Executive Dres WINTER SLACKS -|Q95* i JK_ J-^ pair GOOD LOOKING ... and WARM ! Shovel your driveway on a bitter cold morning, then drive straight to the office! Haband's impeccably tailored dress slacks do it all thanks to these great features: • The same permanent press gabardine polyester as our regular Dress Slacks. • 1 00% preshrunk cotton flannel lining throughout. Stitched in to stay put! • Two button-thru security back pockets! • Razor sharp crease and hemmed bottoms! • Extra comfortable gentlemen's full cut! • 1 00% home machine wash & dry easy care! Feel TOASTY WARM and COMFORTABLE! A quality Haband import Order today! Flannel 1 i 95* 1( 2 for 39.50 3 for .59.00 I 194 for 78. .50 I Haband 100 Fairview Ave. Prospect Park, NJ 07530 Send REGULAR WAISTS 30 32 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 pairs •BIG MEN'S ADD $2.50 per pair for 46 48 50 52 54 INSEAMS S( 27-28 M( 29-30) L( 31-32) XL( 33-34) of pants ) I enclose WHAT WHAT HOW 7A9.0FL SIZE? INSEAM7 MANY? c GREY purchase price D BLACK plus $2.95 E BROWN postage and J SLATE handling. Check Enclosed a VISA CARD# Name Mail Address Apt. #_ City State .Zip_ 00% Satisfaction Guaranteed or Full Refund of Purchase $ § 3 Price at Any Time! The Magazine for a Strong America Vol. 135, No. 6 December 1993 ARTICLE s VA CAN'T SURVIVE BY STANDING STILL National Commander Thiesen tells Congress that VA will have to compete under the President's health-care plan. 16 HOUDAY VOICES FROM WWII Vimd, heartfelt memoriesfrom the new book, Voices: Letters from World War II 20 GIVING HOPE IN SOMALIA How U.S. troops displayed the Yuletide spirit in blight-stricken Africa. By Gidget Fuentes 24 THE COMING BOOM IN LATIN AMERICA A tidal wave ofdemocrac}' now isfolhwed b)' a revolutionai}' economic expansion. By Elliott Abrams 26 26 STOP PULLING AMERICA APART One ofAmerica 's leading historians warns that midticidturalist extremists are cracking the meltingpot 28 THE WAR YEARS: ^- ON THE IVIARCH From North Africa to Rome, U.S. groundforces camefully ofage. By Rick Hampson 30 ISLAND HOPPING IN THE PACIHC Some ofthe war's bloodiest battles werefought on South Pacific beaches. 34 AT HOME, THE NATION DELIVERS 28 Hard work and rationing made America the Arsenal ofDemocracy. 36 SOFTENING UP HIRER From the air and on the ground, the Allies prepared to invade Fortress Europe. 38 DEPARTIVIE NTS BIG ISSUES Should Congress support President Clinton 's health plan.'' 12 VETVOICE 4 VETERANS UPDATE 40 PARTING SHOTS 76 COMMANDER'S MESSAGE 10 LEGION NEWS 42 WASHINGTON WATCH 14 VETS 46 38 COVER GIs always cany the holiday spirit with them. Lastyear, the)' brought it to Somalia; 50 years ago, to Europe and Africa. See pages 20 and 24for tales of 'A GI Christmas. " Photo by Wide World Photos. The American Legion magazine, a leader among national general-interest publications, is publishied monthly by The American Legion for its 3.1 million members. These militaiy-service veterans, worl<ing through more than 1 5,000 community-level posts, dedicate themselves to God and country and tradi- tional American values; strong national security; adequate and compassionate care for veterans, their vi^ldows and orphans; community service; and the wholesome development of our nation's youths. DECEMBER 1993 1 . Flying B'17 Fortre^ on video FOR GOD AND COUNTRY 700 N. Pennsylvania St. H ave you ever dreamed of flying aboard the P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 mighty B-17? Now you can, as pilot Jeff Ethell 317-630-1200 left takes seat and you strap into the right for an National Commander incredible flight in the Flying Fortress. Get ready Bruce Thiesen for a mission of sheer excitement as you and a crew Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Daniel S. Wheeler lift off into the sky. Editor i^ls video features incredible sound guaranteed John Greenwald to rtiake you feel as though you are actually aboard Managing Editor the most famous bomber of them all. But be Miles Z. Epstein warned, starting up the four Wright Associate Editor Raymond H. Mahon Cyclone engines and ininning them up Assistant Editors to 1200 rpm for warm-up may tax the ^ T. Douglas Donaldson limit of your speaker system, to Ken Scharnberg say nothing of your neighbors' Art Director Simon Smith tranquility. This video is no Art and Production Assistants doubt the closest thing to actually Caron M. Morales, Cindy G. Johnson flying in the B-17 ever produced. Production Manager I William L. Poff #5860 Approx. 45 minutes Administration For VISA, MC, Discover orders, call toll-free 24 hours: Joan L. Berzins, Patricia Marschand Advertising Director 1-800-959-0061 Ext. fly4 Donald B. Thomson Advertising Assistants Or send your name, address with check or money order for $19.98 plus $3.95 shipping and handling to: Diane Andretti, Natosha A. Lukashik Fusion Video, 100 Fusion Way, Dept. FLY4, Country Club HiUs, IL 60478. The American Legion Magazine P.O. Box 7068 Canadian orders must add $5.00 S & H and pay in U.S funds. (Please note: Illinois residents add must 7.75% state sales tax.) Indianapolis, IN 46207 317-630-1200 Publisher's Representatives Fox Associates, Inc. Chicago: 312-644-3888 New York: 21 2-725-21 06 Los Angeles: 213-487-5630 Detroit, Ml: 313-543-0068 Atlanta: 404-252-0968 The New Idea Division of j^ordicfrack San Francisco: 415-989-5804 The American Legion Magazine Commission Milford A. Forrester, Chairman, Greenville, SC; Russell H. Laird, Vice Chairman, Des Moines, lA; James R Kelley, National Commander's Representative, Wayne, NOW YOU CAN AFFORD THE PA; George F. Ballard, Belleville, IL; Samuel Barney Lancaster, OH; J. Leslie Brown Jr., Louisville, KY WORLD'S BEST AEROBIC EXERCISE! Joseph Chase, Hatboro, PA; Donald Conn, South Bend You don't have to spend a lot of money to get the IN; James W. Conway, Charlestown, MA; Orval E you want. The best way to burn fat and lose Faubus, Conway, AR; James H. Hall, Hopewell, NJ weight is also one of the least expensive. It's the All- Halbert G. Horton, Topeka, KS; W.B. (Brad) Jorgens American'" skier from ExerScience'", the New Idea Division Beardsly, MN; Eugene J. Kelley, Savannah, GA; James Palatine, IL; J. Fred Mitchell, Brewton, AL: NordicTrack. V. Kissner, J.H. Morris, Baton Rouge, LA; Richard L. Nelson Works both your arms and legs simultaneously j^^*^ Fresno, CA; Everett G. Shepard, III, Woodstock, CT: letting you burn more fat than with an exercise ' Robert E. Vass Sr., Huntington, WV; Paul T. Woodard, bike or stairstepper. Lacey, WA; Tom C. Smith, Oklahoma City, OK; John W.J. Richter, Consultant, Brenham, TX; Neal L. Thomas Get the aerobic workout experts agree is the best — Jr., Consultant, Colorado Sphngs, CO. cross-country skiing! Copyright 1993 by The American Legion Get a total-body workout with effective upper- and lower-body resistance. The American Legion (ISSN 0886-1234) is published monthly by The American Legion, 5561 W. 74th Street, Burn up to 1,100 calories per hour. Indianapolis, IN 46268. Second-class postage paid at Get a smooth, non-jarring workout with the same patented Indianapolis, IN 46204 and additional mailing offices. flywheel and one-way clutch mechanism as in our famous Price: Annual subscription, $12 ($18, Foreign); post- NordicTrack* ski exercisers. sponsored gift subscriptions, $6; Single copy, $2. POST- IVIASTER; Send address changes to The American Legion, Fully collapsible for easy storage. Input Services, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Call today and get a more rewarding workout for a satisfying price. Change of Address: Notify The American Legion, Input ^ Services, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. 317-328- '49'^ 4640. Attach old address label, provide old and new 6 E-Z PAYMENTS OF addresses and current membership card number. 30-DAY IN-HOME TRIAL To request microfilm copies, please write to: University SATISFACTION GUARANTEED I CALL TODAY TO ORDER! I*800»44 1»7497 EXT.XY5U Microfilms, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 I OR WRITE: EXERSCIENCE, DEPT. XY5L3, 104 PEAVEY ROAD, CHASKA, MN S53I8-2355 I Six payments of $49.99 will be billed to your account. $39,95 shipping and handling will be added t I your first payment. Minn, residents add 6.5% sales tax. Credit cards only for 6-payment plan. Canada Post International Publications Mall (Canadian I Visa MasterCard Discover Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 546321. Re-entered WORKOUT COMPUTER second class mail matter at Manila Central Post office WITH mUR Mi-AMEMCAN SKIER ORDER! Address dated December 22, 1991 j I city -Zip A $49,95 VALUE! Printed in USA I Credit Card Number Exp. Date While supplies last. Nordic trick, Inc., A CML Comfwriy • All nghti retcrvcd, ^Signature {required for credit card orders) I Mennber Adult Bureau of Circulations THE AMERICAN LEGION Shown smaller than actual size of 8W' in diameter ® 1993 MBI Please reply promptly The Danbury Mint SNP 05 47 Richards Avenue by Bob Travers P.O. Box 4900 Limit: two plates Norwalk, CT 06857 per coUeaor Please accept my reservation for "Winter Stag." A numbered limited-edition A Limited Edition I wish to reserve (1 or 2) plate(s) at $26.95 each collector plate trimmed total 90*). Each "Winter Stag" plate will be num- (plus $2. 95 shipping and handling— $29 with 23kt gold bered, trimmed with a band of 23kt gold, check My check or money order is enclosed. One: Charge my credit card upon shipment: Sheltered from a winter storm, a hand- and accompanied by a personalized VISA Discover some buck awakens to find himself Certificate of Authenticity.