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
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