0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 10-3-75 The American Legion has reemphasized to the Congress of the United States that it has been consistently opposed to a grant of general immunity for draft evaders and military persons who avoided their legal obligations. * * * Samuel L. Latimer, Jr., 84, Vice Chairman of The American Legion National Public Relations Commission (1964-1975), and former National Vice Commander of The American Legion (1945-46), died Sept. 29, in Columbia, S.C. * * * Fifty-five baseball players who are eligible for the National League and American League playoffs are graduates of The American Legion Baseball program. * * * The new bonus deadline for Illinois veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam has been extended from July 1, 1975, to July 1, 1977. * * * . An exceptionally strong Air Force chess team has won by a wide margin the sixteenth annual Armed Forces Chess Championship Tournament, held in The American Legion's Hall of Flags, in Washington, D.C., September 19-26. * * * Lincoln Post 3, Lincoln, Neb., with a membership of 7,545, has, for the fourth consecutive year, maintained its hold on top position among king-size American Legion posts. * * * New Hampshire has become the eighteenth state to approve payment of a bonus to veterans with Vietnam Era service. * * * Bob Considine, 67, columnist, author and war correspondent died in New York on September 25. A recipient of The American Legion's 2nd annual "Good Guy Award" in Houston, Texas, during the Legion's 1971 National Convention, Considine was the author of many magazine articles and a number of best-selling books, including "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo." -alns- G22£ QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 KSt., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 10-3-75 WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—The American Legion has reemphasized to the Congress of the United States that it has been consistently opposed to a grant of general immunity for draft evaders and military persons who avoided their legal obligations. The Honorable Robert W. Kastenmeier, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice, House Committee on Judiciary, wrote to The American Legion, asking for its position on the issue. In answer, he was told that the opposition to general amnesty legislation was again unanimously reaffirmed at the 57th National Convention in August. Kastenmeier was told that The American Legion "...opposes any legislation which would establish general amnesty or freedom from prosecution for draft evaders and deserters." It was noted that the Legion still believes that the national interests, "...would best be served by individual review of each case based on existing judicial process which is available to each individual who falls in the purview of applicable law." The letter to Kastenmeier added that because of this, The American Legion must remain opposed to H.R. 9596, because, "...support of this bill would constitute a grevious disservice to the fine Americans who fulfilled their responsibilities as good citizens and particularly to those who were disabled or who made the supreme sacrifice." -alns- COLUMBIA, S.C. —(ALNS) —Samuel L. Latimer, Jr., 84, Vice Chairman of The American Legion National Public Relations Commission (1964-1975), and former National Vice Commmander of The American Legion (1945-46), died Sept. 29 here. Born at York, South Carolina on Nov. 14, 1891, Mr. Latimer was a World War I veteran and life member of Richland Post 6, of The American Legion, which he joined when the Post was organized in 1919. Mr Latimer held a law degree from the University of South Carolina but had devoted his life to the practice of Journalism. He began his journalistic career as an office boy, rising to editor and publisher of "The State," Columbia s daily newspaper. Mr. Latimer was editor emeritus of "The State" at the time of his death. Widely known in the newspaper world, he had served ten times on the Pulitzer Prize jury, was a former president of the South Carolina Press Association and had served on important committees of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Mr. Latimer served 20 years as a civilian aide to the Secretary of War (later Secretary of the Army), and held the Army's Distinguished Service Medal, the highest civilian award the Army can make. He also served as South Carolina National Executive Committeeman of The American Legion from 1941 to 1945 and as South Carolina Department Commander in 1956. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, with burial in York, S.C. -alns- 022o QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 10-3-75 INDIANAPOLIS— (ALNS)—Fifty-five baseball players who are eligible for the National League and American League divisional playoffs are graduates of the American Legion Baseball program. In the National League playoff between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, 28 players, 14 on the Reds roster and 14 on the Pirates squad, are former American Legion Baseball players. In the American League playoff between the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics, 27 players, 13 on the Red Sox team and 14 on the Athletics roster, are graduates of the American Legion Baseball program. On the Reds and Pirates rosters' combined there were 22 eligible players who did not participate in the American Legion Baseball program, but nine of them were foreign-born and did not have such an opportunity. On the American League side there were 26 eligible players who did not play Legion ball and eight of them were foreign-born. Members of the four teams who played American Legion Baseball as a stepping stone to the major leagues are: CINCINNATI—Johnny Bench, Jack Billingham, Clay Carroll, Darrell Chaney, Terry Crowley, Pat Darcy, Ken Griffey, Don Gullett, Joe Morgan, Gary Nolan, Fred Norman, Bill Plummer, Merv Rettenmund, and Pete Rose. PITTSBURGH—John Candelaria, Don Dyer, Dock Ellis, Dave Giusti, Richie Hebner, Ed Kirkpatrick, Al Oliver, Dave Parker, Willie Randolph, Jerry Reuss, Robert Robertson, Bill Robinson, Jim Rooker, and Willie Stargell. BOSTON—Tim Blackwell, Jim Burton, Bernie Carbo, Denny Doyle, Carlton Fisk, Bob Heise, Bill Lee, Dick Miller, Bob Montgomery, Jim Rice, Jim Willoughby, Rick Wise, and Carl Yastrzemski. OAKLAND—Bill Abbott, Dick Bosman, Rollie Fingers, Ray Fosse, Larry Haney, Tommy Harper, Ken Holtzman, Reggie Jackson, Paul Lindblad, Charlie Maxvill, Joe Rudi, Sonny Siebert, Gene Tenace, and Jim Todd. -alns- WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—The new bonus deadline for Illinois veterans of WW II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam has been extended from July 1, 1975, to July 1, 1977. Application forms and specific information are available from the Illinois Veterans Commission, 126 W. Jefferson St., Springfield, Illinois 62705. -alns- 022^ 0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION C. D. DeLoach, Chairman James C. Watkins, Director HEADQUARTERS P. O. Box 1055 1608 K St., N. W. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 Washington, D. C. 20006 0 (317) 635-8411 (202) 393-4811 For release 10-3-75 WASHINGTON—(ALNS)—An exceptionally strong Air Force chess team has won by a wide margin the sixteenth annual Armed Forces Chess Championship Tournament, held in The American Legion's Hall of Flags, September 19-26. Air Force amassed 54% points, trailed by Army with 37 points and the Sea Services (Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard) with 16%. Air Force Sergeant Charles D. Unruh, enroute from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to new duty at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, won the individual title, winning 10% points in the twelve rounds of play. Air Force Captain Robert Bond of Patrick AFB, Fla., finished a half point under Unruh. Their teammates, Staff Sergeant Don C. Sutherland of Lowry AFB, Col., the 1973 title holder; Sergeant Richard Bustamante of Castle AFB, Calif., the 1974 champion, and Sergeant John Scratulia of George AFB, Calif., all finished with nine points. Navy's Charles Lawton of the USS NAUTILUS in the Mediterranean, followed with eight points, and Sergeant Charles R. Gelinas of U.S. Army Europe, headed the Army players with 7% points. In the speed competition, Sergeant Sutherland placed first and Specialist Russell H. Garber of Fort Monmouth, N.J., was runner-up. At the traditional Chess Awards Party, held in the Hall of Flags with the American Chess Foundation and The American Legion as co-hosts, the Thomas Emery Memorial Trophy was presented to Major General Bennie L. Davis, Air Force member of the Honorary Committee for the 1975 Tournament. Bulova Watch-Time Awards went to Unruh, Lawton and Gelinas. Seaman Lacy McClarty of Naval Communications Station, Adak, was recognized by the Tournament Director, retired Navy Chaplain L. Randall Rogers of Fort Worth, Tex., as having played the "most brilliant game." George Koltanowski of San Francisco, president of the United States Chess Federation, was the principal speaker on the Awards program. American Legion Past National Commander John E. Davis and American Chess Foundation Executive Secretary Sidney Wallach of New York, spoke for the host organizations. Various special awards were presented by spokesmen for other companies and organizations which support the effort to encourage service men and women to play chess.