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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 1979)
Portland Observer Thursday, May 31, 19/ Project Return aids 'bad paper' vets May 28th to June 3rd is Vietnam Veterans Week, proclaimed by the President of the United States and the Governor o f Oregon. Vietnam veterans — veterans o f an illegal and immoral war — returned home to a nation that met them with mixed feelings — embarrassment, hostility, and neglect. Many of the same feelings that are held toward the war are now directed in the veterans of that war. These men came home damaged by illness, injury, lack of training for peacetime careers, psychological stress, and in the case o f Blacks, racial discrimination. They returned to unem ploym ent, disrupted families, denial o f education and training, inadequate medical care. They are denied the governmental support provided veterans o f other wars and are denied the emotional support of the American public. Article 15 . . . has without doubt resulted in irrepairablc damage to the service careers o f Blacks.” Less than honorable discharge were introduced by the Army in 1893. In 1947 the terms “ general” and “ undesirable" were introduced for two types o f administrative dis charges — discharges not resulting from court martials but from ad m inistrative disciplinary action. Now there are three types o f admini strative discharges: honorable, general under honorable conditions, and undesirable. Bad conduct and dishonorable discharges can only result from court martial. Any dis charge other than honorable is called “ bad paper.” During the Vietnam war (1964- 1973) more than 700,000 less-than- honorable discharges were issued. Since the end o f the war, the percent- ARMY PRISON POPULATION, 1977 51% 26.4% Blacks Among Army Enlisted People Project Return-VETS is a local agency that assists veterans receive discharge reviews. Staff will aid the veterans prepare forms, gather needed information, and will supply legal assistance where needed. Additional assistance provided by Project Return-VETS includes em ployment counseling and placement, personal counseling, aid to disabled veterans, and assistance to em ployees seeking veterans. Project Return-VETS is located at 1412 S.E. 25th Avenue, (503) 234- 0801. Vietnam Veterans Week events in clude a keynote address by Senator Mark Hatfield, “ Vietnam Veterans Today: Ethical Issues and Public Policy.” He will speak May 31st, 7:30 p.m., at the First United Metho dist Church, S.W. 18th and Jeffer son. A panel discussion will follow. D r. John Wilson o f Cleveland State University will speak at the second "Awareness Seminar,” June 7th, First Presbyterian Church, 1200 S.W. Alder, at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Wilson w ill focus on post-Vietnam syn drome and implications for public policy. During the week of June 3rd, Dr. Wilson will conduct a series o f professional seminars at the Veterans H ospital, University o f Oregon Health Sciences Center, and the PSU School of Social Work. A n 18-holc benefit golf tou r nament will be held at Rose City G olf Course on June 2nd. Proceeds will be used to install a wheelchair ramp at Project Return offices, en tries, $13 fee, should be sent to Project Return G olf Tournament, attention: Harry Dean, 1412 S.E. 25 th Avenue, 97214 (234-0801). Blacks Among Army Prisoners age of “ bad paper” discharges has risen 15%. In 1978, 25% of the dis charges were less than honorable. These discharges were imposed for being absent without leave, drug use, questioning military authority, and many actions that would not be illegal outside the military. Blacks receive dishonorable dis charges at 4 times the rate o f whites. In 1977, 57% of those re ceiving dishonorable discharges and 40% o f those receiving bad conduct discharges were Black. Less than honorable discharges compound the already severe problems o f unem ployment and bar access to military benefits such as education assistance, medical aid, veterans loans, etc. • / I, Veterans can apply for an upgrading o f less than honorable discharges by applying to a military review board. The veteran must ap ply within fifteen years of discharge. Six years later, these veterans who arc Black face problems o f even greater magnitude. Blacks were draft ed, sent to the front, wounded and killed in greater numbers than other Americans. In the service they were the target o f the same racism and discrimination as at home — or more. Representative Parrcn M it chell (D -M D ) has said, “ Racism in the military is so deep, so wide and so effective that we can’t possibly cope with it .” The A rm y ’ s 1978 review o f its Equal Opportunity Pro gram said, “ Although the outward appearance is one o f calm, racial ten sions and institutional discrimina tion still exist.” One o f the problems that most af fects Blacks — and is directly related to racism — is m ilita ry justice. Although Blacks made up about 30% o f the Army in 1978, they ac counted for 51% o f the Army prison p o pulation. The Congressional Black Caucus said o f military law permitting commanders to impose reduction in rank or loss o f pay w ithout tria l, “ No m ilita ry procedure has brought fo rth a greater number o f complaints and evidence o f racial discrimination than . . . nonjudicial punishment. Vet Week activities planned Vietnam Veterans Vtfeek, 1979 By the President o f the United States o f America A Proclamation We are a peace-seeking Nation and we are at peace, but we must not forget the lessons war has taught us, nor the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for us in all our wars. The decade now drawing to a close began in the midst o f a war that was the longest and most ex pensive in our history, and most costly in human lives and suffering. Because it was a divisive and painful period for all Americans, we are tempted to want to put the Vietnam war out o f our minds. But it is important that we remember—honestly, realistically, with humility. It is important, too, that we remember those who answered their Nation’s call in that war with the full measure o f their valor and loyalty, that we pay full tribute at last to all Americans who served in our Armed Forces in Southeast Asia. Their courage and sacrifices in that tragic conflict were made doubly difficult by the Nation’s lack o f agreement as to what constituted the highest duty. In stead o f glory, they were too often met with our embarrassment or ignored when they returned. The honor o f those who died there is not tarnished by our uncertainty at the moment o f their sacrifice. To them we offer our respect and gratitude. To the loved ones they left behind, we offer our concern and understanding and our help to build new lives. To those who still bear the wounds, both physical and psychic, from all our wars, we acknowledge our continuing responsibility. BLACKS RECEIVE A GREATER PROPORTION OF BAD DISCHARGES O f all the millions o f Americans who served in Southeast Asia, the majority have successfully rejoined the mainstream o f American life. ARM Y, 1977 683% To them, and to all who served or suffered in that war, we give our solemn pledge to pursue all honorable means to establish a just and lasting peace in the world, that no future generation need suffer in this way again. 56.7% •a 50.4% 47.5% NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIMMY CARTER, President o f the United States o f America, call upon all Americans to observe May 28 through June 3, 1979, the week o f our traditional Memorial Day, as Vietnam Veterans Week. On this occasion, let us as a Nation express our sincere thanks for the service o f all Vietnam era veterans. 1 urge my fellow citizens and my fellow veterans, and their groups and organizations, to honor the patriotism o f these veterans, and to recognize their civilian contributions to their communities in America today. 41.8% I call upon the state and local governments to join with me in proclaiming Vietnam Veterans Week, and to publicly recognize with appropriate ceremonies and activities yesterday’s service and today’s contributions o f Vietnam era veterans. 2A4% IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day o f March, in the year o f our Lord n 'rteen hundred and seventy-nine, and o f the Independence o f the United States o f America the two hundred and third. •Total figures are less than 100% due to exclusion of other minority figure«. Figure, from Second Annual Aaaeeament, 1978 VETERANS HELPING VETERANS,:- employ went PORTILRHO D oes TRAINING EDUCATION reaojustmen ; ALCOHOL narcotics SOCIAL FVoject Return inc * fìisyixxJy K now Im Here IL > I u. r
