THE AMERICAN 2 O c • AUGUST 1975 LEGIONMAGAZINE SPOTLIGH THE SURRENDER ABOARD THE U.S.S. MISSOURI- 30 YEARS AGO THOSE MAGNIFICENT CLIPPER FLYING BOATS SHOULD THE HOUSE INTERNAL SECURITY COMMITTEE BE RESTORED ? JUST OFF THE HIGHWAY ... ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. THE AMERICAN AUGUST 1975 Volume 99, Number 2 LEGION National Commander James M. Wagonseller MAGAZINE AUGUST 1975 CHANGE OF ADDRESS Subscribers, please notify Circulation Dept., P. O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206 using Form 3578 which is available at your local post office. Attach old address label and give old and new addresses with ZIP Code Table of Contents number and current membership card num- ber. Also, notify your Post Adjutant or other officer charged with such responsibilities. The American Legion Magazine THE SURRENDER ABOARD THE U.S.S. MISSOURI— Editorial cv Advertising Offices 30 YEARS 1345 Avenue of the Americas AGO 6 New York, New York 10019 BY R. B. PITKIN Publisher, James F. O'Neil An anniversary account of the final act of World War 2—the Editor surrender of Japan, signed in Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945. Robert B. Pitkin Assistant to Publisher John Andreola Art Editor Walter H. Boll SPOTLIGHT ON INDONESIA 12 Assistant Editor BY THOMAS WEYR James S. Swartz A look at the island republic—suddenly vulnerable to a Associate Editor Roy Miller communist takeover—the biggest, most populous and potentially Production Manager richest "domino" left standing in Southeast Asia. Art Bretzfield Copy Editor Grail S. Hanford Editorial Specialist SHOULD THE HOUSE INTERNAL SECURITY COMMITTEE Irene Christodoulou Circulation Manager BE RESTORED? 18 Dean B. Nelson Two Sides Of A National Question Indianapolis, Ind. pro: Advertising Sales REPf JOHN M. ASHBROOK (R-OHIO) con: REP. BELLA S. ABZUG (D/L-N.Y.) Robert Redden Associates, Inc. P. 0. Box 999 Teaneck, N.J. 07666 201-837-5511 The American Legion THOSE MAGNIFICENT CLIPPER FLYING BOATS 20 Magazine Commission: BY LYNWOOD MARK RHODES Benjamin B. Truskoski, Bristol, Conn. A look at the days when commercial flying was more (Chairman): Milford A. Forrester, Green- luxurious than it has been for 40 years. ville, S.C (Vice Chairman) ; James R. Kel- ley, Radnor, Pa. (National Commander's Representative) ; Billy Anderson, Miami, Fla.; Lang Armstrong, Spokane, Wash.; Norman Biebel, Belleville, III.; Adolph Bremer, JUST OFF THE HIGHWAY: ST. AUGUSTINE, Winona, Minn.; B. C. Connelly, Hunting- FLA 42 ton, W. Va.; Andrew J. Cooper, Gulf BY HARRIET HEDGECOTH Shores, Ala.; Raymond Fields, Oklahoma Fifth in a series on things to see quickly that aren't City, Ohla.; Chris Hernandez, Savannah, Ga.; far from James V. Kissner, Palatine, III.; Russell H. turnpikes and freeways. Here, on the Atlantic coast in north Laird, Des Moines, Iowa; Henry S. Lemay, Florida, is St. Augustine, the oldest permanent existing Lancaster, Ohio; Loyd McDermott, Benton, European settlement in North Ark.; Morris Meyer. Starkville, Miss.; J. H. America, with its Morris, Baton Rouge, La.; Robert F. Mur- almost-medieval Spanish fort. phy, Chelmsford, Mass.; Frank W. Naylor, Jr., Kansas City, Kans.; Harry H. SchafTer, Pittsburgh, Pa.; George Sinopoli, Fresno, Calif.; Wayne L. Talbert, Delphi, Ind.; Frank C. Love, Syracuse, N.Y. (Consultant), Edward McSweeney, New York, N.Y. (Con- COVER: PHOTO BY JOHN G. PITKIN. The globe is one sold by the National Geographic Society, sultant) . The American Legion Magazine is owned and published monthly by The American Legion. Copyright 1975 by The American Legion. Second class postage paid at Indianapolis. Departments Ind., 46204 and additional mailing offices. Price: single copy, 20 cents; yearly sub- scription, 52.00. Direct inquiries regarding A LOOK AT OUR MAIL 2 NEWS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION 27 circulation to: Circulation Department, P. O. Box 1951, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. LIFE IN THE OUTDOORS 4 PERSONAL 44 DATELINE WASHINGTON 17 LEGION SHOPPER Send editorial and advertising material to: 46 The American Legion Magazine, 1345 Avenue VETERANS NEWSLETTER 25 PARTING SHOTS 48 of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10019. Manuscripts, artwork, cartoons submitted for consideration will not be returned unless a self-ad- NON-MEMBER SUBSCRIPTIONS dressed, stamped Send name and address, including ZIP envelope is included. This magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. number, with $2 check or money order to Circulation Dept., P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. If undeliverable, please send Form 3379 to: ruail«A3POSTMASiTFR.1tn. Microfilm copies of current and back is- P> o. Box 1954, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. sues of The American Legion Magazine are available through: University Micro- films, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106. THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • AUGUST 1975 Believe it or not there are people who retire A LOOK AT and live happily ever after. OUR MAIL W.F. Cloud, of Norman, Okla., and March 10, 1962, and sailed out again Nola Rigdon, of Crescent, Okla., March 13, 1962," Mr. Wilson states, seized their pens on catching author and the crew should have military Mark Rhodes in a slip at the end of records corrected if they do not now his story on the Oklahoma Land show Vietnam duty. The crew Rush in our June issue. Mr. Rhodes "should also keep this fact in mind innocently said that Old Glory was when applying for various states unfurled from "the capitol dome in bonuses and other forms of veterans Oklahoma City" on Nov. 16, 1907, rights available to them." A storybook retirement isn't that hard to when Oklahoma became the 46th achieve, and lots of people have proved it. state. Mr. Cloud and Mr. Rigdon Joseph C. Salak, a contributor to The key is just to start your planning knew that the capital was then Guth- our Parting Shots page, recently do- while you're still on the job. And that's rie, and Mr. Rigdon was actually in nated his fee for a joke we bought where AIM comes in. Guthrie on that day and saw the flag to The American Legion's Freedom AIM is Action for Independent Maturity. unfurled from the steps of the Guth- Bell Fund. "If it wasn't for your A non-profit organization concerned with rie Carnegie Library. Both noted Newsletter in the April 1975 issue," helping you turn the years before retire- didn't writes, "I never ment into one of the happiest times of your that Oklahoma City become he would have known life. the capital until 1910, that the capi- that I was entitled to a WW2 bonus If you're between 50 and 65, you're eligi- tol building has no dome, and Cloud from Illinois. I moved to Florida 13 ble for an AIM membership. And the added that the capitol wasn't com- years ago. Thank you." The dona- sooner you join, the better. pleted until 1917. This is a good ex- tion was in appreciation. As an AIM member, you get information ample of how, in six words based on that can help you plan your retirement ordinary assumptions, a writer can Robert and Marylee Diamond, di- finances. You can take advantage of AIM's make mistakes that it takes far more rectors of the Liverpool, N.Y., Youth unique travel service, pharmacy service words to correct. Center, write to "salute the officers and group insurance plans. AIM Guidebooks, seminars and and members" of the local Ameri- "Dynamic Maturity," AIM's highly praised Craig Wilson, editor of the Akron, can Legion Post 188, on behalf of bi-monthly magazine will even give you free Ohio, Beacon Journal's "Action the youth center's staff. "This Post help and advice on things like tax breaks, Line," writes to tell us that, with has supported us in many ways, not second careers, second marriages, hob- the help of the Bureau of Naval Per- only with monetary contributions, bies, the best places to retire to-you name sonnel, it has been determined that but also by sending a representative it. the crew members aboard the U.S.S. for our Board of Directors and by One membership in AIM entitles both Tingey (DD-539) in 1962 are classi- allowing us to use their facility. Post husband and wife to all these benefits and fied as Vietnam veterans and are en- 188 lives up to the Legion's longtime publications. Membership dues are only titled to certain benefits. "The concern for youth and youth pro- $3.00 a year and include $1.50 for a sub- VA scription to "Dynamic Maturity." destroyer sailed into Vietnam waters grams." AIM. It's one of the best investments you can make in your future. Action for Independent Maturity 1909 "K" Street, N.W., Washington, D C. 20049 • (202) 872-4700 If you're 50 or over, p- — start planning your retirement here. 1 I I am interested in planning for retirement NOW! | I am between 50 and 65 years of age and still employed. j I enclose $3 for one year DFY5 I enclose $8 for three years Please bill me DO NOT SEND CASH Name. Address. City State _Zip_ of coins in WW2. The Seabee "made them for My birth date is. Captain's bars made by a Seabee out in Marines," says Lou Babb, of me when I was promoted from first lieutenant the Signature Mtn. Home, Idaho, retired Idaho state adjutant of The American Legion. When he later made major as CO. of a dive bomber squadron he was able to buy his major's J AIM, 1909 "K" Street, N.W., insignia, but when he made captain he couldn't buy his double bars anywhere. "I Washington, • | D.C. 20049 (202) 872-4700 gave the Seabee two half dollars to make the bars, and paid him five bucks.