receive it (not the usual 10 days) for instant refund of in WW1, when American farmers purchase price or cancellation of charges. and growers in the Southwest began recruiting them to replace regular workers going off to war.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED . . . MAIL COUPON TODAY. By 1920, it was habit. During the next decade, an average of 500,000 ^^GALLERY Dept. 3554, Amsterdam, N.Y. 12010 Mexican workers crossed the border each year. The Immigration Act, Please send Bunny 4461 X Bunny Sleeper Sleeper(s) as indi- which was passed in 1924, did noth- cated below. (Add Quantity Color Size ing to stop them—it was aimed at $1.50 per garment for shipping and reducing the of south- huge number handling. New York ern Europeans arriving here. But it residents add appro- did set up a 450-man Border Patrol. priate sales tax.) When the depression hit, the job Name market dried up. Between 1930 and (Please Print) 1940, only 28,000 Mexicans entered Address. the country annually. But once City State_ -Zip. again, war intervened. With the CONSULT THIS CHART FOR CORRECT SIZE Check or money order enclosed. coming of WW2, when millions of Charge my Credit Card # Choose this American workers put on uniforms, If Height is: Size: Card Expiration date , farmers and growers had nowhere Up to 5'2" Small American Express Carte Blanche Q Master Charge else to turn for help but Mexico. 5'2" to 5'4" Medium Playboy Key BankAmericard In 1942, the United States and 5'4" to 5'6" Large Expedite your order. Charge to your credit card above by Mexico concluded their first Bracero Over 5'6" Extra Large calling toll-free 1-800-833-6231. (manual laborer) Agreement, under Signature which hundreds of thousands of

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 37 ;

OUR ILLEGAL ALIEN PROBLEM "They think," he says, "that if the CONTINUED border were really sealed—that if the Mexicans were permitted to enter have been able to get in the United safety valve of jobs to the north the country to work, with the U.S. States—legally or illegally—and the were tightly closed—there might be government acting as primary em- money they've been able to send another revolution in Mexico within ployer. home has proved to be an important five years. They may be overstating When the agreement expired in safety valve. the situation, but no one who knows 1947, the influx continued, supported During the last six years of the Mexico can discount what the safety by individual farmers. In 1951, the bracero program—1958 to 1964—the valve means to the present stability." two countries signed a second Bra- money earned by Mexican workers If anything is really clear about cero Agreement. By then, however, here constituted that country's fourth the complex illegal alien problem many more Mexicans wanted to largest source of foreign exchange. here, it's that it must somehow be work here than were provided for in Today, the earnings of Mexico's U.S. solved quickly. the treaty. illegals are probably even more im- Many solutions have been sug- This led to laws denying entry to portant to the country. gested: building a Berlin Wall-type non-authorized Mexican aliens and When the bracero program ended, barrier between the U.S. and Mexico penalizing those who harbored or Mexico undertook the Border Indus- lifting all restrictions on immigra- transported them. It also led to abuses in Mexico, where corrupt of- ficials extracted payoffs from those workers they allowed to become braceros. Nonetheless, the program greatly benefited both Mexico and its work- ers. In 1959, for example, nearly half a million braceros—8% of the labor force in rural Mexico—entered the U.S., earning an average of four times what they could earn at home. Meanwhile, under Operation Wet- back, the Border Patrol rounded up most of the Mexicans who had en- tered illegally and sent them back. By 1963, the yearly total appre- hended reached 50,000. In 1964, pressure from American farm unions ended the bracero pro- gram. The unions held that the Mexi- can workers were being poorly treated and underpaid by their American employers—which hurt both the Mexicans and the American "Cold floor?" unions. THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE But the arrangement was bene- ficial for the Mexicans, in the eyes of the growers, and beneficial to trialization Program to provide jobs tion; dramatically increasing the them. The Mexicans got paid rela- for those citizens who had moved INS budget; subjecting illegals to tively well by their standards, the from the interior to the border in long jail sentences and fines. Most growers had relatively cheap labor. anticipation of receiving bracero of these ideas, however, are either So illegal immigration went into status, and were stuck there without outrageously expensive or totally high gear. jobs. It "has not begun to solve impractical. Some Mexicans continue to be ad- Mexico's burgeoning unemployment The American Legion has put its mitted to this country legally even problem," say Andrew McLellan and weight behind another concept alto- now, under something called labor Michael Boggs, of the AFL-CIO's gether. At its regular meeting in certification. This law allows em- Department of International Affairs. Indianapolis last May, the National ployers to apply to the government Today, they say, Mexico is "mount- Executive Committee voted to sup- for the right to hire aliens, if they ing an unprecedented effort to revive port "the adoption of legislation can show there is a shortage of the bracero concept. The U.S. De- which will prohibit the employment American labor in a particular in- partment of State has had to rebuff of illegal aliens." dustry. The citrus industry in Florida the considerable efforts of the gov- A bill to that effect passed the is a current example. ernment of Mexico to legalize illegals House on May 3, 1973, and at this This program covers only a tiny in the U.S. and to reinstate the writing still awaited Senate action. fraction of those Mexicans who'd bracero program." It is H.R. 982, written by Rep. Peter been accustomed to finding work Says Richard Severo, former chief Rodino, Jr. (N.J.), Chairman of the here, however, and it is subject to of the New York Times Mexico City House Judiciary Committee. The all sorts of abuses, from employers bureau, "In Mexico, among disorga- Legion's national convention in Au- who lie about labor shortages to nized groups of communists, there is gust echoed its NEC resolution, and aliens who mail home their entry talk—only half in jest—that what its Legislative Director advised the papers so they can be used by other they ought to do is quietly support Senate last September that the Ro- aliens—for a price. the U.S. Border Patrol to increase dino bill would "satisfy our resolu- For Mexico, the jobs their citizens its effectiveness. tion."

38 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 In brief, H.R. 982 provides that Employees Withholding Exemption of illegal aliens has been made un- "it shall be unlawful for any em- Certificate employees must fill out. lawful. Furthermore, in order to ployer ... to knowingly employ any Of course, an employer could in- avoid . i . discrimination, the bill has alien in the United States who has struct prospective employees who been carefully drafted in an effort to ." not been lawfully admitted. . . are illegal aliens to lie on the W-4 assure conscientious employers that If an employer is caught violating form. INS Southwest Region Com- they will not be subject to penalties the law, the penalty for a first of- missioner Leonard Gilman doesn't if they made a bona fide inquiry" fense is a warning. For a second of- believe this will happen often. "Most about the prospective employee's fense, he may be assessed not more people are basically honest," he says, status. than $500 for each alien involved. "and in my opinion ... 80% of our Civil libertarians have objected to Both of these are civil penalties. The problem would be over" if such a the Rodino bill on the basis that it third time he's caught, he is "guilty law were passed. could lead to a requirement that of a misdemeanor and upon convic- Even if some employers continue every American carry papers prov- tion . . . shall be punished by a fine to employ illegals, if most obey the ing legal residence and the right to not exceeding $1,000 or by imprison- law the INS could concentrate on work—the same sort of papers ment not exceeding one year, or violators, with good hopes of catch- everyone must carry in communist both, for each alien" he has em- ing most of them. countries, to be shown to the police ployed. While the Legion, the AFL-CIO on demand. Here, too, however, the The key to the bill is the phrase and other unions, and many other bill has been carefully drafted, to "knowingly employ." Under current interested parties support the Rodino elicit only the minimal amount of law, no employer has any legal bill, some objections to it have been information needed to make it work. reason to care whether or not his voiced. Some farmers and growers have employees are American citizens, In its hearings, the Rodino com- objected to the bill because, they say, legal or illegal aliens. mittee heard the argument "that without the Mexican illegals, there's H.R. 982 would require an em- employers, faced with the possibility not enough labor to tend the farms. ployer to ask each prospective em- of criminal penalties for hiring il- The unions say this isn't so. Who- ployee if he is an American citizen. legal aliens, will refrain from hiring ever is right, the Department of If he says, yes, then that's all that's any individual with a foreign accent Labor will have to make sure that necessary. But if his answer is no, or a Spanish surname," even if labor is available, or that it can be then he must show some documen- they're American citizens or legal imported, if necessary, from areas tation that he is here under legal alien residents. of high unemployment here, if that's conditions. Otherwise, no job. The "It should be emphasized," says practical, or from Mexico, if that's easiest way to ask the question might the committee report, in rebuttal, the only way to do it. be to include it on the W-4 form, the "that only the 'knowing employment' (Continued on page k0) FREE

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THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 39 .

OUR ILLEGAL ALIEN PROBLEM CONTINUED Brother Legioneers But inherent in the bill's solution sideration for them—perhaps some to the problem lurks a possibly kind of 'grandfather clause' that are thrilled with this greater problem: what the Mexican would suspend their removal pend- government will do to absorb the ing action by the Congress in private Fun & Fund Raiser millions of its citizens forced to re- bills to permit them to become turn home as a result of the bill's United States citizens." passage. There is no ready solution. Such a jobless horde thrown suddenly But for recent and new arrivals into the government's lap could cre- the only way to deal with them is ate sufficient weight to bring the to cut off the job that lures them government down and throw our here. southern neighbor into revolutionary Last Sept. 21, Chapman testified chaos. that if the Rodino bill were passed, A solution to this problem might and if the INS budget were raised is the famous horse race game used the be one suggested by Chapman. from about $125 million to $175 mil- world over. The game is played with 16mm "Some of these people have been il- lion, allowing it to hire 2,000 more races in color and sound with film of actual legally in this country for a great men and introduce new procedures, the fastest, finest thoroughbreds in action. many years," he notes. "Many of the flood of illegals could be checked

It's a complete package too! - 18 sealed them are honorable members of their overnight and open up a million jobs containers of filmed races, Programs, Mutuel communities, with families [and] for "legal" Americans. But without

Tickets, Play Money, Computer Forms, Tote businesses. . . the Rodino bill he viewed the situ- Board and Instructions are provided. "I think there has to be some con- ation as being "insoluble." end

For the complete story of what A Nite At The Races can do for your organization,

write, wire or call . . . SEVERSKY—AVIATION'S VERSATILE GENIUS «^Hjtc eg. (he iaccs. ii^c. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 2320 Avenue U / Brooklyn, N.Y. 11229

(212) 769-7355 friendship as long as Mitchell lived. Sperry, Sr., laid the foundation for In 1921, Mitchell was planning his all gyroscopically-stabilized instru- historic tests of the supremacy of ments, including the automatic pilot. the airplane over the battleship. At For Seversky, 1923 was a banner his urging, Seversky, though an year. That was when he married a Huge savings on tiny, all-in- the-ear, behind the ear, eye- alien, was made consultant to the beautiful New Orleans girl, Evelyn glass and body models. New j Air Corps and assigned to assist Olliphant, which he rated among his space age models are so tiny and welf concealed your clos- General Mitchell. prime achievements. Under his tute- est friends may never even notice. FREE HOME TRIAL. They worked together in prepar- lage she became a first-rate flier. An- Low as $10 monthly. Money ing the bombing of a captured Ger- other banner year was 1927, when back guarantee. If your doctor recommends you use a hearing man warship off Newport News. Top he became an American citizen. He aid, ask him about Prestige aids. Write today for free catalog and confidential booklet. Navy men did not take the experi- was thereupon commissioned Major PRESTIGE, Dept. D-91, Box 10947, Houston, Tex. 77018. ment seriously. Secretary of the in the Air Corps Specialists Reserve Navy Josephus Daniels jocularly of- for a five-year period, a title he CHANGE OF ADDRESS fered to stand on the deck "with his proudly used thereafter. Subscribers, notify Circulation Dept., please off" P. O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206 hat when Mitchell attacked. He Nobody could keep up with every using Form 3578 which is available at your would have been safe—the bombs innovation Seversky brought to avia- local post office. Attach old address label and give old and new addresses with ZIP Code that sank the vessel were dropped tion. In 1929, explaining a rash of number current membership card num- and flights ber. Also, notify your Post Adjutant or other not on the deck but in the water new endurance managed by officer charged with such responsibilities. alongside, a tactic Seversky had refueling planes in midair, The learned in combat in the Baltic Sea. American Legion Magazine told its The successful sinking and others readers that midair refueling was I EVERY READER WANT that followed did little to advance originated by Seversky back when ,jj^of^^.of this Paper to have my big red Mitchell's claims. Military spokes- he flew for the Czar, and that re- Ed earliana tomato men light-mindedly dismissed the fueling apparatus was perfected by F"KING OF THE EARLIES" feats, arguing that the targets were him in 1923 as a U.S. Army con- mi Big solid, scarlet fruit, disease resistant, heavy yielder. Ideal for derelicts without defensive fire- sultant. table or canning. Send 16c for big power. In 1931, having rounded up the 'Mmjacket or 25c for 2 packets *»»»-CDCr and copy of Seed and Nursery Catalog. Billy Mitchell encouraged the necessary financing, he formed the H. R. SHUMWAY SEEDSMAN to of his Seversky Aircraft Corporation, lo- Dept. 303 ROCKFORD. ILLINOIS 61101 younger man perfect some early inventions, particularly the cated on Long Island. His purpose, automatic bombsight. Seversky se- he announced, was to develop fighter lected the Sperry Gyroscope Com- planes in line with his strategic con- SUPPORT ,ss v pany as his development base. In victions, most of which were hereti- Y D U R ffi 1923, he delivered the world's first cal to the uppermost military circles. fully-automatic synchronized bomb- A rule he set and adhered to was to MENTAL ? "J sight, which the U.S. Government flight-test personally the craft he HEALTH V bought for $50,000. A facsimile of designed. ASSOCIATION the check hung on his office wall for The company began to produce an the rest of his life. He and Dr. Elmer array of planes emphasizing the

40 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 —

fighter qualities he considered indis- "Seversky could fly a broomstick." put the Spitfire through its paces. pensable—increased range, altitude, Not until late in 1939, when war In Nazi Germany, he was less im- firepower and armor. The prevailing loomed, were 15 of his new fighters pressed with its air forces than Col. ordered, as against hundreds for the Charles Lindbergh and other Ameri- doctrine, until cancelled out by older "pursuit" types. Even then, the cans. Beyond a certain point, Sever- actual war, was that bombers didn't Air Corps specified only 1,200 horse- sky believed, quality was more de- disastrous, need fighter escorts. More power, instead of the 1,600 to 2,000 cisive than quantity, and he found as he saw it, was the unquestioned provided in Seversky's plans. Goering's air armada deficient in assumption that sea power was and A citation to Seversky toward the range and firepower. would always remain America's end of the war, signed by President Relieved of administrative duties, "first line of defense," so that avia- Roosevelt, read in part: "He foresaw Seversky now had nothing further tion was kept on a starvation diet. the necessity for the long-range es- to sell for money. He turned to selling himself his beliefs, full time. "It was the In 1933, Seversky demonstrated an cort fighter and devoted its development. safety of our country," he wrote in all-metal amphibian plane and with single-mindedly to As a result, our country was pre- 1950, "that impelled me, from 1938 it broke his own previous speed rec- these principles forward, to address myself to the ord for amphibians. In 1935, he gave pared to apply against the enemy at the crucial mo- American people above the heads of the Army the first low-wing all- of military hierarchy in Washing- metal monoplane for basic training. ment, thereby winning the control the the air which guaranteed victory." ton. ... I was appalled by the rou- Like all his designs, they embodied F.D.R. presumably did not know: tine disregard of air power, espe- structural changes of his own, such that we could have had this cially long-range strategic force." as the now universal flaps for slow- (1) plane years earlier if it hadn't been On his return from Europe, the ing up landing speed. turned his military estab- York Post on June 13, 1939, In 1936, he built and test-flew an down by New that far being headlined an interview: "Seversky unprecedented single-seater pursuit lishment; (2) from "prepared at the crucial moment," Fears War in September." This was plane. A novel feature was that the earlier U.S. fighters lend-leased to at a time when most observers were stresses were carried by the metal inferior to be still optimistic, but the erupted wing-covering rather than struts England were too war and that for building it at on September 1. It touched off a leaving the wing available as a fuel used; (3) company expense, Seversky was flourishing reputation for Sasha as a tank. This first skin-stressed "wet wing," before long universally ousted from his company. "prophet," which he resented. In The War Department formally re- foretelling the course of warfare un- adopted, was officially credited with jected the prototype of the P-47 in der the conditions, he said, he a speed of over 300 m.p.h. and new February while its designer facts adopted by the Air Corps as stan- 1939, was merely projecting known in Europe negotiating for its sale into future: dard equipment. Flown by himself, was the evolving "That's not on his own and studying aerial equip- crystal-ball magic but hard-headed Jackie Cochrane and others, it con- ment. In Seversky's absence, the science." sistently won the Bendix Trophy, the financial backers stripped of In the years, strug- International Harmon Trophy and him war Seversky's control, the that ex- gle for true air its other awards. Seversky himself in on ground his power reached pensive plane heights. 1937 broke the New York-Washing- was not wanted by our As more and more of his own military. company, re- ideas confirmed in action, his ton and New York-Havana speed The were named Republic Aviation, mil- reputation apace, ever records. made grew drawing Meanwhile, he was developing and lions on the "unwanted" plane dur- more abusive attacks from those ing the war. doctrines were fire. His in 1938 demonstrated what was to whose under In Europe, latest become the most celebrated of his Seversky flew the support was especially large among fighters military planes, a fighter designed in Belgium, France, Ger- rank-and-file airmen, those who had many, Italy and England, where he to fly the "mistakes" con- to escort bombers, which he had long he was was the first American allowed to (Continued on page J advocated. Because the government t 2) refused a subsidy or an advance or- der (the normai procedure), he in- vested his company's money, to the distress of his financial backers. It was the AP-4, subsequently desig- nated P-43 by the Air Corps, an air- cooled pursuit plane with an engine employing a turbo-supercharger to Earwax: provide expanded range and altitude. The plane was destined to emerge the sneak thief of sound during the war in modified form as Government studies show that hearing problems and age the celebrated P-47 Thunderbolt. To go hand in hand. These studies also show that many hearing prove its combined speed and range, problems are Seversky with this plane broke the merely due to excessive earwax. Of course, anyone suspecting a transcontinental record, from New hearing problem should consult a physician to determine the cause. York to Los Angeles. One way for earwax to impair hearing is very simple. As we He pleaded with Gen. Henry H. grow older, the fine hairs lining our ear canals grow coarse. Even- Arnold, head of the Army Air tually, they can prevent earwax Forces, for support. But Hap Arnold that forms daily from getting out. This in turn muffles felt at that time that his bombers sounds trying to get in. Because the wax builds would fly so far and so high that up so gradually, your hearing can diminish without you realizing it. escorts were superfluous. When The safest, most effective way to remove eaiwax is by using Seversky warned that the basic DEBROX® Drops regularly. DEBROX is recommended by thou- bomber, the B-17, lacked adequate sands of physicians. They know it safely armament and armor, he was as- removes wax and can be used daily to prevent buildup. costs only sured that it would not have to ac- DEBROX pennies a day cept combat. (In early, unescorted and is available at drugstores without a prescription. wartime forays, U.S. bombers later shocking losses in machines and took cb i 4 men.) Major Seversky's record flights DebnoxTDROPs proved nothing, one official said in a left-handed compliment, because THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 41 SEVERSKY—AVIATION'S VERSATILE GENIUS historian Charles Beard called it CONTINUED "the most fascinating war book, bet- ter than all other war books put to- demning. He had ample proof, how- everybody: "Only under the protec- gether." The bulletin of the Book- ever, that prestigious air generals tion of air power that commands the of-the-Month Club, which distributed also agreed with him privately; entire theatre of naval operations" it, felt it necessary to caution the though open approval was consid- will any navy be able to operate in reader that "de Seversky has some- ered insubordination. Many of them the near future. times carried you too far into the consulted him in conspiratorial se- That the Mediterranean was a future." Actually he did not go far crecy. British lake was hardly questioned. enough. The publishers, fearful that Gen. Carl Spaatz, for instance, Seversky from the outset warned it might hurt the book's credibility, spent a long day at Seversky's home that this depended on the power of induced the author to eliminate a analyzing equipment and tactics be- German aviation. For him, the battle long section on the coming of jet fore leaving for England to com- for Crete, won by German air power propulsion, which the Germans in- mand the U.S. Strategic Air Forces. against British sea power, settled troduced before the war was over. On June 29, 1945, when the Euro- the issue. On Feb. 16, 1942, Churchill The book elaborated the air power pean war was over, Spaatz wrote confirmed this judgment: "The Medi- thesis that: "aviation has altered Seversky: "That you from a remote terranean is closed and all our trans- the traditional textbook conception position could sense so thoroughly ports have to go round the Cape of of strategy and tactics," so that "no the essential facts involved in the Good Hope," he announced. land or sea operations are possible application of our air power against Faith in American supremacy in without first assuming control of the Germany is to say the least remark- able." In August 1940, The American Mercury, which I was editing, pub- lished the first of many hard-hitting Seversky articles. They attracted ex- traordinary attention, giving his cru- sade the big push in public opinion it needed. The Reader's Digest and other popular magazines picked him up, then came radio debates, a syndi- cated column, lectures. His Ameri- can Mercury articles provided the substance of Seversky's first book, "Victory Through Air Power." His score on forecasts and inter- pretations, often a lone voice in the chorus of experts, was spectacular. We must content ourselves here with a few highlights. Hitler's invasion of Norway was almost unanimously hailed as his great mistake—the magnificent Brit- ish Navy would soon drive him out. Seversky insisted that because Brit- ain's aviation lacked the reach to shield ships and expeditionary forces on the Scandinavian coastlines, the Germans could deny the North Sea to the Allies, as indeed happened. It was generally assumed that when the Germans reached the En- the Pacific, similarly by reason of air above." We have no air power, it glish Channel an invasion of the Brit- overwhelming naval advantage, was stated, "we have only army and ish Isles must follow. But Seversky complete right up to early 1942. navy aviation developed and used declared: "Defensively, Britain is Seversky was dismayed by such il- primarily as auxiliary weapons for greatly superior. The Spitfire, which lusions. "If the Japanese succeed in surface operations." I flew last summer, is superior to extending their air power to the The author decried "complacency any the Germans have in great num- shores of Southern China," he wrote and brass-hat smugness" on these bers. Therefore, no invasion of Eng- nine months before Pearl Harbor, issues and demanded the "emancipa- land is possible." they would for the time being have tion of American air power" through When the Battle of Britain began the upper hand in the Far East. No a separate and independent organi- on Aug. 8, 1940, he shocked most hostile navies could then defend the zation for strategic offensives as the opinion-makers by forecasting a East Indies or any other objective new "first line of defense." Those " British victory. Moreover, he de- under that 'awning.' whom he tagged as "high moguls scribed the battle as "the main bout, Pearl Harbor was, in his words, of orthodox military science" were the authentic push." Should the Ger- "a humiliating defeat through enemy outraged and alarmed. An Assistant man air offensive fail, he said cate- air power." Then the Prince of Wales, War Secretary called in a commer- gorically, invasion will be ruled out. an up-to-date dreadnought the Brit- cial publicity man from New York The crux of his running debate ish Admiralty described as "unsink- to help with the "Seversky problem." with old-line strategists, of course, able," and the Repulse were sunk by Articles supposedly "debunking" was the relative importance of sea Japanese bombers. The Allies were Seversky, clearly directed against and air power in the unfolding strug- driven out of the western Pacific. the whole air power school of gle. Admiral Harry E. Yarnell, typi- Even so, Seversky was still being thought, multiplied. Then they lost cally, was sure "Germany will characterized as a civilian nut by steam and fizzled out. ultimately be defeated by the sea some, early in 1942. Walt Disney turned the book into power of the United States and Great The book "Victory Through Air a long documentary. For months, Se- Britain." But Seversky saw clearly Power," published in June 1942, was versky worked on the production in what in time became manifest to an instant bestseller. The eminent Hollywood. As sheer foresight, it

42 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 probably has no counterpart in mili- nese leaders were seeking a way to tary annals. Many of the planes, surrender, even before the atomic weapons and tactics projected imag- bombs were dropped. inatively on the screen were realities Seversky continued his struggle BUMS before the war's end, some even be- for genuine air power to the end of fore the film was released. One epi- the war—and long after. He pub- FOR PERMANENT sode depicted the demolition of a lished two more books "Air Power: FUND RAISING water in 1950 and "Amer- H M great dam by bombing the Key to Survival" Easy way to raise money for your Organization around it. Audiences assumed this ica: Too Young to Die" in 1961. because everyone has fun playing BINGO! was based on the actual recent de- He lectured at military war col- Thousands of Organizations are making up to $500.00 per week using struction of the Rhone Dam in Ger- leges here and abroad, kept pub- g|g "BINGO KING" supplies and FREE Idea Bulletins. Write for FREE magazines. catalog many by the R.A.F., the procedures lishing articles in major ps: and details on raising money for your Organiza- being identical. In fact, that segment In time his essential strategic in- C tion. was drawn and filmed eight months sights were generally accepted. Even PLEASE GIVE NAME OF ORGANIZATION. before the picture was released. that old Naval Person, Sir Winston ^'BUNTGO KING' The film showed rocket bombs, Churchill, speaking at the Massa- DEPT. 955, BOX 2588, LITTLETON, COLO. 80120 transoceanic pursuit planes, four- and chusetts Institute of Technology on six-engined bombers, all of exactly March 31, 1949, conceded: "Air the types subsequently built. The mastery is today the supreme ex- *e-DISCOVER rocket one Seversky had power, and fleets bomb was pression of military with C*t*m**U* IV TR 4B tried in vain to "sell" to our military and armies, however massive, must the transmitter-receiver men back in 1934. As shown in the accept a subordinate rank." Most of mineral and metal picture, its terminal velocity was his violent critics came to acknowl- detector able to pierce the steel and concrete edge Seversky's contributions to structures where Hitler's submarines military science and his intellectual Ideal for ghosttowning, parks, beaches and battlefields. Detects nested. In due time, the British built integrity. gold, silver, copper, nuggets, coins, exactly and that sort of bomb and used The long struggle for an equal rings, jewelry, etc. it successfully on precisely those independent Air Force, from Billy Other models priced from •ygso Wrife For Free literature targets. They called it their "Disney Mitchell to Sasha Seversky, was sub- up bomb." stantially won through the Unifica- WHITE'S ELECTRONICS, INC. credit terms Mailable At their conference in Quebec in tion Act of 1947. Seversky, predict- 1011 Pleasant Valley Rd. Rm. 502 Sweet Home, Ore. 97386 August 1943, the central problem for ably, was far from satisfied. The Roosevelt and Churchill was whether "equality" was "spurious," he pro- to invade Europe immediately, as tested, because the Air Force re- WAR RELICS WANTED Stalin was demanding. Roosevelt mained "slavishly" tied into out- TOP CASH PRICES Churchill feared URGENTLY NEED WAR SOUVENIRS AND was amenable, but moded strategies. RELICS, MEDALS. DOCUMENTS OF WWI, II a super-Dieppe catastrophe. When He had assailed the country's AND EARLIER. ALL COUNTRIES. WWI AVI- ATION ITEMS. he learned that the President had military establishment in wartime. NATIONALLY KNOWN FOR FAIR AND REP- UTABLE DEALINGS. IMMEDIATE ANSWER not yet seen the Disney-Seversky A few of his detractors even ques- TO ALL LETTERS. film, it was flown up from the States tioned the "patriotism" of such con- N. FLAYDERMAN & CO., INC. R. D. first #2, NEW MILFORD, CONNECTICUT and exhibited twice— to the Big duct. It speaks well for American 06776 Two, then for the entire military democracy that he was awarded the personnel in Quebec. Medal of Merit, Presidential Cita- The picture showed graphically tions and other official honors not- MICRO MINI MIKE why successful invasion was impos- withstanding. In March 1945, Secre- WIRELESS sible until the defending air forces tary of War Robert P. Patterson ap- Self contained. Picks up & transmits most were defeated or neutralized. It later pointed him Special Consultant, to sounds without wires up to 450 ft. thru any FM radio. Use as burglar alarm, became known that the visualized study and report on war damage in music amplifier, intercom, baby sitter, argument was influential in postpon- all the theatres of operation, and a hot line, etc. Comp. with batt. Money back guar. B of A, M/C cds. or COD ok ing the invasion until Allied air year later to observe the Bikini Only $14.95 add 50C for pstge. & hdlg. power attained substantial superi- atomic tests. Repeatedly in the post- AMC SALES, Dept. L Box 610, Downey, Ca. 90241 ority in the skies over western war period he was invited to present Europe. his views to Congressional commit- Perhaps Seversky's most contro- tees. Universities heaped honorary mi wmi versial contention was that ground degrees on him. warfare against Japan would be un- During the Eisenhower adminis- FLUSHES UP necessary. Japanese armies could be tration Seversky nearly became a to sewer or septic tank "bypassed," while our massive air Deputy Air Secretary. The post was no digging up floors. power took control of the skies over offered to him by Harold Talbott, WRITE , . . McPHE RSON, INC Japan and imposed surrender. In- Secretary of the Air Force. But BOX 15133 TAMPA. FLA. 33614 stead, vast American life and trea- when he realized that he was ex- sure were funneled into preparations pected to throw his prestige on Ei- for the expected showdown on the senhower's side in opposition to the ground. At Yalta, the Allies later "Project Lincoln," some of whose signed away Manchuria to Soviet recommendations coincided with his If You Served Russia under the same illusion that own thinking, Seversky declined the more bayonets were desperately job. He did not believe in the "mem- Your Country in War needed. ber-of-the team" doctrine that had In Japan, as in the British Isles, silenced men in government who Seversky insisted, an aerial offensive favored the new air power thesis. BE AGAIN could be the "main bout." Where the The advent of atom bombs seemed COUNTED Germans failed, we could succeed. to Seversky, if anything, to enhance And when we gained control of the the primacy of air power. We would By Working In skies over Japan—as in time we did still need dominance of the "air —surrender must follow. The war ocean" to deliver them. Although the The Programs Of did end without invasion, and with emergence of ICBM's (Intercontinen- great Japanese armies still intact. tal Ballistic Missiles) appeared to THE AMERICAN LEGION Once its skies were open to limitless cancel out that argument, he clung ail" attack, the more realistic Japa- (Continued on page 44)

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 43 —

SEVERSKY—AVIATION'S VERSATILE GENIUS aged will simply not represent a CONTINUED physical drain on society. Yet, even if we dismiss the im- to it tenaciously. "Ballistic missiles brains, the appropriate counter- portance of physical decay, it remains are a part of aerospace forces," and missiles dispatched to saturate its possible to argue that an aging popu- part of air power, he still path to effect collision." therefore lation threatens the breakdown of wrote in 1961. Perhaps he was evolv- His discovery that heavier-than- society in other ways. Consider: ing into an "air power diehard," like air aircraft can derive lift and pro- As the need for brute muscle van- the sea power diehards whom he had pulsion from ionic emission led him ishes with increasing fought so lustily. However, he added into new fields, including devices for mechanization, that electronics had become the main air pollution control. He formed the and as the necessity for dull and re- battleground for military ascen- Seversky Electronatom Corporation petitive mental labor diminishes with dancy. in 1952 as a vehicle for these pur- growing computerization, mankind In years when few as yet believed poses. I talked to Seversky by phone will emerge into a world where the it possible, Seversky turned his about two weeks before his death. need will be precisely for that which mental energies to "an active scien- He knew the seriousness of the is most fitting for our species' unique tific defense" against nuclear mis- stroke he had suffered, but spoke brain—creative and innovative think- siles. enthusiastically of a contract his "The very science which makes company had just concluded for the delivery with uncanny accuracy pos- distribution of his anti-pollution sible provides us with the means of products and of other work in hand. stopping oncoming planes and mis- In May 1970, Major de Seversky siles," he said. At the Wright-Pat- was elected to the Aviation Hall of terson Air Force Base (December Fame, in recognition of his "many 16, 1954), he said: "The ICBM path historic and outstanding contribu- will be tracked, its trajectory instan- tions to aviation." This is a fitting taneously computed by electronic and accurate epitaph. end.

FAREWELL TO YOUTH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 aging would contribute little to the stronger, on the average, at any world's work and demand much of given age than their ancestors were the world's care, and that the at that same age. shrinking population of young It was not just that people died would not be able to support it all? young in the days before modern Yet consider, on the other hand, medicine. Many of them were also "Just take a little off the top, or that if society is flourishing in the visibly old at 30, a rare phenomenon I'll take a lot off the tip." 21st Century, there will have been today. Even if they lived, they had THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE a continuing scientific and techno- to survive the repeated bouts of in- logical advance. The two-century-old fectious disease that we can now shift of hard manual labor from the either prevent or easily cure. They ing. It is that task that machines and straining backs of mankind to had to live on deficient diets. They computers will leave to humans. the stolid wheels and levers of the had no way of fighting diseased teeth And might we not fear that this is machine will continue and become and chronic infections, no way of precisely where age is most surely a more extensive and intensive. The ameliorating the effects of hormone liability? Is it not the experience of present trend toward automation malfunctioning, no way of countering mankind that creativity and innova- and computerization will continue to dozens of other disabilities ; and they tion are the hallmarks of youth? If broaden its effects and the need for had to exhaust themselves with un- we search through the history of hard and extended physical labor ending toil that machines do today. human accomplishment, do we not for which the young are better fit- As a result, the aging of today are find innumerable cases of young peo- ted—will continue to diminish. vigorous and "young" compared to ple achieving the new, the startling those of identical years in the medi- and the revolutionary against the In the 21st Century, the world's eval days of knights and chivalry, clenched-jaw opposition of the old? work will not be primarily a mat- and in the America of a century ago. This is true in every field, even in ter of muscle and sinew, and athleti- We can assume that this trend science where, above all, the rule is cism will not be required. The weak- toward more youthful older people that of constant change. Max Planck, ening bodies of men and women, as will continue into the future if civili- who devised the watershed quantum they grow old, will not decrease the zation survives. Medical science, for theory that utterly revolutionized the amount of their contribution to the sheer lack of other problems, is al- science of physics, said that the only working of society by very much. ready beginning a wholesale attack way to get a radically new theory Then, too, we may also expect that on the disease of old age itself, and it accepted by science was to wait for medicine and its allied sciences will may win some local victories over it. all the old scientists to die. And most continue to advance, and we must re- It may be that the aging people of people would agree with that, even member that this implies more than the 21st Century may be not very though there are many examples in a mere extension of the life span. aging at all by our present standards. history of men and women who, into We can see this clearly if we consider Between the greater vigor of old advanced old age, remained creative what has already happened. men and women and the lesser de- and receptive of the new. People today live, on the average, mands on them, physically, in the In that case, what can we expect of twice as long as did our ancestors of next century, the whole concept of a world in which the old will increas- a century and a half ago. But that is "youth" and "age" may be blurred ingly outnumber the young? How- not all. They are also healthier and and the growing percentage of the ever young, strong and vigorous the

44 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • C :EMBER 1974 —

aging might be in a physical sense, Despite the gradual extension of what good will that be if they are the period of education, it continues FUNd RAISERS nevertheless an intolerably static to be associated with youth; it con- For the sure-fire way to RAISE force? The very increase in physical tinues to have a kind of "cut-off FUN & FUNDS for your ORGANI- well-being and longevity may merely date." There continues to be a strong serve to make the general stodginess feeling that there comes a time when ZATION, CHURCH . . . CHARITY, of the aged linger on the longer and an education is completed, and that FRATERNAL poison society the more thoroughly. this time is not very far along in a Will we witness a 21st Century so- person's lifetime. WRITE For Your FREE BOOKLET aura of ciety then, in which old individuals In a sense, this lends an GUARANTEED FUN & PROFITS are strong and vigorous, but in which disgrace to education. Most young the whole society is mentally im- people who chafe under the discipline Write: Dept. C-10 mobile? Will we see a tiny minority of enforced schooling and the dis- 271 Schilling Circle of younger creative individuals who comforts of incompetent teaching, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030 will not be numerous enough to pre- can't help but notice that grown-ups vent society from sinking into a deep need not go to school. One of the re- or call collect slumber that will last till finally man- wards of adulthood, it must surely (301)666-9222 kind dies of apathy and boredom ? seem to the rebellious youngster, is Will that indeed happen? Is it that of casting off the educational utterly impossible to imagine a com- shackles. To them the ideal of out- of age and creativity? Can growing childhood is to reach a state BASEMENT TOILET bination Flushes up to existing sewer or sep-lf one be old, and yet eager to experi- of never having to learn anything tic tank by powerful, self-contained pump operated by normal water pres- ment and to experience the new? again. sure. No digging up floors. Clog resistant, easily installed. Make base- Isn't it possible, after all, that we ment into game room, den, apartment ourselves create the conservatism of The nature of education today, with private bath. Financing available, Dealer in- quiries invited. Write for free catalog. age by assuming, to begin with, that the ability to view it as the pen- DOSS, Dept. J-17, Box 10947, Houston, Tex. 77018 it will exist? There are self-fulfilling alty of youth, puts a premium on fail- prophecies, you know. ure. The youngster who drops out of HYDRAULIC JACK REPAIRS aban- If people are told all their lives school prematurely and who Earn While You Learn In Your Spare Time that it is a self-evident fact that with dons further education to take some Trained and qualified mechanic* needed NOW to service inoperative hydraulic jacks. BIG opportunity for ambitious age they will cease being productive sort of immediate job, appears to his men. We show you HOW — in your basement or garage to earn spare time cash in an expanding industry. Don't wait, and creative, they will naturally be- peers to have graduated to adulthood. ACT NOW! Get the facts. Write for folder No. A- 12 and free bonus offer. lieve it. They are then likely to settle The adult, on the other hand, who down into stodginess because they attempts to learn something new is Hydraulic Jack Repair Manual Co., Inc. C P. O. BOX 3 • STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. 10314 have been preparing—even doomed often looked on with a vague amuse- —to do so for years. Would they do ment by many, and is considered as Your help goes where so to such a degree (or even at all) somehow betraying a second childish- if they had always taken it for ness. hunger is Give to granted that someone who was cre- By equating education only with CARE, New York 10016 ative and innovative in youth would youth and by making it socially diffi- continue to be so in age? cult for the average person to learn LEARN We have found examples of self- of formal schooling are after the days CUTTIN fulfilling prophecies in other groups. over, we leave that average person ^P^MEAT Children who are expected by their with nothing more than the informa- Train quicklv in 8 Bhort weeks at Toledo for a bright future with security in the vital meat business. Big pay, full-time jobs teachers to do poorly at school tend, tion and attitudes he gained in his HAVE A PROFITABLE MARKET OF YOUR OWN! Time payment plan available. Diplo- indeed, to do poorly. When, for some teen-age years—and then we com- ma given. Job help. Thousands of suc- cessful graduates. OUR -61st YEAR! Send reason, those same children are ex- plain of the stodginess of age. NOW for big new illustrated FREE catalog..No obligation G.I. approved. NATIONAL SCHOOL OF MEAT CUTTING No. 0197T pected to do well by some other In a 21st Century that will be Dept. A-85 Toledo, Ohio 43604 teacher, they do do well. Perhaps, clearly weighted in the direction of Big opportunities. Big prof- then, if we calmly suppose that the age, the most effective aspect of age- its. Earn quickly. Full or part time. Learn at home, will will. aging do well—they blindness would be to break entirely lOCKSM""' it's easy. Do real jobs: All * Today, in America, we are trying with tradition and make education EARN WHILE Tools — Materials Sup- YOU IIARN |» plied. Accredited member to erase our prejudices—to blind our- the continuing right of all. There Q NHSC. Lie. State of NJ- Sand (or selves to another's race, color, creed Appd. for Vet. Send name should be no feeling that education FREE BOOK or sex and treat everyone for what and address for FREE book. automatically stops at a certain age Locksmithing Institute, Dept. 1221-124 074Z4 he's worth as an individual. Pre- or a certain stage. It may stop for an Div. Technical Home Study Schools, Little Falls, N.J. sumably, this will become a world individual if that is his free choice, ideal well. as but it not ; and those who freely may It's a matter . But we also need age-blindness. A choose to stop should be able, as and breath! man should be able to do the work he freely, to return. Today this is so of life can do and wants to do without being rare that if a grandmother gets a \Wk effRi$TM4o|S| CUWHQ% I97

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 45 FAREWELL TO YOUTH it should make the average man far We have already seen mankind CONTINUED wiser—for regardless of one's native move out in space to the Moon, in a intelligence, wisdom depends also on moment of high adventure, only to able to suppose that people who ex- breadth of knowledge. draw back because poverty, pollution, pect from youth on to be learning In such a world the change of age housing and other ills of overcrowd- new things all their life long, will pattern away from youth and toward ing demanded first call on our re- learn new things all their life long. more advanced years will not herald sources. Perhaps, because there will be a decline in creativity and innova- We knew, in 1960, that the whole more leisure time, many will keep tion. Quite the reverse, perhaps. universe—from outer space to the learning new things to do only be- Yet it might be argued that all this depths of our own oceans and the cause they are enjoyable and inter- may still not prevent the slow stag- insides of atoms—beckoned us to esting. This, in itself, will be an nation of mankind—for growth and limitless new horizons and new improvement over our present civili- expansion, in the sense that we have frontiers. It still does and it always zation which sees so many people become used to them, will be taboo. will, and man will never stagnate for learning to do what they like to do But the end of growth in numbers want of new challenges so long as he only after they have been retired should only be the beginning of lives in a limitless universe. from doing what they have to do. growth in every other direction—the Oddly, if this all comes to pass, it If some of the people in the 21st Cen- growth of the mind, the growth of should please the future young tury wish to spend much of their the individual and the expansion of minority most of all. They will be longer lives and educations in a sort human activity into the unknown. able to look forward to a longer and of perpetual arts and crafts shop, It is our present civilization, so better life than anyone who preceded taking up ceramics, water colors, taken up with the problems of over- them. If it does not come to pass, the chair caning, cabinet work, rug- crowding, which has produced so alternatives aren't apt to please any- hooking and so on, endlessly—that much restlessness about the drying one. END. would be their privilege. But it could up of meaningful growth and the be objected that if this is what we imprisoning of so many humans in Ed Note: Quite independently of Mr. would do with our extended educa- "meaningless" activities. Asimov's venture into what might be tions, civilization would rot away Who can imagine what one billion the wisest course for the human race, nevertheless in a deadening pursuit people might do, when resources now The American Legion's Nat'l Executive Committee amended the Legion's basic of how to fill time and make our- demanded by three billion more peo- policy on education last selves comfortable. ple are freed for new purposes, and October, and noted, in part, that "education does not Yet the change to a lifelong educa- when time and human energy that cease with formal schooling." It then tion will give us a grand opportunity are now devoted to wrestling with observed that as things are now the is quite problems caused to reverse a trend which by overcrowding only education open to everyone when are likewise recent in human history—the over- liberated for more con- his formal schooling is done is that specialization that today sees ac- structive pursuits? contained in the news media. countants who cannot understand test pilots who cannot understand bi- ologists who cannot understand me- STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION chanics who cannot understand chem- ists who cannot understand as- (Act of August 12, 1970: Section 3685. Title 39. United States Code) tronomers who cannot understand 1. Title of Publication: THE AMERICAN LE- The American Legion, 700 North Pennsylvania policemen who cannot understand GION MAGAZINE. Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206. 2. Date of filing: September, 1974. 8. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other 3. plumbers. Frequency of issue: Monthly. security holders owning or holding 1 percent or 4. Location of known office of publication: 700 more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or Our knowledge has grown so fast North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana other securities: None. that in our present civilization no- 46206 (Marion County). 9. For optional completion by publishers mail- 5. Location of the headquarters or general bus- ing at the regular rates (Section 132.121, Postal body can keep up with it. It will keep iness offices of the publishers: 1345 Avenue of Service Manual) the Americas, New York, New York 10019. 39 U.S.C. 3626 provides in pertinent part: "No I think, if growing. But it is likely, 6. Names and addresses of publisher, editor, person who would have been entitled to mail we bring the population under con- and managing editor: matter under former section 4359 of this title Publisher: James F. O'Neil, 1345 Avenue of shall mail such matter at the rates provided un- trol, that we will have many more the Americas, New York, New York 10019. der this subsection unless he files annually with Editor: Robert B. Pitkin, 1345 Avenue the of of the Postal Service a written request for permis- people widely educated in a host Americas, New York, New York 10019. sion to mail matter at such rates." useful pursuits, able to program their Managing Editor: None In accordance with the provisions of this statute, 7. Owner (If owned by a corporation, its name I hereby request permission to mail the publica- own computers, fix their own toilets, and address must be stated and also immediately tion named in item 1 at the reduced postage thereunder the names and addresses stock- rates their of presently authorized by 39 U.S.C. 3626. find new comets, replace own holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of James F. O'Neil, Publisher spark plugs, treat diseases, tailor total amount of stock. If not owned by a corpo- 10. For completion by nonprofit organizations ration, the names and addresses of the individ- authorized to mail at special rates (Section their own clothes, qualify for space ual owners must be given. If owned by a part- 132.122, Postal Manual). The purpose, function, nership or other unincorporated firm, its name and nonprofit status of this organization and the explorations and cane chairs and and address, as well as that of each individual exempt status for Federal income tax purposes paint watercolors. The same people. must be given.) have not changed during preceding 12 months. Their ancestors were as versatile as Average Actual Number No. Copies of Copies of that in an age when knowledge was Each Issue During Single Issue more primitive. Preceding Published Nearest 12 Months To Filing Date The number of Ben Franklins and 11. EXTENT AND NATURE OF CIRCULATION A. Total No. Copies Printed (Net Press Run) 2,670,893 2,666,000 Leonardo da Vincis should increase, B. Paid Circulation and even non-geniuses will develop 1. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors and Counter Sales None None versatility and usefulness across a 2. Mail Subscriptions 2,648,187 2,645,743 C. Total Paid Circulation 2,648,187 2,645,743 wide sweep of subjects now reserved D. Free Distribution by Mail, Carrier or Other Means for specialists. This should make 1. Samples, Complimentary, and other free copies 4,274 4,030 2. Copies Distributed to News Agents, But Not Sold None None them more creative and self-reliant E. Total Distribution (Sum of C and D) 2,652,461 2,649,773 F. Office Use, Left-over, Unaccounted, Spoiled than most people can now hope to be After Printing 18,432 16,227 —for want of enough knowledge out- G. Total (sum of E & F—should equal net press run shown in A) 2,670,893 2,666,000 side their present narrow fields. And I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. James F. O'Neil

46 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 LOW COST, FULL SIZE -—SHOPPER GREENHOUSES MAKE for the home gardener LIVING SAFER, EASIER

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THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 47 "

AWASH IN THE STORM The deluge came with such great force, I gripped the wheel in fear. No way had I to stop the car. No way had I to steer.

The storm was filled with dreadful fiends, Who scorned me with their roar. With unrelenting savagery They whipped and lashed my door.

Then suddenly the sun burst through To save me from the slosh. My car and I had just survived The minute auto-wash. L. P. Hillier

JUST A LITTLE FARTHER Many men work all their lives toward a certain goal and then somebody moves the posts. Joseph C. Salak

POST-SEEDED As kids they'd raid the farmer's patch, With rock salt he'd try to pot 'em, And within that thieving batch You'd rarely find a pitless bottom. Steve Keuchel

THE VERY LEAST Iota: What I should have done, but didn't. Peter Kostakis

"Then I said—$4 to change a tire? Forget it, my husband can do it!' AUTO-OPTIMISM THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE An optimist is a guy who fastens his seat belt With confidence sublime, Before trying to start his car HE PAID IN KIND On a morning in wintertime. Ruth M. Walsh A man arrested for gambling came before the judge. "We weren't play- ing for money," he told the judge. "We were just playing for chips." UH-HUH, UH-HUH The judge gave him a stem look. "Chips are the same as money," he A good listener is one who can give you ruled. "I fine you fifteen dollars." his full attention without hearing a word The defendant looked sad, then slowly reached into his pocket and you say. handed the judge three blue chips. Thomas LaMance Lane Olinghouse

GOODBYE, SUGAR PLUMS

When I took my four-year-old to see Santa Claus, I noted that the wait- ing line extended out of Toyland into the adjoining ladies lingerie de- partment. Later, I jokingly asked Santa if any little girls had asked for panty hose for Christmas. He replied, "Yes—and two little boys asked for little girls." Robert Bbault

THE BOTTOM LINE TELLS THE TALE

Joe, the janitor, had accumulated $50,000 and was going to retire. As was customary, the company gave a farewell dinner, and Joe was asked to say a few words. "I owe my retirement in part to my thrifty habits," Joe said. "Even more, I owe it to the good judgement of my—wife. But still more, I owe it to my aunt who died and left me $49,500. Anne Dirkman

JUST PUTTING AROUND . . .

A golfer stepped up to the first tee, took a mighty swing and his drive was a hole-in-one. His opponent stepped to the tee, waggled his driver and said "OK, now "Now, Mr. Rolph, have you ever I'll take my practice swing, and then we'll start the game." been arrested, convicted or elected?" Lucille J. Goodyear THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE

48 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 1974 ShareAmerica's Whiskey.

When you're buying a gift at Christmas time, you want it to be just right. But sometimes, that's not so easy. Like when you're trying to find just the right taste in whiskey. So here's a little rule to help you along. When you're choosing a whiskey as a gift, remember which whiskey more people choose for themselves. Seagrams 7 Crown. More people give it, receive it, and just plain enjoy it than any other brand. It has a friendly way of mixingfixing that's always welcome this friendly time of year. Which is why Seagram's 1 7 Crown is Americas favorite holiday spirit. ? Give Seagram's 7 Crown. It's America's favorite.

SEAGRAM DISTILLERS CO., N.Y.C. AMERICAN WHISKEY— A BLEND. 86 PROOF.

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