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Nl 07530 STATE ZIP_ THE AMERICAN LEGION The Magazine for a Strong America Vol. 118, No. 5 ARTICLES KEEPING THE PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH 13 UflUiyolo UJ SlrritrlLU o rnUjUf U/tUj/Urlo byoltrrlo, xjy JXlLnllTU JDtlfr&tlfU POLICING THE PENTAGON 18 UUU O i rlSpVLlUr \JK>rlK>fU,l tl&oLflUtZo Irlt i vrliugUrl o wilt Url LAJLLoLt. IDy JUot>J/rlTJ. OrltZflLFC HOW TO ELIMINATE WASTE IN DEFENSE CONTRACTING 19 If E n AVI V-E DAY! 20 Tfore was ;oy a«d thanksgiving, but the peace remained to be won. By Richard F. Newcomb 20 THE STORY BEHIND TAPS 22 i/ere's ftow fAe nation's most soulful melody came to be written. By William L. Noyer THE COTTAGE INDUSTRY EXPLOSION 24 Millions ofAmericans are beating the system by staying at home. By Phyllis Zauner THE SOVIET MILITARY: A PAPER TIGER? 26 The Soviet military is not inefficient, not inept — it is deadly. By Edward N. Luttwak NATIONAL CONVENTION '85 28 This business trip promises to be a pleasure. By Paul Martin WHO WILL CARE FOR THE AGING VETERAN? 31 The VA medical system is under attack at the very time it's needed most. IT'S THE SNEEZIN' SEASON 62 Medical advances offer new hope for hay fever sufferers. By Edward Edelson DEPARTMENT BIG ISSUES 11 Should Congress Approve the President's Strategic Defense Initiative? LETTERS 3 LEGION NEWS 36 NEWS TO USE 44 COMMANDER'S MESSAGE 5 POST OF THE MONTH 38 ORBEN'S WORLD 54 DATELINE WASHINGTON 9 LEGIONNAIRES IN ACTION 40 PARTING SHOTS 64 VETERANS UPDATE 31 OUTFIT REUNIONS 42 THE COVER Nuclear submarine, USS City of Corpus Christi, on patrol at sea. General Dynamics photo The American Legion Magazine, a leader among national general-interest publications, is published monthly by The American Legion for its 2.5 million members. These military-service veterans, work- ing through 16,000 community-level Posts, dedicate themselves to God and country and traditional American values; a strong national security; adequate and compassionate care for veterans, their widows and orphans; community service, and the wholesome development of our nation's youth. Canada looks even better from the train This year, see for yourself! Canada's vast and varied scenic splendour is a joy to behold. Especially when you travel through the scenery in the roomy, comfortable atmosphere of the VIA train. Where you'll see Canada up close through the panoramic window at your seat. Or from the glass-domed observation car on the transcontinental trains. Or from the dining car. Even from your private bedroom. The VIA train is a unique way to see a magnificent land, including places you can't get to by car. (Your U.S. dollar travels further in Canada, too!) Ask your local AMTRAK Agent or your nearest VIA Rail Canada Travel Centre about VIA's tour packages, special Ambassador fares for senior citizens, and VIA's Canrailpass for unlimited travel at attractive prices. Bon voyage! LETTERS dent for those I had in a snow-covered under those white crosses in our na- An Open Letter foxhole during the Battle of the Bulge or tional cemeteries. I wonder if their Mr. Stockman — Concerning your the stench of Korea? last thought was about receiving their recent statements about military re- And how would you have liked being retirement pay? tired pay: I think you should know in the steaming jungles of Vietnam, not I would suggest Mr. Stockman that that I would be quite willing to give up knowing the enemy— except for those you take a ride to Arlington National my retired pay if by so doing I could protesters in the states who were lend- Cemetery. Get out, look around and have back the muscle shot out of my ing aid and comfort to that enemy while reflect for a few minutes on what you right shoulder by an enemy ma- our young men were dying? have said. Do you really believe that chinegun. And give me back that part Yes, Mr. Stockman, after all this those buried there were more con- of my skull that is missing as a result was over and I was no longer physi- cerned about retirement pay than of that same encounter in Normandy. cally able to serve, I thought about about the defense of their country? And hand back to me the days, retirement pay. But let me assure you Robert E. Chisolm weeks, months and years that I was that my first thoughts, then and now, El Paso, Texas separated from my family while fight- were always to preserve the freedom ing in three major conflicts. Let me of this great country, even if it meant have the thrill of seeing my daughter's giving my life. In all honesty, and if I Smith 8 Wesson first step or of hearing her first word. could, I would never trade off the im- Compensate my wife for the worry, mense feeling of satisfaction and pride It was with some chagrin that I grief and long empty hours she spent in having been honored by being noted our handgun featured on the raising a child alone. All of this while allowed to serve my country and fight cover of your January, 1985 edition. her husband was thousands of miles its enemies. Mr. Stockman, this is a While we are always pleased to have away defending our country, and her feeling you will never experience. the public exposed to the high quality not knowing if he was alive or dead. Certainly, the great stress and frus- of our handguns, you can understand Can you pay me for being on duty 24 tration you must feel as Budget- Direc- that at the same time, we would pre- hours a day, seven days a week without tor contributed to your unfounded fer not to be associated with the "bad receiving— or even thinking— of over- remark. But your frustrations could guys." As you probably know, Smith time pay? And would you — had you never equal the grief of the parents, & Wesson is the main supplier of been willing to serve — have traded wives, sons and daughters of the handguns to police forces around the your accommodations as a divinity stu- thousands of young Americans lying world, and our allegiance is certainly with them. While, unfortunately, firearms can fall into the wrong hands, Smith & Wesson takes every effort Peace Through Strength . and Efficiency possible to reduce this chance to zero. Robert I. Hass This month we by-service analysis of major weapons sys- Senior Vice President examine the major tems reveals where we stand today and components of our analyzes how our military might com- Apologies are definitely in order. military arsenal and pares with our defense requirements. The cover should have shown a explore what the Uppermost in the minds of all Legion- ''Saturday Night Special." -Editors. Pentagon is doing naires is the necessity to keep our armed to ensure that the forces properly equipped, but at the same United States is time we realize that the billions spent on getting full value defense must be prudently managed. for every dollar Waste, fraud and abuse have no place in Alumni Search spent on national defense contracting. The delegates to the In September we will dedicate an defense, especially in the area of defense 66th National their Convention expressed honor roll for 115 former Stetson Home contracting the subject of much recent strong concern about this by passing a — boys who have served during the wars. nationwide controversy. resolution calling not only for sufficient We would appreciate receiving names America's nuclear and conventional de- funding for vital spare parts, but also for that should be included on the roll. terrent has proved its worth by providing the strict enforcement of a spare parts four decades of peace in Europe and by control program recently instituted by Don Colpitts preventing localized wars elsewhere from the Pentagon. 129 Timson St. escalating into global conflicts. The pre- Therefore, we are also featuring two Lynn, Mass., 01902 vention of war and the preservation of points of view on what needs to be done liberty, no matter what the cost, amounts to ensure that every defense dollar is well to money well spent. spent. One deals with eliminating waste However, our military arsenal cannot in defense contracting, and the other fo- Wrong Smith be thought of as a static asset a collec- cuses specifically on improving overall — I am not the director of the Nebraska tion of weapons and weapons systems Pentagon efficiency.