Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Overweight soldier gets discharge; his wife also loses Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 19:23:58 EST Message-ID: \SE A;TOP OF THE NEWS;SGT. SHAFT \HD Overweight soldier gets discharge; his wife also loses \BY John Fales Dear Sgt. Shaft: A few months ago the Army gave my husband the news that he was being discharged under the Qualitative Management Program because he is overweight. The Army gave him half the normal severance pay because his separation was considered punitive. We decided to move back home, so I had to quit my job. Now that we are home, I have been denied unemployment compensation because I voluntarily left my job near a military base over 1,000 miles away after my husband was thrown out of the Army. - Worried & Broke Dear W&B: When enlisted severance pay was created by Congress it decided to allow the Department of Defense to determine how it is paid. The decision to pay your husband half-severance is an administrative decision that makes no sense to me. It is bad enough to deny him a career, but it adds insult to injury to "fine" him several thousands of dollars in transitional assistance just for being overweight. The unemployment issue is almost as hard to understand. No reasonable person would expect you not to return home, but most states will not pay you benefits because of your "voluntary" loss of employment. When it comes to the finnicky way veterans are treated, the more things change, the more they stay the same, as reflected in the following stanzas of the poem "Tommy" by Rudyard Kipling: I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, the publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here." The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die, I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I: O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"; But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins," when the band begins to play - The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins," when the band begins to play. I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'ad n't none for me; They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls, But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls! For it's Tommy, this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside"; But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide. The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide, O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide. You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all: We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational. Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace. For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!" But it's "Saviour of 'Is country" when the guns begin to shoot; An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please; An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees! Dear Sgt. Shaft: The current issue of the Newsletter for the "Tom Dooley Guild" (an association of Catholic physicians now serving on active duty or retired after a career in the Armed Forces) features comments from your column. Keep up the good work! - R.A.W., Md. Col. M.C., U.S.A. P.S.: Have you heard of Gen. James Pennington of the National Association for the Uniformed Services? He seems to be doing a good job defending medical benefits for the families of active duty and retired military folk. Dear Doc: Glad to hear the Shaft comments are being heard throughout the Catholic military sawbones community. I have heard of, but don't recall meeting, Gen. Pennington, but hope to hear from him soon. Bless you and the members of the Tom Dooley Guild. Don't hang your heads down. Dear Sgt. Shaft: I am attempting to get decorations lost in a fire that belonged to my now deceased father. Please let me know how I may obtain this manual or booklet that is listed as DOD Instruction 1348.33-M. Thank you for your assistance. - A.R.D., Weatherford, Okla. Dear A.R.D.: To obtain this manual, contact the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Force Management and Personnel at 703/697-7197. I have also sent you a Form 180. Fill it out completely and send it to the mailing address printed on the document to receive your dad's medals. Good luck. SHAFT KUDOS On Nov. 11, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress. Since then many thousands of men and women have borne the name "Marine." In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our Corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history. Cheers. Happy 217th birthday, fellow Marines. Semper fi. On Nov. 11 we will be honoring all of our nation's veterans. Let us reflect on where America would be today if each and every veteran chose not to serve because it was personally inconvenient. And where would our nation be today if those millions of veterans who fought and died for our country decided to serve only in "America's good wars and conflicts?" Let us, however, also reflect on the words of Benjamin Franklin, who said, "There never was a good war or a bad peace." When visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial this weekend, please stop by the panel of Marine Cpl. J.C. Arnold, who served with the old sarge in Vietnam in 1967. I'm sure he would appreciate a prayer. Send your letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900. Fax: 301/622 3330. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM