ESMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS Wilh.Mi M Netwniler, Chairman Fredenck Woodress, Director P.O

ESMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS Wilh.mi M netwniler, Chairman Fredenck Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1066 I r ctianapolis, Indiana 46206 (317) f>35 841 1

AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 7-3-81

In ceremonies attended by scores of dignitaries at Arlington National Cemetery, American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek presided over ceremonies honoring the memory of Ignace Jan Paderewski, Polish pianist and patriot, June 29th - the 40th anniversary of his death. Paderewski, a recipient of the Legion's Distinguished Service Award in 1926, was the single largest contributor to the Legion's endowment fund for disabled veterans and the orphans of servicemen. (Page 1).

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The Reagan administration's budget plan for 1982 will adversely affect employment programs for veterans, according to testimony presented before Congress by The American Legion's Director for Economics. The Legion official also asked Congress to establish federal guidelines for states using block grants, the method of funding favored under administration plans. (Page 3).

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The Director of Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation for The American Legion has informed the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee the Legion will support the sharing of facilities between the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration as long as the separate and distinct missions of the two medical services are not diminished. (Page 4). * * *

The United States Department of Labor will fund secretaries for each State Director for Veterans Employment in FY 1982, Labor Secretary Raymond J. Donovan, in a letter to American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek, referred to the Legion's 1980 Na- tional Convention Resolution No. 9 which urged federal clerical support for the state directors. The Director for Economics of The American Legion said Donovan's action "can be considered a victory " for The American Legion, but will require monitoring in the future to forestall renewed efforts to transfer the secretarial positions to the states. (Page 5) * * *

The governor of Hawaii, the mayor of Honolulu and officials of the Department of Hawaii are scheduled to welcome delegates to the 63rd annual National Convention of The American Legion in Honolulu, Hawaii, Aug. 30-Sept. 3, 1981. (Page 5) * * *

National Commander Michael J. Kogutek has announced the scheduled appearance of enter- tainer Glenn Ash at the Commander's banquet for distinguished guests during the 63rd annual National Convention of The American Legion in Honolulu, Hawaii. The banquet will be Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1981, at 7:30 p.m. in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, (Page 6).

* * * n £ AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION °R>r HEADQUARTERS God Willum M llelvmilei, Chairman Frederick VVoudress, Directoi and P.O. Box 1055 Country Ir dianapolis, Indiana 4(i20t; (317) 1535 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek dedicated a bronze plaque to the memory of Ignace Jan Paderewski near the Polish pianist and patriot's temporary resting place at Arlington National Cemetery June 29, the 40th anniversary of Paderewski's death.

Monsignor Eugene Bilski, director of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, gave the opening and closing prayers at the 2 p.m. observance, speaking in Polish and English. Commander Kogutek, the first Polish-American to head the nation's largest veterans organization, said he was proud to be part of implementing Resolution No. 177 of the Legion's 1980 National Convention authorizing the Legion's Paderewski plaque. He also spoke in both languages.

Paul Hume, music editor of The Washington Post who, with his late wife was co-author of a biography of Paderewski, told anecdotes about the great musician illustrating his generosity to "ordinary people." One was about his refusal to hold a Stanford University student — Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States — to a contract the youngster couldn't pay in full. Another was about a backstage music lesson Paderewski gave to a 7-year-old Missouri lad — Harry S. Truman.

Color guard units from General Joseph Haller American Legion Post 95 in Baltimore participated in a wreath-laying ceremony while a transcript of a 1923 performance by Pader- ewski of his own "Minuet in G" was played. Polish Ambassador Romuald Spasowski personally placed another wreath before Paderewski's casket.

When he died in 1941, Paderewski was president of the National Council in the government-in-exile of Nazi-occupied Poland. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered that as a mark of honor, his remains be temporarily placed at Arlington National Cemetery until he could be buried in a free Poland. The coffin was placed in the base of the Mast of the battleship Maine — a Spanish-American War monument near the Tomb of the Unknowns — which was opened for the Legion ceremony.

Mylio Kraja, Executive Director of the Legion's Washington Office, was master of ceremonies. In introducing the Post music critic, he noted that Hume, had played a part in the 1963 dedication by President John F. Kennedy of a bronze marker noting the presence of Paderewski's remains. The Legion's plaque, which flanks that one at the top of the steps leading to the Maine memorial, is inscribed:

The American Legion IN MEMORY OF IGNACE JAN PADEREWSKI ARTIST, COMPOSER, MUSICIAN, STATESMAN PATRIOT, HUMANITARIAN AND FRIEND OF AMERICAN WAR VETERANS MAY HIS SOUL REST IN THE PEACEFUL FREEDOM HE SO WANTED FOR HIS HOMELAND OF POLAND FRANK MOMSEN MICHAEL J. KOGUTEK NATIONAL ADJUTANT NATIONAL COMMANDER 11 it AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION °For HEADQUARTERS William M. Datweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1055 li ciianapolis, Indiana 4G206 ja (317) (',35 841 1 Paderewski ceremonies cont'd

Paderewski prevailed on President Woodrow Wilson to make an independent Poland one of his famous "14 Points" for peace after World War I, and became his country's first 20th century prime minister. The famed composer and piano virtuoso was also the largest single contributor to an endowment fund created by The American Legion in 1925 to aid disabled veterans and American war orphans. In gratitude, the Legion presented him its highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal.

Paderewski's gift to The American Legion's endowment fund for disabled Doughboys and American war orphans was $28,500, the entire proceeds of a 1925 concert tour of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. A spokesman at the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Statistics told ALNS the 1926 dollar had a purchasing power roughly equivalent to $5 in 1981. Thus it would take more than $140,000 to match Paderewski's donation today.

Among those attending were Maj. Gen. Robert Arter, commander of the Military District of Washington; retired Lt. Gen. Edward Rowny, named to be the Reagan administration's special representative and chief negotiator for arms control and disarmament negotiations; Peter Bridges, director of the State Department's Office of Eastern European Affairs; Raymond J. Costanzo, superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery; Aloysius A. Mazewski, president of the Polish American Congress, and Jan K. Miska, president of its Washington chapter; Stefan Korbonski, chairman of the Polish Unity Council in America; Stefan Koper, president of the Polish Veterans Association; Daniel J. Kij of Buffalo, president of the Polish Union of America; Edward S. Bogus Jr., first national vice commander of the Polish Legion of American Veterans and Gene S. Hentkowski, second vice commander; Mrs. Bernadette Wiermanski, president/arts of the Polish Cultural Club of Washington; and many other Polish American community leaders from across the country.

The ceremony was taped by Radio Free Europe for possible broadcast to Poland. A reception for the more than one hundred invited guests followed at the Fort Myer Noncom- missioned Officers Club.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — The American Legion's 1981 Fourth Estate Awards for outstanding achievement in the field of communications will be presented to the American Broadcasting Company for its continuing coverage of the Iran crisis on its program "America Held Hostage," and to N. La Verl Christensen, editor emeritus, Provo (Utah) Daily Herald and Scripps League Newspapers columnist.

The awards will be presented from the platform of the Legion's 63rd annual National Convention at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel in Honolulu, by National Commander Michael J. Kogutek, of Lackawanna, NY, Sept. 3.

-alns- rn QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION cfbr HEADQUARTERS God Wilh.im M. Detweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director and P.O. Box 1055 Country I ncjianaonlis, Indiana 4620G (31 /) 635 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion has told Congress government efforts to help veterans find jobs will suffer under the Reagan administration's budget plan for 1982, and asked it to establish federal guidelines for the states in using block grants.

Testifying before the Senate Labor and Human Resources Subcommittee on Employment and Productivity June 11, Legion Economic Director James G. Bourie noted the Labor Department's Veterans Employment Service is mandated by law to provide veterans the maximum benefit of any employment and training program.

Veterans Employment Service operates through a nationwide network of regional directors, state directors and assistant state directors who are federal employees, with local veterans employment representatives in State Employment Security Agencies. However, VES only advises and recommends on SESA veterans programs and can take no administrative action against the states except for reporting noncompliance, Bourie said.

The SESAs face administration budget cuts of 17 percent in fiscal year 1982. "This reduction will result in the layoff of personnel, the closing of selected Job Service Offices nationwide, elimination or consolidation of services and programs, and other actions that will undoubtedly exacerbate the already weak veterans employment and training programs,': Bourie told the subcommittee.

The American Legion believes "it would be appropriate for the federal sector to establish guidelines and policies for states in a block grant approach. This will enable the federal government to ensure that taxpayer funds are prudently spent, national intent is carried out, and provide the states with guidance and advice on how best to utilize the funds," Bourie testified.

He said veterans, particularly Vietnam era veterans, suffer disproportionate employment problems.

"Bureau of Labor Statistics figures for April reveal that in the age group 25-29 the unemployment rate for veterans is 9.3 percent and 7.3 percent for nonveterans," he said. "For the age group 30-34, veterans have a 5.7 percent unemployment while nonveterans of the same age have only a 4.8 percent unemployment rate.

"... The BLS no longer reports the (Vietnam veteran component) in the 25-29 group, which until recently had a higher than usual unemployment rate. One would naturally conclude that their numbers would be reported in the 25-29 group; yet that group has not grown significantly in numbers. Since the latter group has not grown, then one would pre- sume, and correctly, that many (Vietnam era veterans) have simply dropped out," Bourie said.

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0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION "For HEADQUARTERS God Wilh.im M Di-ivwilei, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director and P.O. Box 1055 V Country [ndianaoolis, Indiana 4G206 (31 7) 635 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee June 17 it supports sharing of facilities between the Defense Department and the Veterans Administration as long as the separate and distinct missions of the two medical services are not harmed.

Robert Lyngh, director of the Legion's National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, noted that the mission of health care in the armed forces is to maintain a force fit to fight, although over the years its activities have been broadened to include care for military dependents. The primary mission of VA medicine, on the other hand, is to care for those disabled in military service, he said, and secondarily to care for all veterans in need of health care who are not economically able to provide it for themselves.

Lyngh testified on S. 266, a bill to establish a Federal Interagency Medical Resources Committee for sharing between DoD and VA, and S. 636, providing for a contingency plan for VA to provide medical resources to DoD in case of a military emergency.

Both measures should include language to prevent the White House Office of Management and Budget from adjusting VA allocations to offset reimbursement from DoD to the VA facility providing services, Lyngh advised. Furthermore, "The American Legion is categorically opposed to any arrangement that would introduce Merchant Marines, fishermen or any other non- veteran categories into VA Medical Centers," he said.

Section 4 of S. 266 would establish a Federal Interagency Medical Resources Committee comprising the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of Veterans Affairs or their designees. Lyngh said the Legion does not agree with this level of appointment and recommends that the committee instead should consist of the Chief Medical Director of the VA and the Surgeons General of the separate military services.

"We do not believe the goal here sought lends itself to another Cabinet-level committee," Lyngh told the Senators.

The Chief Medical Director of VA and the Surgeons General of the services, on the other hand, "are best able to develop agreements and arrangements based on their individual capabilities systemwide, the availability of specific resources, and operating from an intimate knowledge of these elements," he said.

Lyngh recommended that the legislation include a sunset provision for review and possible termination in two or three years, since the need for a sharing committee is not clear.

"It seems quite possible that the President can accomplish just about everything this legislation will hope to achieve by issuing necessary orders to the agencies," he concluded.

a Ins- n AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE % NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION 'For HEADQUARTERS God William M Detweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director and j P.O. B.ix 1055 Cou/itry tr riianapolis, Indiana 40206 (31 /) C35 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — Secretary of Labor Raymond J. Donovan has notified The American Legion that his federal agency will fund the secretaries for each State Director for Veterans Employment in fiscal year 1982.

In a June 9 letter to American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek, Donovan noted that Resolution No. 9 of the Legion's 1980 National Convention urged such federal clerical support for the state directors of the Labor Department's Veterans Employment Service.

Following the Reagan administration's budget cuts earlier this year, the department proposed cutting the 52 secretarial positions and letting state governments provide clerical help to the top federal overseer of veterans employment programs in each state, starting this summer. Under Legion pressure, it agreed to fund the positions through fiscal year 1981 ending Sept. 30.

Federal funding of the positions through the next fiscal year "can be considered a victory," said Legion Economics Director James G. Bourie. He added that his commission will continue to seek clarification of the language of PL 96-466 which permitted the Labor Depart- ment to propose transfer of the secretarial positions to the states.

In his letter to Commander Kogutek, Donovan said "we cannot support any legislation that will impose additional requirements into an area that has previously been considered a management prerogative." This suggests that the issue of federal secretaries for the state directors of veterans employment could return in future years.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — The governor of Hawaii and the mayor of Honolulu are among dignitaries from Hawaii scheduled to welcome delegates to the 63rd annual National Convention of The American Legion Aug. 28 to Sept. 3 in Honolulu.

Governor George Ariyosi and Mayor Eileen R. Anderson, along with other city and state representatives, will speak from the convention platform Tuesday, Sept. 1, in the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel's Coral Ballroom.

O.T. "Tom" Shonk, 1980-1981 American Legion Department of Hawaii Commander, and Francis K. Tom, president of the 1981 American Legion National Convention Corporation of Hawaii, also are scheduled to welcome Legion delegates to the convention.

The 1981 National Convention is expected to act on about 500 resolutions to establish The American Legion's policies for the 1981-1982 Legion year.

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MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS William M OBtwftiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1055 Ir diahaoolis, Indiana 40206 M C11 7) 635 841 1 FOR USE 7-3-81

INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Glenn Ash, a television and night club performer billed as "the most sought-after convention act in the United States," will entertain at American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek's banquet for distinguished guests Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the 63rd annual National Convention of The American Legion in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The banquet will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Coral Ballroom of Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel.

Ash is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and he and his four-piece combo once participated in a six-week tour of South Vietnam with comedian Jonathan Winters.

He appeared several times on the "Merv Griffin Show" and also has appeared on "The Dean Martin Show", "The Mike Douglas Show", "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" and "The Dinah Shore Show." He had roles in the television series "The New Andy Griffith Show", Mayberry RFD", "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." and "Petticoat Junction."

He has appeared on stage with such entertainers as Bob Hope, Andy Griffith, Bob Newhart, Dianne Carroll, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Bill Cosby, and has co-starred with Leslie Uggams, Lynn Anderson, Anita Bryant, Robert Merrill and Helen O'Connel.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the fifth in a series of articles on Hawaiian people, culture and geography, written by Roger Coryell, Public Relations consultant for the National Public Relations Division in Hawaii. The final article in the series will be published in the July 10 ALNS.

INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — In Hawaii, everybody is a member of an ethnic minority.

That makes it tough to practice racial discrimination, although, to be honest, there are still some in every race who like to try.

The everyday resident of Hawaii is much like the everyday resident of the mainland United States — if there is such a person.

Mr. and Mrs. Hawaii have a car or two, send their kids off to school every morning — public, private or parochial. Mom and Dad work hard for a living. It is expensive to live in Hawaii, so there are lots of working wives and mothers.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, soda pop, popcorn, movies, TV, motorcycles, roller skates, bikes and rock concerts excite Hawaii's youth. Beer, bridge, soap operas, the PTA, car pools, traffic jams, taxes and hypertension are common diversions for their parents.

-more- tt\ AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION B HEADQUARTERS William M Dfilwftiler, Chairman Frederick Woodless, Director I'.O. Bnx lOBii m li clirtnrtpolis, Indiana 4G206 131 I) IV35 841 1

Fifth series on Hawaii cont'd FOR USE 7-3-81

Hawaii's people love politics, fresh air, Saturday night, girls in bikinis, Grandma and a good T-Bone steak — in spite of the fact that their ancestors came from China, Japan, Korea, the United States, the Azores Islands, Australia, The Philippines, Scotland, Germany, Russia and Samoa.

Some of Hawaii's people are nice, some aren't. Some are rich, some are poor. Some are fat, some are thin. Some are snooty, some are friendly. Some are busy, some are lazy. It's just like home.

Most visitors say they like the people of Hawaii. We hope you do, too.

But you'll never know if you don't meet some. Take a native to lunch.

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IMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS William M Delweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1055 Country Ir dianapolis, Indiana 4620R (.11 /) 635 8411

AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 7-10-81

American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek told the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs July 9 that the Legion expects the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to be the spokesman and advocate for legitimate veterans' programs and for veterans' causes. Kogutek's remarks came during the committee's review of Robert P. Nimmo's nomination to be head of VA, the federal government's third largest agency. (Page 1).

American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek has named Dean B. Nelson publisher of The American Legion Magazine. Nelson's appointment was announced July 2 in Indianapolis. He replaces Bertram G. Davis, National Judge Advocate, who had been publisher since 1978. Davis will continue as National Judge Advocate. (Page 3).

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The Navy Chief of Information has assured National Commander Michael J. Kogutek that the May 26, 1981, crash of a radar plane aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was not caused by drug abuse among crew members. Rear Admiral Bruce Newell told the Commander that autopsies performed on the bodies of the crewmen killed in the mishap showed evidence of marijuana use during the 30-day period preceding the crash by six of the ten enlisted men who died. Newell said the results have prompted the Navy to rethink its drug abuse program. (Page 2). * * *

The American Legion has asked Congress to extend veterans preference protection to veteran employees of federal agencies marked for phasing out. Citing the Civil Aeronautics Board as an example, a Legion spokesman said the elimination of CAB in 1982 and the scatter- ing of its functions and employees to other agencies threatens the career security of the 181 CAB employees who are veterans. (Page 5).

The Navy Recruiting Command commander has written to G. Michael Schlee. American T.pgion National Security-Foreign Relations Commission director, to express his appreciation for the Legion's support of military recruiters' right of access to high schools for the purpose of informing students of career and education opportunities in the military. (Page 5). /#

AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE I NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION "Fbr HEADQUARTERS God Wilh.im M Delweilei. Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director and 3 P.O. Bo\ 10f>5 \ Country Ir dlanaoolis, Indiana 4620G (317) B35 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) - American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek told the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs July 9 that the Legion expects the new Administra- tor of Veterans Affairs to be the spokesman and advocate for legitimate veterans' programs and for veterans' causes. B

M, ZeSt/f,Y±ng °n th£ n°mination of Robe" P. Nimmo to head the Veterans Administration, the third largest agency of the federal government, Kogutek told the panel the Legion does not endorse candidates for public office or appointees, but would outline what it expects from anyone who fills the VA Administrator position.

The Commander cited "understanding, compassion and administrative ability" as the three most important elements a nominee must bring to the office. He also said wartime service is an important prerequisite.

In addition to the desired personal qualifications of a new administrator, Kogutek high- lighted some of the priority problems he must deal with. He noted the potential conflict between the President's desire for fiscal austerity and the Administrator's responsibility to seek full funding for those programs mandated by Congress for the welfare of veterans and their families. He stressed the serious problems developing in veterans' medical care due to understaffmg, equipment shortages and deteriorating physical plants at VA medical centers.

''The problem of Agent Orange has not been answered, and the non-readjusted element of the Vietnam generation is floundering and crying out for understanding and help," Kogutek S3.XG •

The Commander of the nation's largest veterans' organization pledged to work closely with the new Administrator on all veterans problems, but also said the Legion would iudge him on how well he serves the needs of veterans and their families.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — "It is a shameful date" South Korean Major General Jae Suk Ahn told American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek and Auxiliary National President Dora Seymour during their meeting in Washington June 25, the 30th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean war.

General Ahn, the South Korean Defense Attache, noted also that it was significant that they should meet on that date because of the close relations that have developed between the United States and South Korea since that time.

"South Korea is prosperous today because of the cooperation and support of the U.S.," General Ahn said, "And I hope these warm relations will continue."

Commander Kogutek presented copies of Legion resolutions supporting South Korea to the general and assured him that American veterans wanted South Korea to remain strong and free.

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AMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS Willi.iin M Delvwilur, Ch.nrman Frederick Woodtess, Directoi P.O. Box 105b Ir dianapolis, Indiana 46206 (317) R35 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — Rear Adm. Bruce Newell, Navy Chief of Information, assured American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek June 30 that the crash of a radar plane aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was not caused by drug abuse.

Commander Kogutek and Adm. Newell met at the Pentagon to discuss the May 26, 1981, crash in which 14 servicemen were killed, and to discuss drug abuse in the military, which had been cited as a possible factor in the tragedy. Newell, while assuring the Commander that drug abuse had not caused the accident, said the Navy had been prompted to rethink its drug abuse program by autopsy results showing that six of the 10 enlisted men who died in the mishap had used marijuana within the last 30 days preceding the crash.

Newell said the Navy was going to get tough about drugs and shift its emphasis from rehabilitating offenders to eliminating repeated users. He said the Navy already has abolished its amnesty program, under which enlisted personnel escaped punishment by volun- tarily admitting they used drugs. The Navy also is buying 50 drug-sniffer dogs and more urinalysis drug detection kits.

Kogutek praised the Navy's new efforts to crack down on the problem and gave the Le- gion's full support.

A worldwide drug and alcohol abuse survey conducted by the Department of Defense in 1980 indicated the Navy and Marine Corps have the worst drug problems among the uniformed services. Forty-seven percent of Navy personnel in grades E-l to E-5 were found to have used marijuana or hashish within 30 days preceding the survey, compared with 40 percent of Army personnel of the same grades and 20 percent of Air Force personnel in those grades. The Navy and Marine Corps also had the worst records of impairment of performance, with one out of four drug users reporting they were "high" while working.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — The 56th annual American Legion Baseball World Series wilj be played in Sumter, S.C., Sept. 3-7, 1981.

Competition on the national level will follow eight regional double-elimination tournaments to be held in Manchester, N.H.; Lynchburg, Va.; Greer, S.C.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Morehead, Ky.; Ralston, Neb.; Sheridan, Wyo. and Tuscon, Ariz.

More than 55 percent of all major league baseball players on active rosters today sharpened their cleats on American Legion baseball diamonds. Thirteen graduates of The Am- erican Legion Baseball program have been inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame at Coopers- town, N.Y.

The 1980 American League and National League Cy Young Award winners, Steve Stone of the Baltimore Orioles, and Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies, both played American Le- gion ball. The Cleveland Indians' Joe Charboneau, American Legion 1980 Rookie-of-the-Year, is a product of American Legion baseball. Collegiate and professional scouts will be on hand Lo take notes on this year's crop of future stars.

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MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS Wilh.im M. Deiweilcr. Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 10D5 If dianaoolis, Indiana 46206 E (31 7) 63b 8411 FOR USE 7-10-81

INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Dean B. Nelson has been named publisher of The American Legion Magazine, one of the nation's largest publications with a circulation in excess of 2,700,000. The appointment was announced July 2, 1981, by Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek.

Nelson, who has been associated with The American Legion Magazine since 1959 as circulation manager, and who has served in that capacity as well as assistant publisher since 1976, succeeds Bertram G. Davis, who has been publisher since May 1, 1978.

Nelson, a graduate of Butler University, was editor and publisher of newspapers in Albert City, Iowa, and Narrows, Va., before joining the National Headquarters staff of The American Legion in 1953. Davis resigned as publisher of the magazine June 1, 1981, but will continue to serve as National Judge Advocate of The American Legion, a post which he has held since 1960.

It was under Davis' leadership as publisher that the Washington, D.C. and New York City magazine offices were consolidated in Indianapolis. In accepting his resignation, Kogutek expressed his appreciation to Davis for "the smooth and orderly manner in which the transi- tion was accomplished." Kogutek continued, "we have seen a complete redesigning of the magazine and the hiring of a new staff to assume the responsibility of publishing a quality magazine which is now completely midwest oriented. "Dean Nelson assumes his position as successor to Mr. Davis with the complete and^ unqualified endorsement of his predecessor and with my own confidence in his capabilities to carry on with the uninterrupted publication of The American Legion Magazine as a quality magazine of interest to a broad spectrum of readers."

The latest edition of FOLIO, the publication of the magazine industry, rates The American Legion Magazine as the 16th largest in the nation.

Davis and Nelson are World War II veterans. Nelson is a member of Newell American Legion Post 193 in Newell, Iowa, and Davis is a member of Glenn Falls American Legion Post 233, Glenn Falls, N.Y. -alns-

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — National Headquarters has learned of the death of retired USAF Major General Robert E. Condon on June 26, 1981. He was 85. National Executive Committeeman from the Department of France in 1922-1923, he also was a member of the National Distinguished Guest Committee (1933, 1934, 1942), the National Rehabilitation Commission (1934-1937) and the National Rehabilitation Advisory Board (1937- 1938). -alns- /T*

0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS William M. DelwHiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1055 I r dianapolis, I ndiana 46206 (.117) 635 8411

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WASHINGTON D.C. (ALNS) — Two federal agencies, each with some responsibility for reviewing the affirmative action plans of other parts of the government, have agreed to get together and decide which will do what in the gray areas of veterans preference, according to American Legion National Economics Director James Bourie.

Bourie said that after much Legion prodding, the Office of Personnel Management and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will sit down and apportion their various responsibilities for veterans employment matters under existing laws and regulations.

"This is the very first time they've gotten together on veterans' programs, and they did it because The American Legion has been pushing it," said Bourie.

The Legion complained to 0PM last autumn about a regional affirmative action program within the Fish and Wildlife Service that gave tips on how to avoid congressionally approved veterans preference laws, in order to improve the Service's hiring record with respect to women and minority groups. The plan was revised at Legion insistence, and Bourie has been pressing for a review of affirmative action plans in other federal agencies.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — U.S. Navy Captain Gerald L. Coffee, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam for seven years, will address The American Legion's 63rd annual National Conven- tion in Honolulu Sept. 2, National Commander Michael J. Kogutek has announced. Captain Coffee is scheduled to speak at 10:20 a.m. in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel. Shot down during a combat mission over North Vietnam, Captain Coffee parachuted to safety but was captured. He was repatriated with the first group of prisoners of war from Southeast Asia on February 12, 1973. Speaking on "Faith: The Key to Survival," he will discuss his experience as a POW; his faith in God and country, himself and his fellow man; the application of that same faith after his return to freedom; and the role of every American under similar circumstances.

Captain Coffee is Air Operations Officer on the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and has a master's degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a graduate of the National War College. His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat V, Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Heart awards and several others.

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QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS a Willi.int M. Hoiweiltir, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director ^ P.O. Box 1055 Ir dianaoolis, Indi.ina 4620(5 (317) S35 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion asked Congress July 9 to extend veterans preference to a situation not foreseen when the law was enacted: the Reagan administration's plan to abolish some federal agencies and transfer bits of their function and pieces of their staff to other agencies.

James Bourie, Legion Economics Director, asked the Senate Commerce, Science and Trans- portation Committee's Subcommittee on Aviation to amend a bill concerning the early aboli- tion of the Civil Aeronautics Board so that veterans whose jobs are eliminated will be given preference for jobs that are transferred to other parts of the government.

The CAB, which approves routes and sets fares for the aviation industry, was due to go out of business in 1985 under existing airline deregulation laws. However, the Reagan administration wants to abolish it as of Sept. 30, 1982, while continuing various CAB functions such as providing subsidies for essential air service to small cities.

Bourie told the Senate subcommittee that 181 of the CAB's 700 employees are veterans, five of them disabled. "Many of these veterans will be afforded no rights of transfer what- ever if they are in a function marked for abolishment," Bourie said. Present federal regulations do not cover their predicament, he added.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — Rear Adm. F.H. Miller, commander of the Navy Recruiting Command, has expressed appreciation for The American Legion's position on equal access for military recruiters to public high schools in all states.

In a letter to Michael Schlee, director of the Legion's National Security-Foreign Relations Commission, the admiral wrote "the support for recruiting from individuals like you and your American Legion members is deeply gratifying to me and my shipmates in the Navy Recruiting Command."

He was referring to Res. 754 of the Legion's 1980 National Convention in Boston, which encourages American Legion departments and posts to solicit from their state legislators laws providing armed forces recruiters access to schools on the same basis as any other person or group for the purpose of informing students about educational and career opportunities in the military.

The resolution followed complaints that recruiters were forbidden by many local school boards from appearing in high school education and career opportunities programs.

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3MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS William M. Deiweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1055 I f dianapnlis, Indiana 46206 (31 /) 635 841 1

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CHICAGO, 111. (ALNS) — Harold E. Heinly, Chairman of The American Legion Life Insur- ance and Trust Committee, has released the following statistics pertaining to The American Legion Life Insurance Plan:

From January 1 thru June 30, 1981, 855 death claims were paid. This amounted to a total of $2,003,142 paid to the beneficiaries of our former Legionnaires. At this rate of payment — an average of $382,725.00 per month — $4 million dollars will be paid during calendar year 1981. Since the inception of the plan in 1958, well over 21,000 beneficiaries have received paymen t from their Legion Life Insurance Policies amounting to 36.5 million dollars. -alns-

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — National Headquarters has been informed that Dr. Robert P. Foster, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Commission, underwent emergency abdominal surgery July 1. As of the time of notification, Mrs. Foster (Virginia) reported that Dr. Foster had been progressing well and was to have been released to his home by the time of publication.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Former American Legion National Vice Commander Arthur M. MacCarthy, 76, died June 13, 1981, at Tallahassee, Fla., according to an announcement froir. the Florida Department. In addition to his service as National Vice Commander in 1971-1972, Mr. MacCarthy had served as Department Commander (1962-1963) and as a member of many national commissions and committees since 1951. -alns- m 0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS William M. Detweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O Box 1055 ED I r diananolis, Indiana 4620(5 (31 7) 635 841 1

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Following is the last of six articles on Hawaiian people, culture and geography, written by Roger Coryell, public relations consultant for the National Public Relations Division in Honolulu.

INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Waikiki Beach is the biggest and best beach in Hawaii, right?

Hold on a minute. Some of that could be so, and some of it isn't. For starters, it is not the biggest. There are many beaches in Hawaii, on all the islands, that are bigger.

Okay. How about "best," then?

Well, Waikiki Beach is certainly the closest beach to the resort hotels of Waikiki. Most of them are less than a block away. It's a nice beach with warm water all year round — about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It has many beach services such as refreshment stands, surf- boards, beach boys, telephones and umbrellas, and many cocktail lounges are close by in the hotels for those times when the sun gets "a bit much."

It has fine surfing. Indeed, all the surfing in the world got started in Hawaii, probably, and most of it was done at Waikiki until after World War II.

You will have lots of company on Waikiki Beach. It is popular with visitors and residents alike. You will probably get your first — and worst — sunburn there.

It's a pretty safe beach, too, which is not true of some of the other beaches in Hawaii, where waves sometimes crash ashore twenty-five feet high or higher. Still, water over your head is dangerous anywhere, and less water than that can be dangerous if you can't swim.

So be careful at Waikiki Beach. Have fun at Waikiki Beach. Try Waikiki Beach at night. Try it barefoot with Mama and the kids or other company of your choosing. But be sure you do it barefoot and feel the cool water of the Pacific Ocean as it hisses across your toes.

You can't do THAT in Sioux Falls!

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — James G. Bourie, national director for economics, represented The American Legion in a "Holiday Salute to Unity" July 3 at Mount Vernon, Va., sponsored by No Greater Love, an organization that remembers "the sometimes forgotten" — war orphans, hospitalized or disabled veterans and the families of American hostages.

Bourie was among 11 Vietnam veterans representing veterans organizations and five former U.S. hostages in Iran honored in the special Independence Day ceremony at the home of George Washington.

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QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS Willi.itti M Oetweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1055 I r dianapolis, Indiana 4620G (317) 635 8411

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek presented the Legion's Medal of Valor July 8 to Secret Service agent Timothy J. McCarthy, who shielded President Reagan from bullets fired in an assassination attempt March 30, 1981.

In presenting the special citation at Secret Service headquarters, Kogutek said The American Legion appreciated the gravity and heroism of McCarthy's act. Other victims were caught in the gunfire by surprise, but the 32-year-old Chicago native moved into the line of fire to absorb the bullets intended for the President.

The President was wounded in the chest, White House Press Secretary James Brady was hit in the head, a District of Columbia policeman was shot in the shoulder and neck, and McCarthy was shot in the stomach. All lived, and the accused assailant, John W. Hinckley Jr., was captured and is awaiting trial.

McCarthy said he was proud to accept the Legion award on behalf of the Secret Service and its Presidential Protective Division. He said he was completely recovered from his wound and glad to be back at work after two-and-a-half months of recuperation and two weeks of annual leave in Ireland.

Secret Service Director H. Stuart Knight, who chatted with Commander Kogutek and Legion Executive Director for Washington Mylio Kraja for about 20 minutes after the brief ceremony, said he was very proud of McCarthy and the Legion award to him. "It reflects well on the Secret Service, and Tim McCarthy is a fine example of our organization," said Knight.

The special citation for McCarthy was proposed by the Legion's Internal Affairs Commission and approved by the National Executive Committee at its annual spring meeting in Indianapolis May 6 and 7.

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tfrtjjsi}. QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION <3Fbr HEADQUARTERS God William M. DBlwfliler, Chairman Frederick Woodless, Director and P.O Box 1055 >. Cour\tty~ Ir.tJianapolis, Indiana 4f>:>0("> 131 7) 635-841 1

AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 7-17-81

The 36th annual American Legion-sponsored Boys Nation program got underway in Washington, D.C. July 17. Ninety-six outstanding high school junior boys are attending the nine-day program, which includes visits to the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, as well as mock political conventions. (Page 2).

Jack Lord, star of the long-running television program "Hawaii Five-0", will recieve The American Legion Past Commanders Club Good Guy award at the 63rd annual National Conven- tion in Honolulu, Hawaii, Aug. 28 to Sept. 3. (Page 3).

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The American Legion has taken strong exception to a proposal by Budget Director David Stockman that government agencies contract out commercial/industrial work to commercial contractors. Stockman's plan, outlined in a memorandum to the agencies, would eliminate 75,800 federal jobs — 44 percent of which are held by veterans. (Page 4).

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The American Legion has told Congress it sees nothing wrong with the present adjudication procedure for veterans claims, and that the Legion does not support a Senate bill that would provide for judicial review of Veterans Administration decisions. (Page 4).

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The American Legion Freedom Bell, a twice life-size replica of the Liberty Bell, was dedicated July 22, 1981, during ceremonies at the bell's permanent location in front of the National Visitors Center at Union Station in Washington, D.C. The Freedom Bell toured the nation during the American Revolution Bicentennial celebration, 1975-1976. (Page 1).

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rnr&frJ QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION cFbr HEADQUARTERS God and a Willi.mi M I li'iwciii'i. Ch.iiim.in Frederick Woodless, Pireetoi P.Ci Box 10!.'.. Country GO Iridianapolis, Indiana 4G20(i a Cll /) 63b 84 1 I FOR USE 7-17-81

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion Freedom Bell, a twice life-size replica of the Liberty Bell that toured the United States aboard the Freedom Train during the Bi- centennial, will be dedicated July 22 at its permanent location in front of the National Visitors Center at Union Station in downtown Washington, D.C.

The eieht-ton bell — over seven feet high and seven feet in diameter at the lip — is a gift to the nation from The American Legion and Auxiliary on behalf of America s young peopll. Ninety-six high school junior boys from 48 states, in Washington for the Legion- sponsored Boys Nation program, will participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony. They will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner." Sen. John Warner, (R-Va.), former Chairman of the American Revolution Bi"n^n^^ Committee and a Legionnaire himself, will speak during the dedication following an "troduc tion by American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek and brief remarks by Auxiliary | National President Dora Seymour. A section of the U.S. Navy Band will perform before and during the ceremony.

The Legion and Auxiliary raised some $320,000 to pay for the bell, which carries the same words,"typeface and decoration as the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia Unlike the Liberty Bell, which cracked in 1835 while tolling the death of Chief Justice John Marshall the ■ Freedom Bell can be rung. It was painstakingly tuned to the key of F one octave below the tone of the original, by cutting about 2,000 strips of metal from inside the bell.

Like the Liberty Bell, the Freedom Bell carries an inscription from Leviticus 25:10: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.

After its 20,000-mile journey through 48 states aboard the Freedom Train in 1975-76, the Freedom Bell was stored at a National Park Service facility in Washington. Congress : accepted the gift in September 1976 and then-President Gerald Ford signed the authorizing : legislation as Public Law 94-483 the following month.

Architect Jack Patrick of International Design Associates in Silver Spring, Md was chosen to design the structure supporting the Freedom Bell. The site at Columbus Plaza m front of the National Visitors Center was approved by the Secretary of the Interior, the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Frank Giambra, secretary-treasurer of NALPA, the National American Legion Press Association, died July 15, 1981 in Tonawanda, N.Y. He was 62.

Mr. Giambra was well-known throughout The American Legion for his work with NALPA and as editor of the press association's newsletter. He also was a Past Commander of The American Legion Department of New York, past president of NALPA and at the time of his death was a member of the National Public Relations Commission.

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QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE BTS NATIONAL PUBLIC REL HEADQUARTERS ^ruu |Y1 William M. Dstweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress,Woodress. Director \v c"lyl , P.O. Box 1055 \ CourftTy Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 %, (317) 63b 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion will bring 96 outstanding high school juniors to the nation's capitol July 17-25 to see the United States government in action and to participate in the democratic process during the 36th annual Boys Nation.

The 16 and 17-year old Boys Nation delegates are scheduled to meet with President Reagan at the White House and with members of their states' elected representatives at the U.S. Capitol during the nine days of activities.

The delegates also will participate in the dedication of The American Legion Freedom Bell July 22 at its permanent site in front of the National Visitors Center at Union Station in Washington. The Freedom Bell is a twice life-size replica of the Liberty Bell, cast for the Bicentennial as a gift to the nation by The American Legion and Auxiliary on behalf of America's youth. The bell toured the United States in 1976 aboard the Freedom Train.

Boys Nation delegates, or senators, were chosen from among 30,000 participants in American Legion-sponsored Boys State programs in 48 states this summer. They were selected on the basis of outstanding scholastic achievement and superior leadership potential.

Scheduled activities include a tour of the U.S. Naval Academy Sunday, July 19; a wreath- laying at Arlington National Cemetery Monday, July 20; briefings at the State Department Tuesday, July 21 and at the Pentagon Wednesday, July 22; a day with Congress Thursday, July 23; and a graduation banquet Friday, July 24. Other activities will be on the campus of American University where the delegates will be housed.

Boys Nation is a program of The American Legion's national Americanism Commission, designed to foster a better appreciation of the U.S. system of government among the outstanding young men in next year's high school senior classes. Soon to be eligible voters, the Boys Nation delegates will participate in mock political conventions, deliberate bills and resolutions as young "Senators," and elect a Boys Nation President and other officers during the educational program.

Boys Nation will get underway Friday, July 17, with a dance attended by delegates to Girls Nation, a parallel educational program for young women sponsored by The American Legion Auxiliary during the week preceding Boys Nation.

The more than $75,000 cost of the Boys Nation program and transportation for the delegates is paid by The American Legion Life Insurance Trust Fund.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — The American Legion Magazine, the 16th largest monthly publication in the United States, has a readership estimated at about seven million. The magazine requires modern, high-speed printing presses operating around the clock for nine days to complete the press run for just one issue. During the run, the printing presses use 8,800 pounds of ink and nearly 400 tons of paper.

-alns- m QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION , Tor HEADQUARTERS I God Willi.im M Delweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director I arf I, P.O. Box 1055 \ Country/ D3 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 (31 7) 635 841 1

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Jack Lord, star of television's long running dramatic show "Hawaii Five-0", will receive The American Legion Past Department Commanders Club's Good Guy Award during the 63rd annual National Convention of the Legion, Aug. 28-Sept. 3. The presentation will be made during the club's luncheon meeting Aug. 30 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Lord, who has starred on the Broadway stage in "The Travelling Lady" and "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof", also has 10 movies to his credit and performed in some 150 filmed TV programs at Hollywood's Universal Studios before starting the "Hawaii Five-0" series. The program spanned 12 years, second only to "Gunsmoke" in longevity for a TV dramatic series.

Lord is a graduate of New York University where he attended on a football scholarship while majoring in art. Many of his paintings are in galleries and museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

The Legion Past Department Commanders Club's Good Guy Award was initiated in 1970. George Jessel was the first recipient. The award now is made annually to "those whose life is not too crowded to lend a helping hand to others."

Other recipients have been J. Raymond Bell, then a Vice President of Columbia Pictures; columnist Bob Considine; Jackie Gleason; former New York Yankee pitching great Lefty Gomez; cartoonists Milton Caniff and Mort Walker; and golfer Sam Snead.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — National Headquarters has been informed of the death of A.B. Fennell (South Carolina) July 13, 1981 at Columbia, S.C.

Funeral services were July 15 at the Lutheran Incarnation Church in Columbia. Burial was at Elmwood Cemetery, also in Columbia.

Mr. Fennell was long active in The American Legion, and at the time of his death was chairman of the Veterans Preference Committee of the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Jewell Fennell, 77 Dinwood Circle, Columbia, S.C. 29204 The family has asked that memorial contributions in lieu of flowers be made to the Children & Youth Memorial Fund, c/o The American Legion Department of South Carolina, P.O. Box 11355, Columbia, S.C. 29211.

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gfatrrr, QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS Willi.im M. IVtweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O Box 1055 Country f Ir.dianapolis, Indiana 4f>20(i 131 /) 835 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion has taken strong exception to a memo from Budget Director David Stockman urging government agencies to contract out commercial/ industrial work to eliminate 75,800 federal jobs which Stockman said can be done more cheaply by private contractors.

James G. Bourie, the Legion's director for economics, told the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight July 14 that Stockman's proposal was "the first step by the administration in circumventing veterans preference ... (and) established reduction-in-force procedures."

Citing a recent investigation of a security contractor who overbilled the government, falsified work records and was suspended for fraud yet was granted $1.3 million in additional federal contracts, Bourie also challenged the supposed savings from contracting out government work.

In his testimony, Bourie calculated that some 92,000 federal jobs are at stake in the work categories Stockman would eliminate. Since about 44 percent of federal workers are veterans, he said, nearly 40,000 veterans would be terminated.

At the Veterans Administration, which Stockman's April memo singled out for the elimination of 22,800 jobs, about 10,000 veterans would lose their positions to private contractors, Bourie said — half of them Vietnam era veterans.

Bourie cited Resolution No. 696 of the Legion's 1980 national convention and Resolu- tion No. 13 of this spring's National Executive Committee meeting on May 6-7 as the organization's position on contracting out services that eliminates federal jobs.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion told Congress July 15 there is nothing wrong with the present adjudication procedure for veterans' claims, and that it does not support Senate bill 349 which would provide for judicial review of Veterans Administration decisions among other things.

Robert E. Lyngh, director of the Legion's National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee The American Legion would, however, support Congressional action to authorize and fund additional personnel for VA's Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) in the interest of expediting veterans' appeals and expediting delivery of benefits to claimants.

Lyngh said his VA&R staff has 10 members handling BVA cases in Washington. In the last full reporting year, they presented 6,424 appeals from veterans whose claims had been turned down by VA. It takes an average of six months to complete an appellate action if there are no special requirements such as independent medical opinions or field examinations, he added,

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QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION <¥br HEADQUARTERS | God Willum M ()fiiw«il(!r. Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director { and , P.O. Box 10D5 \ Country Ir.dianapolis, Indiana 46206 (3 17) 635 841 1

VA&R Comm. Director testifies before Senate FOR USE 7-17-81 Veterans Affairs Committee continued

"Obviously, if the BVA had more sections operating, disposition of cases would be speeded," Lyngh testified. "We certainly can attest that BVA is one element of the VA in which all personnel assigned are always busy."

The Legion spokesman said no new legislation is needed to increase the activity of the appeals board. This can be accomplished by Congress funding additional personnel at the BVA, he said.

Lyngh restated the Legion's longstanding position that subjecting VA appeal disposi- tions to review by the federal courts would not help veterans receive more consideration than they now get. On the contrary, he testified, the veteran and the government would be placed in an adversary relationship, judiciary rules of evidence would apply, decisions already reached could not be reopened without new evidence, and the Board of Veterans Appeals would "go by the book" knowing that its action would be subject to scrutiny by federal judges.

"Under a Judicial Review Act, there would probably be some cases won. The VA system is not perfect, because no system is," Lyngh conceded. But, he added: "Based on our sixty years of experience in veterans' claims work, it is our considered judgment that there will be more cases lost than won when the VA system becomes subject to the examination and imposed judgment of federal judges. In other words, we believe veterans are, in the main, treated more generously ... under the present VA system of adjudication ...."

Lyngh strongly opposed provisions of the bill that would allow lawyers representing veterans appealing for benefits under judicial review to take as much as 25 percent of the benefits as their fee. "Given the fact that most claimants for benefits from VA are poor, this is not acceptable to the Legion," Lyngh told the senators. The Legion and other recognized veterans service organizations currently handle veterans' claims and appeals for free.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — A repeat of "Today's American Legion", a satellite salute to the programs of the nation's largest veterans organization and its forthcoming convention in Hawaii, is scheduled for transmission to 500 cable systems reaching 4,000,000 homes Aug. 7th at 12:00 noon EDT, 11 a.m. CDT and 9:00 Pacific.

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ESMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION f "Fbr HEADQUARTERS I God Willi.itn M Itelweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director and I P.O. Rox 1055 Country Indianapolis, Indiana 45200 1317) 635 841 1

AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 7-24-81 •

The American Legion has asked Congress to authorize a special pension for World War I veterans with limited incomes. The pension, proposed in H.R. 1153, would grant $150 a month to veterans of World War I and the subsequent Allied expeditionary force in Russia who have incomes under $8,000 annually and no dependents. Veterans with dependents would receive the same $150 pension provided their income did not exceed $10,000 a year . (Page 6).

President Reagan, during a briefing for veterans' organization leaders July 17 at the White House, said there will be no reduction in Veterans Administration services despite government efforts to curb spending. National Commander Michael J. Kogutek was among the leaders invited to the special briefing. (Page 2).

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Representative G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery (D.-Miss.) will speak before delegates to the 63rd annual National Convention of The American Legion Sept. 2, 1981. He will speak on the i work of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, which he chairs. His address will be deliv- ered from the platform of the convention in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian ! Village Hotel at 9:30 a.m. (Page 1).

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Seventeen-year-old William H. Jackson of Olathe, Ks., has been elected president of the 36th annual American Legion Boys Nation, held July 17-25 at American University in Washington, D.C. Jackson will receive a $1,500 scholarship from Who's Who Among American High School Students and will attend the 63rd annual National Convention of The American Legion in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Page 7).

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National Commander Michael J. Kogutek awarded The American Legion's Medal of Valor July 21 to Thomas K. Delahanty, a Washington, D.C., policeman. Delahanty was wounded in the March 30, 1981, shooting of President Reagan, Press Secretary James Brady and Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy. McCarthy received the Medal of Valor July 8. (Page 4). nr

■■vi^B^tepa OMERSCAN LEGJON NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVI SI ON — T H E AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS God Willum to DHlwmlei. Chiiirman Frederick Wooclress, Directoi EJ P.O. Bnx 1055 Country r.dianapolis, I ndiana 4620G 13 I /) 636 841 I

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Representative G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery (D.-Miss.) will address the 63rd annual National Convention of The American Legion, scheduled for Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 1981 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Montgomery will speak on the work of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, a committee he has chaired since early 1981 and of which he has been a member since 1968. His address is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Sept. 2, from the convention platform in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel.

Montgomery was elected to Congress in 1966, after having served 10 years in the Mississippi state legislature.. In 1975 and 1976, he was chairman of the House Select Com- mittee on Missing Persons in Southeast Asia. Before that assignment, Montgomery was chairman of the House Select Committee on U.S. Involvement in Southeast Asia. In 1977, he went to Hanoi as a member of the Woodcock Commission to seek information on missing American servicemen. In 1978, he was appointed chairman of the Special House Commission on Southeast Asia, and has made 12 trips to that area of the world on behalf of those still listed as ■ missing in action.

Montgomery is a retired Mississippi National Guard Brigadier General. He retired from military service in 1980 after 30 years combined active and reserve duty. His active duty assignments included tours in the European Theater during World War II and with the 31st Infantry Division during the Korean Conflict. His military decoration include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The 42 additional Vietnam Veterans Outreach and Counseling Centers announced July 17 by President Reagan and Veterans Administration chief Robert Nimmo 'include 28 new Vet Centers whose opening the VA had announced earlier this month.

A VA spokesman in Washington said the addition of the new Vet Centers would bring the number of such readjustment counseling "storefront" units to 133. In its initial budget proposals early this year, the Reagan administration planned to close the existing 91 existing Vet Centers September 30, 1981, one year ahead of schedule. After an outcry from The American Legion and other veterans organizations, both houses of Congress passed legislation extending the life of the outreach counseling program for three years.

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ns^^^ QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION °Fo; - HEADQUARTERS God Wilh.m, M IVlweilm, Chnirmnn Frpderick Woodless, Directoi El P.i> Bnx I 05b , Couuitry I r.diarwipnlis, I nOi.i'i.i 4(.?0() 0 (31 /) G35 1141 I FOR USE 7-24-81

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — President Reagan told the leaders of veterans organizations at a special briefing in the White House July 17 there would be no reduction in Veterans Administration services despite government efforts to curb spending.

American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek attended the briefing. He said the President emphasized his interest in the problems of Vietnam veterans and announced the opening of 42 more outreach centers. Kogutek quoted the President as saying the only im- moral thing about the Vietnam war was America's treatment of its returning veterans.

The National Commander presented the President a book of resolutions from the Legion's 1980 national convention and photos of Mr. and Mrs. Reagan at the Veterans Inaugural Ball last January. He again invited the President to attend the Legion's 1981 convention in Honolulu Aug. 28-Sept. 3, and the President reportedly said it would be nice if he could make it.

The briefing for veterans leaders was to solicit their support for the administration's tax-cut proposal now before Congress. Treasury Undersecretary Norman Ture presented the i administration's economic arguments in favor of the three-year plan for tax cuts of 5, 20 and 10 percent per year.

Vice President George Bush spoke to the veterans leaders on foreign policy. He report- ledly stressed human rights, saying the Reagan administration's approach consisted of strong | negotiations, which he credited with saving the life of South Korean political opposition tleader Kim Dae Jung.

Dr. Norman A. Bailey, director of planning and evaluation for the National Security Council, countered criticism that the new administration does not yet have a foreign policy. He reportedly told the veteran leaders that there is a U.S. policy but that it does not consist of pleasing foreign countries. Bailey reportedly also said that the Reagan administration would not follow the foreign policies of previous administrations but would chart its own course.

President Reagan introduced Robert Nimmo, who was sworn in July 15 as head of the \JA, ^nd personally backed him up when Nimmo pledged there would be no reductions in Veterans Administration services.

Commander Kogutek congratulated Nimmo afterward on his appointment and offered him all possible assistance from The American Legion. He invited the new Administrator of Veterans Iffairs to address the Legion national convention and Nimmo said he would come to Hawaii f o,- 11.

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0MERSCAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION °For HEADQUARTERS God w' " M n«lwe.l«r, Chdirman Frederick Woodress, Director and P.O. Box 105'i Country Ir.ijianapolis, Indian.) 46206 (317) 635 841 I

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — The American Legion's 63rd annual National Convention Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii, is expected to take about four and one-half hours to pass the reviewing stand.

Beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, the parade will move from the formation area at Fort DeRussy, proceed east on Kalakaua Avenue to Monsarrat Avenue (about lh miles), and disband at Kapolani Park.

The reviewing stand will be on the south side of Kalakaua Avenue at Kealohilani. National Commander Michael J. Kogutek will join military leaders and distinguished guests of the convention there to review the parade and take the salutes of the passing units.

Immediate Past National Commander Frank I. Hamilton of Greensburg, Ind., is the Honorary Grand Marshal for the parade. The Grand Marshal is Admiral James D. Watkins, Com- mander- in-Chief , Pacific Fleet, Department of the Navy.

About 15 Honolulu area high school bands, Chinese dragon dancers and the colorful Pa'u Riders will be marching among delegations from the fifty states, District of Columbia and the seven foreign and outlying departments of The American Legion — France, Italy, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, the Panama Canal and the Philippines.

The escort division, composed of musical and marching units from military Installations in the area, will lead off the parade. The marching delegation of the host Department of Hawaii will be the final unit in the parade lineup.

Deputy Grand Marshals, representing the United States uniformed services will be: Rear Adm. Bernie Thompson, U.S.C.G., Commander 14th Coast Guard District, Honolulu; Maj. Gen. Herman 0. Thomson, U.S.A.F., H.Q. Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii; and Maj. Gen. Herbert E. Wolff, USA, Commander U.S. Army - Western Command, Ft. Shafter, Hawaii.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — The president of the National American Legion Press Association, Paul Heckman, has announced the selection of George Hooten (Georgia) to be interim secretary-treasurer of NALPA.

Mr. Hooten replaces Frank Giambra, long-time NALPA secretary-treasurer, who died July 15, 1981.

Mr. Hooten's address is 2975 Catalina Drive, Decatur, Ga. All NALPA transmittals should be forwarded to his attention at that address.

-alns- AW EJMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION it °Fot~ HEADQUARTERS God Wllh.im M DI'IWI'IIIM . Ui,i'im.-i Frederick Woodress, Director li and E3 P.O. BI.K 106b Country Ir.uianapolis, Indiana 4G2U(> (31 /) 635 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — Thomas K. Delahanty, a District of Columbia policeman who was wounded in the March 30, 1981, attempt on President Reagan's life outside the Washington Hilton Hotel, received The American Legion's Medal of Valor July 21 in ceremonies at the Washington office of Legion national headquarters.

American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek presented the medal, which was attached to a plaque inscribed "For outstanding service in the line of duty." Immediate Past National Commander Frank I. Hamilton and David Lusby, newly elected Department Commander of the District of Columbia, also attended the presentation ceremony.

Delahanty, a post-Korean period veteran of the Navy, was wounded in the back by one of the bullets intended for the President. He remains on sick leave with damage to his left arm and elbow. President Reagan, White House Press Secretary James Brady and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy also were injured in the attack, and accused assailant John W. Hinckley is awaiting trial. Agent McCarthy received the Legion's Medal of Valor July 8.

Officer Delahanty, a Pittsburgh native and 18-year member of the D.C. police force, is attached to the 3rd District Canine Corps.

"My dog was sick (on March 30) and I guess they just needed a warm body on the guard detail that day and I was available," Delahanty said. He said that when the shooting started he was hit and fell and the confusion was so great he had no idea what was going on.

His dog was down with heartworms on the fateful day but is now recovered and staying home with him while the doctors try to determine Delahanty's health status, he added.

Delahanty said his wife received "a very nice letter" from President Reagan while he was still in the hospital and that former President Jimmy Carter also had written to him. He has received awards from the District of Columbia City Council, the Marine Corps, state police departments from across the country and many civic organizations.

He said he was especially proud to receive the Legion award because he has many friends at Nash Post No. 8 of The American Legion Department of D.C. His late mother-in-law, Helen March, was a past president of the post's Auxiliary unit.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — National Commander Michael J. Kogutek has informed National Headquarters of the death of Edward R. Delehanty (New York), who died July 16, 1981 at Albany, N.Y.

Mr. Delehanty was New York Department Commander in 1967-1968; Alternate National Executive Committeeman in 1968-1969; and a member of the National Legislative Council (28th Congressional District) in 1976-1978 and 1979-1980. In addition to his national and department service, Mr. Delehanty also was long-time chairman of the Department of New York's legislative banquet. JZ*J-

QJMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION °Fbr HEADQUARTERS God

William M I (Blwmlei. Chan man r redei l(.k Woodress, Director and P.O. Box 1055 s. Country mjjja^ G3 Ir.dianapolis, Indiana 46206 0 (31/! 635 84 1 I FOR USE 7-24-81

WASHINGTON (ALNS) — As we approach the final weeks of the 1980-81 American Legion year, our thoughts turn to the upcoming National Convention in Hawaii ... sun-kissed beaches, luaus, hula skirts, meetings, and the opportunity to elect our leader for another year.

When the new Commander takes his oath, he will join that elite "few" who have been called on over the years to spearhead the cause of an organization dedicated to serving the veteran and his widow and orphan.

During the more than 62 years The American Legion has been in business, we have had 71 National Commanders; 62 have been elected, one assumed the office, and eight received honorary titles awarded by action of National Conventions.

National Commanders have represented 30 of the 58 departments. California produced the most elected, six; New York produced four elected National Commanders and three honorary National Commanders; Illinois produced five elected National Commanders and one honorary; and Texas produced three elected and one honorary.

Other departments from which National Commanders have come include Ohio and Michigan with four each; Iowa, Indiana and Kansas with three each; Missouri, Pennsylvania, Washing- ton, West Virginia, North Dakota, Georgia, Virginia, and Oklahoma with two National Com- manders each; and Arkansas, Maine, Connecticut, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Minnesota, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts and Louisiana have each produced one National Commander.

In addition to those already mentioned, honorary National Commanders have come from the Department of Missouri, Pennsylvania and Nevada.

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — National Headquarters has learned of the death June 6, 1981, of Robert Armstrong, 89, former Alternate National Executive Committeeman and Past Department Commander of Nebraska.

In addition to having been Alternate NECman in 1935-1936 and Department Commander in 1932-1933, Mr. Armstrong was a member of the National Distinguished Guest Committee (1933- 1934), and of the National Child Welfare Area D Committee (1934-1937, 1937-1940 and again in 1941, 1942 and 1943).

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0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS God William M Dciwi'iliM, Chiiirman Frederick Woodress, Director and P.O. Hoy loriU Country S3 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 1317) 63b H41 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion asked Congress July 21 to authorize a special pension of $150 a month for World War I veterans with limited income, but stopped short of endorsing a more generous bill which a Legion spokesman later said has little chance of passage in the current austerity mood.

"The program proposed in H.R. 1153 is, we feel, a modest one. It is within the bounds of fiscal possibility and would be a modest gesture to assure these proud and respected veterans a certain measure of economic security," John F. Sommer Jr., assistant director of the Legion's National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, told the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee on compensation, pension and insurance.

The Legion-sponsored bill, mandated by Resolution No. 669 of the 1980 National Conven- tion, would authorize the payment of $150 per month to a World War I vet with no dependents and an annual income of $8,000 or less and the same amount to a veteran, with dependents, whose annual income does not exceed $10,000.

The other legislation (H.R. 1918), which Sommer mentioned in his testimony but did not support or oppose, would authorize the. payment of $150 to any veteran of World War I or the Allied expeditionary force to Russia during the Czarist-Soviet civil war, regardless of income, or to certain surviving spouses and dependent children of such veterans. Under H.R. 1918, the special pension would be payable in addition to the standard VA disability pension based on financial need. Under H.R. 1153, it would not.

In his testimony, Sommer said "The American Legion owes a great debt of gratitude to the veterans of the First World War" as the founders of the organization in 1919. They never benefited from the GI Bill and other programs they supported for later generations of veterans, he added, and worked for years before the establishment of Social Security or adequate company pension plans.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — A typical day's round of activities at Boys Nation 1981 will be telecast nationwide August 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. via the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN) on channels that normally carry its live coverage of the House of Representatives.

The program will feature the White House visit July 24 of the 96 young men from 48 states who participated in the week-long 36th annual government education program sponsored by The American Legion's National Americanism Commission. It will also carry segments from Girls Nation 1981, a similar program for high school girls put on by The American Legion Auxiliary in the nation's capital.

During the telecast, there will be call-in periods when viewers can telephone in to have their questions answered live on the air by Auxiliary National President Dora Seymour, Boys Nation Director Robert C. Kruse, 1981 Boys Nation President Bill Jackson of Olathe, Kansas, and one of the delegates from Girls Nation. The number to call during the C-SPAN broadcast is (202) 432-1010.

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0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS I God Wilh.mi M Dplwfiiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Directoi I and P.O. Box IOL,b \ Coiuitry Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 (3 1 /) (KIIJ H41 1

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Nearly one-third of the nation's medical students are among the 96,670 persons who received clinical training at VA medical centers last year, according to a Veterans Administration report.

The statistics show the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the VA to have become a national clinical training ground, with more than 2,000 training programs in the fields of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, social work and other health professions.

Although this training benefits society at large, the VA's interest is served by introducing a medical school environment with its teachers and trainees into its hospitals.

Dr. Donald Custis, VA's chief medical director, said "We don't view medical education as an independent entity. It is inseparable from patient care in VA, and one of the prime guarantors of its quality."

More than one third of all physicians filling approved medical residencies in the United States and almost 20 percent of all dentists engaged in postdoctoral studies received training in VA medical facilities.

VA provides training to 38 percent of the physicians filling approved medical residencies (24,286 of 64,615); 32 percent of all medical students (20,427 of 64,195); 19 percent of all dentists engaged in postdoctoral training (706 of 3,764), and five percent of all dental students (1,216 of 22,482).

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — William H. Jackson, 17, of Olathe, Ks., has been elected president of The American Legion's 36th annual Boys Nation, a week-long study program in the operation of the federal government under way in Washington, D.C, at American University.

The Boys Nation President, son of William and Bertha Jackson, is an incoming senior at Olathe South High School.

He was elected chairman of the Nationalist Party at the Legion's Kansas Boys State program held May 31 to June 6 at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He headed the Nationalist ticket at Boys Nation in the contest July 2.1 between two mock political parties for the votes of 96 boy delegates representing 48 states, winning over Federalist candidate Eddie Uriah of Glasford, Illinois.

Jackson has compiled an impressive record in his three years of high school and has been elected president of the student council for next year. He is a football quarterback and plays basketball on the school team, is a member of the National Honor Society, president of the school chapter of the National Forensic League and was named an outstanding competitor in debate and forensics at the 2nd N.F.L. Student Congress this year. He plans to attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and hopes to become a physician.

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0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION Tor HEADQUARTERS God Willum M. Dtilvwilur, Chnirnvin Frederick Woodress, Directoi and P.O Bo* lOL.b V Country Ir.tllanaDOHs, Indiana 40206 (31 7) (>.il) H.11 I

Boys Nation 1981 elects president and vice FOR USE 7-24-81 president (cont'd)

Vice president of Boys Nation 1981 is Hood Temple, 17, of Florence, S.C., son of William K. and Genie Temple. He is a senior at West Florence High School. He was elected chairman of the Nationalist Party at the South Carolina Boys State held June 7 to 13 at The Citadel in Charleston, and ran for vice president of Boys Nation on the Federalist ticket, outpolling Bradley C. Henske of Belleville, Tx.

As Boys Nation President, Jackson will receive a $1,500 scholarship from Who's Who Among American High School Students and attend The American Legion's 63rd annual National Convention in Honolulu Sept. 1-3 as a Legion Youth Champion. Vice president Temple wins a $1,000 scholarship from Who's Who.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — Freedom rang out on Columbus Plaza in front of the National 'Visitors Center here July 22 when American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek, Auxiliary National President Dora Seymour and Sen. John Warner, (R.-Va.) tolled a double- size model of the Liberty Bell and 96 high school seniors from across the country attending The American Legion's Boys Nation sang "America."

It rang out again and again after the ceremony dedicating the eight-ton American Legion Freedom Bell at its permanent location as a landmark in the nation's capital, as numerous Legion Past National Commanders and high officials took turns with Boys Nation delegates to pull the rope attached for the occasion to the bell's 600-pound clapper.

Sen. Warner, former chief of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration and the main speaker, summarized'the event neatly:

"As you know, through the generosity of The American Legion and thousands of ordinary citizens across this land, this bell played a very important role in America's Bicentennial celebration. This bell traveled through 48 states, to 138 cities, over more than 26,000 miles, and aboard the Bicentennial Freedom Train. For the millions of Americans who saw it, this bell served as the symbol of the precious possessions our forefathers gave their lives to maintain and others have given their lives to attain.

"How fitting and appropriate it is that after its long journey throughout our nation, this bell should now be placed on permanent display at the citadel of our free and representative republic, where travelers from all over our land and all over the world may pause to reflect on its significance."

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0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS William M. Detweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1055 Incfianapolis, Indiana 46206 (317) 635 841 1

AMERICAN LEGION NEWS BRIEFS FOR WEEK ENDING 7-31-81

Past National Commander James F. O'Neil, 83, died July 28, 1981, at a New York hospital. He was National Commander in 1947-1948. He had been publisher of The American Legion Magazine and was active in government affairs as well as The American Legion. (Page 1).

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Bruce E. Penny, long-time Sunday editor of The Seattle (Wash.) Post-Intelligencer, will present the 1981 Hearst Americanism Trophy during ceremonies on the platform of the 63rd annual National Convention of The American Legion, Wednesday, Sept. 2. (Page 7).

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The American Legion Department of Illinois, with donations totalling $4,880.84, is leading the competition in The American Legion's continuing drive to raise money for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Legion-wide contributions total $67,536.24 as of July 21, 1981. (Page 7).

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The Selective Service System, without much public attention, has launched an "outreach program" across the nation designed to select prospective members for local draft boards to serve in the event Congress and the President authorize a return to the military draft. (Page 5).

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The crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia, Astronauts Robert L. Crippen and James W. Young, will receive The American Legion's Distinguished Service Medal during the 63rd annual National Convention of The American Legion in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Page 3).

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The Department of Alaska and the Department of Minnesota are co-winners of the Paul H, Griffith Trophy for their support of The American Legion's ROTC awards program. (Page 3). * * * Ml QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION God \ HEADQUARTERS D and I Willi.mi M. Delweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1055 Country / 12 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 (317) 635 841 1

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — James F. O'Neil, 83, Forest Hills, N.Y., Past National Commander of The American Legion (1947-48), died Tuesday, July 28, in a New York hospital. He suffered a heart condition. He first suffered an attack in February 1980, while m Manchester, N.H. , attending the funeral of a brother.

Funeral services for Mr. O'Neil were 10 a.m. July 31, 1981, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Manchester, N.H., preceded by a funeral procession from the Goodwin Funeral Home in Manchester. Past National Commander Robert Charles Smith (Louisiana) and Past National Commander William J. Rogers (Maine) represented National Commander Michael J. Kogutek and the National Organization at the services.

O'Neil had been extremely active in Legion affairs both before and after his service as National Commander, and had served as publisher of The American Legion Magazine from 1950 until 1978. Immediately prior to his appointment as publisher, he had served as Chairman of the Legion's Publications Commission (now the American Legion Magazine Com- mission) . A veteran of Mexican Border service with the 1st New Hampshire Infantry, he also served in World War I as an infantryman and won a battlefield commission in France to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. During World War II he became a civilian special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, and was with the Third Fleet when it made its last strike at Japan and was among those present when Japan was occupied. In 1946 he was appointed by President Harry S. Truman to the Amnesty Board, along with the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Owen J. Roberts and Sen. Willis Smith of North Carolina, former head of the American Bar Association. The committee, later known as the Roberts Committee, was charged with the responsibility of reviewing some 16,000 cases of Selective Service Act violations during World War II.

O'Neil, along with the late Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, helped organize The American Legion of New Hampshire, with Knox serving as the first state commander. 0 Neil was a charter member of Henry J. Sweeney American Legion Post No. 2 in Manchester.

Memorial contributions can be made to either the American Heart Association or to The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. Messages of condolences may be sent to the sons of Past National Commander O'Neil, at the following addresses:

Kenneth O'Neil, 8313 West Pocahontas St., Tampa, Fla. , 33615; and Russell O'Neil, 4012 Buena Vista, Dallas, Texas, 75204.

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QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE cFbr NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION \ HEADQUARTERS God a Willi.im M. Detweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director and / P.O. Box 1055 Country/ 11 dianapolis, Indiana 46206 M (317) 635 841 1 FOR USE 7-31-81

INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Admiral Robert Long, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, the United States senior military commander in the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas, will address the 1981 National Convention of The American Legion in Honolulu, Aug. 28-Sept. 3, Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek has announced.

Admiral Long is scheduled to address the delegates from the convention platform in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2. He will speak on "The Pacific Command; The Challenges of the 1980's."

He heads the largest unified command, an area encompassing 100 million square miles — more than 50 percent of the earth's surface — and about 320,000 personnel. As Commander of the U.S. military for collective defense arrangements in the Pacific, he is responsible to the President and the Secretary of Defense through the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

A native of Kansas City, Mo., he is a 1944 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and was assigned to the battleship USS Colorado, serving in several Western Pacific Campaigns of World War II. After the war, he completed Naval Submarine School. The next two decades of his career were devoted to the submarine service, including command of two ballistic missile submarines, the USS Patrick Henry and the USS Casimir Pulaski.

He rose through the ranks in positions of increasing responsibility and was promoted to Flag rank and reported as Commander, Service Group Three, U.S. Seventh Fleet in September 1968. In 1974, he was promoted to Admiral and assigned as Vice Chief of Naval Operations, becoming Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, on October 31, 1979. His decorations include two Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit with two gold stars, the Bronze Star, and many others, including several from allied governments.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion Department of Rhode Island has been judged winner this year of the National Commander's blood donor awards for member participation and post participation.

During the 1980-81 reporting period, the department report indicates that every single Legion post in Rhode Island participated in blood-collection efforts while 24 percent of the state's 10,000 Legionnaires gave blood.

National Commander Michael J. Kogutek, in a July 22 letter to Department Commander O.M. Todd Sloan, said "No small part of the credit for your department's achievement must go to your outstanding blood donor chairman, Alexander J. Castaldi." He added that Rhode Island's good example in blood drive participation should inspire other departments to do likewise.

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QMERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—-THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS Wilh.ini M l)(iiw«ili!r, Chiiirman Frederick Woodress, Director P.o Box 1055 m Indianapolis, Indiana 4620G \ (31 /) 635 841 1

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INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Astronauts Robert L. Crippen and James W. Young, who successfully piloted the first manned space shuttle flight, will receive The American Legion's 1981 Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion's highest award.

The award will be presented by Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek from the platform of the Legion's 63rd annual National Convention in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii, at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 3.

The resolution by which the astronauts were selected for the honor, approved by the. Legion's National Executive Committee, reads, in part, as follows:

"Whereas, John Young and Robert Crippen have brought honor to the United States of America and the U.S. Space Program ... their bravery and professionalism in successfully carrying out the mission of the space program has reestablished America as the leader in manned space flight and ... the contribution of their knowledge and skills in the precision execution of their mission combined with the support of the space program staff has revived national pride and restored international respect for the United States."

NASA has advised the Legion that Crippen and Young will not be able to appear personally to accept the award because their expertise is required in helping prepare for the next space shuttle flight, scheduled for September 30, 1981.

Accepting for them will be fellow astronaut Colonel Karol J. Bobko, New York, a 1959 graduate of the Air Force Academy with a Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California. He became a NASA astronaut in 1969, was a crew member on the successful Skylab Medical Experiments Altitude Test, a 56-day simulation of the Skylab Mission. He also trained in preparation for the orbital flights of the space shuttle.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The American Legion Departments of Alaska and Minnesota have been judged co-winners this year of the Paul H. Griffith Trophy for their support of the Legion's ROTC awards program.

In announcing the winners July 22, American Legion National Commander Michael J. Kogutek noted that 45 departments awarded 883 medals to members of 246 ROTC units during the 1980-81 reporting period.

The award is named for the late Paul Griffith of Pennsylvania, a Past National Commander (1946-47) of the Legion and former Assistant Secretary of Defense. The trophy is perma- nently kept at National Headquarters, but the winning departments will have their names inscribed on it and receive plaques certifying the award at the Legion's annual National Convention.

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0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION God H HEADQUARTERS Willi.im M. Detweilei, Chiiirman Frederick Woodress, Director and P.O. Box 1055 \ Country I r dianapoMs, Indiana 46206 mi'" (317) M5 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — The Office of Personnel Management, which oversees employment matters within the federal government, will closely monitor two special programs for hiring veterans and make the question of how agencies use the programs part of its field evaluation process, according to James G. Bourie, National Economic Director for The American Legion.

Bourie said the new policy, which he credited to Legion insistence, was announced July 27 by 0PM Director Donald Devine at a meeting with his regional personnel managers. The two programs are a provision of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act which provides for the noncompetitive appointment of veterans with a 30 percent or more service-connected disability and the Veterans Readjustment Appointments (VRA) authority which permits federal agencies to hire Vietnam era veterans for two years of training without civil service examination and their subsequent conversion to career appointments.

Use of these two programs up to now has been disappointing, Bourie said. Part of the problem was the 0PM headquarters in Washington lacked up-to-date figures on how much the 156 regular, executive and independent agencies were using these noncompetitive hiring provisions for veterans in their offices across the country, he added.

According to the new policy, 0PM's Agency Compliance and Evaluation teams will docu- ment use of these two veterans hiring programs on their regular inspection visits, Bourie said.

"That way 0PM can identify those agencies which are not promoting the hiring of veterans under these programs and correct any problems — administrative or program problems — eliminating the six to eight month delay in getting the information to headquarters," the Legion official said.

"This will, go a long way toward getting more Vietnam and disabled vets into government jobs," Bourie said, stressing that The American Legion had taken the initiative on pushing the two programs and getting 0PM to take action.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — James Bourie, director of The American Legion's National Economic Division, has been named one of the Outstanding Young Men of America for 1981, an iward program endorsed by the U.S. Jaycees.

According to the announcement, Bourie was nominated for the honor by Dr. Dennis R. fyant, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of labor for veterans employment.

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0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION HEADQUARTERS W "" M r)etwflilor. Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 C!I7) 635 841 1

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (ALNS) — Openly, but without receiving much attention from the news media and the public, the Selective Service System has launched an "outreach program" across the country to select prospective members for local draft boards in case Congress and the President authorize a return to conscription.

The President's authority to draft men into the armed forces expired in 1973, and whether Congress should pass a law reviving it became a secondary campaign issue of the 1980 presidential election. Former President Jimmy Carter favored a return to the draft in times of national emergency, while candidate Ronald Reagan saw no need at the time.

In his last year in office, Carter signed legislation reactivating the Selective Service System from its post-Vietnam "deep standby" status and issued an executive order requiring young men to register at age 18. President Reagan has not canceled this law, and under his administration the Justice Department recently received for possible prosecution the names of 134 young men who had failed to register.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled in June that the Selective Service registration of men but not women does not violate the Constitution and is a matter properly left for Con- gress to decide.

On June 1, Selective Service Director Bernard Rostker sent letters to The American Legion and other organizations such as the League of Women Voters, the Urban League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and various church groups announcing the start of recruitment and training of citizen volunteers to serve on local draft boards.

After a pilot program in Maryland and Kentucky, the effort is now underway in all 50 states, according to Selective Service Headquarters in Washington. The goal is to select and train some 10,000 individuals to serve without pay on about 2,000 "standby" draft boards nationwide.

The Legion and other community organizations have been contacted to encourage volunteers to come forward. A Selective Service spokesman told ALNS that volunteers who fill out questionnaires will be screened to come up with an initial pool representative of the registrant population in terms of race and ethnic background, as much as possible, based on census data for the local area.

After interviews with eligible volunteers to determine their willingness to serve, the spokesman explained, twice as many candidates as there are posts will be submitted to the Governor of each state, who will choose nominees for appointment by the President.

By statute, the President is required to appoint to each local board members who reflect, as much as possible, the race and national origin of registrants within its local jurisdiction. Also, no citizen can be denied membership on account of sex.

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0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION "\ HEADQUARTERS God Wiili.iin M Deiweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director and jj P.O. Box 1 055 G3 Indianapolis, I nriiana 46206 s Cour&rf !31 /) 635 841 1

Selective Service System has launched an FOR USE 7-31-81 "outreach program" (cont'd)

According to Selective Service guidelines, the selection program for local board membership will emphasize public participation, adequate representation of minority groups, no discrimination against women, recruitment of individuals respected by their communities and finding capable board members.

Local boards operate at the county level. The law requires that each have at least three members, although the average number nationwide is five members, according to the Selective Service spokesman.

Those appointed later this year to local draft boards will receive a two-day, 12-hour training program to acquaint them with their duties, plus mailed materials or occasional training meetings to keep them up-to-date.

The Selective Service spokesman said the boards themselves won't meet "officially" unless and until Congress reimposes the draft. The selection and training of local board members is "just in case," he said.

To be considered for appointment to a local board, the individual must be a U.S. citizen between 18 and 60 years of age and a resident of the area in which the local board has jurisdiction. He or she must be able to devote sufficient time to accomplish board duties and be willing to apply the Selective Service Law and regulations fairly and uniformly.

Active or retired members of the armed forces or reserves or persons with 15 years or more of prior Selective Service board membership are not eligible. Veterans who did not make a career of the military service are eligible.

If the draft is resumed during a national emergency, the Selective Service says the general procedures to be followed would be similar to those in effect during the last years of the previous draft — not the controversial system of the 1960s. A lottery would be used to designate those young men to be called, 20-year-olds would be drafted first and there would be no education deferments.

However, local boards would still have to decide difficult questions such as conscien- tious obiectors status, hardship cases and exemptions for ministers and ministerial students,

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* CORRECTION: *

* In the July 24, 1981, American Legion News Service, Past National Commander William E. Galbraith, Nebraska, elected National Commander during the 50th * annual National Convention in New Orleans, La., Sept. 12, 1968, was omitted from the list of 62 elected past national commanders. We apologize to PNC * Oalbraith and his many friends who brought the error to our attention. ***************************************** P-13

^ygfa 1MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION—THE AMERICAN LEGION °Fbr HEADQUARTERS God and William M. Delwntltir, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director II P.O, Box 1055 , Countty- li cliannpolis, Indiana 46206 m (31 /) 635 841 1 FOR USE 7-31-81

INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — Bruce E. Penny, retired editor at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, will present the 1981 Hearst Americanism Trophy during The American Legion's 63rd annual National Convention, Aug. 28-Sept. 3, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Penny, who will be making the presentation on behalf of the Hearst organization, served 32 years with the Post-Intelligencer, holding several editorial positions, including many years as Sunday editor.

The Hearst Trophy was originated in 1939 by the late William Randolph Hearst in cooperation with the Legion's National Americanism Commission and the National Executive Committee. It is awarded each year to the department judged by the Americanism Commission to have promoted the principles and programs of Americanism.

Selection of the winning department will be made by a committee of the Americanism Commission during the National Convention. The presentation will be made to the winning department on the convention platform Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Penny is a retired Air Force Colonel with 38 years of active and reserve service. He was a combat pilot in the European Theater during World War II and has been long active in The American Legion, serving some 15 years as editor of the Washington State Legionnaire.

He was a Public Relations Consultant to the Legion during the 1976 National Convention in Seattle, and currently is a member of the National American Legion Magazine Commission.

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FOR USE 7-31-81

INDIANAPOLIS (ALNS) — The Department of Illinois leads the competition in The American Legion's continuing drive to raise one million dollars for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, with total cash contributions of $4,880.84.

Legion-wide as of July 21, 1981, total contributions — cash on hand only and not including pledges as yet uncollected — reached $67,536.24, from 999 Legion posts, inter- ested individuals and businesses. The Internal Affairs Division, which is responsible for coordinating the fund drive, is crediting all donations received to the department the donor is from.

The top ten contributing departments, and their contributions as of July 21, are:

Illinois . $4,880.84 Minnesota . ■ $3,186.20 California 4,464.38 Virginia . ■ 3,134.11 Michigan . 4,132.75 New York . . 2,552.60 Ohio . . . 4,021.00 Pennsylvania 2,347.90 Indiana 3,598.90 Missouri . . 2,184.25

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0MERICAN LEGION NEWS SERVICE NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION —THE AMERICAN LEGION oFbr HEADQUARTERS God Willi.tm M Detweiler, Chairman Frederick Woodress, Director and jj P.a'. Bnx 1055 K Country Ir.dianaoolis, Indiana 46206 (317) 635 8411

Contributions to Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund FOR USE 7-31-81 (cont'd)

An intensive fund raising effort will begin in September. Each member of The American Legion whose 1982 dues are paid will receive an automobile window sticker and a letter requesting his or her financial support of the Memorial Fund. All fund raising efforts are expected to be concluded by May 1982.

The Legion's involvement in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund began in earnest just prior to the 1981 Spring Meetings in Indianapolis when National Commander Michael J. Kogutek announced the Legion's one million dollar pledge. At the same time, Indianapolis 500 race driver Tom Sneva, along with car owners Dan Cotter and George Bignotti, dedicated the Memorial Day race effort to the Legion's fund drive. Sneva's car completed 96 laps with hundreds of per-lap pledges riding on it.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designed by 21-year-old Yale University architectural student Maya Ying-lin, will consist of two elongated, reposing black granite walls meeting to form an open "V". It will be constructed on the mall in Washington, D.C., on a two-and- a-half acre site adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial and the reflecting pool. The Vietnam Vet- erans Memorial will be identified as a memorial to all who served in the Vietnam War, and will be inscribed with the name of every U.S. serviceman killed or missing in that war. Dedication of the memorial is tentatively scheduled for Veterans Day, 1982.

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