Page 123 - Mastheads July-Dec 1945

Explain Federal Laws Veteran Navy Nurse Ill T. I. Hospital THE MASTHEAD, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1945 PAGE 7
Enacted to Benefit RESCUED FROM JAP PRISON CAMP AT
World War II Veterans
LOS BANOS, NOW CHIEF NURSE HERE
This is the fourth in a series of
'-' civil readjustment information
messages and bri.efly reviews Lt. Comdr. Cobb occasional trickle of help from
some of the federal laws enacted the Gripsholm, we would have
for the benefit of World War II Assumes Position at been hopelessly lost."
veterans and their dependents. The men at camp proved crack-
Subsequent Alnavs will discuss Naval Hospital erjacks at the art of improvis-
the more important of these bene- ing. They made beds and tables
fits in detail. Lt. Commander Laura M. Cobb, out of parking carts; working
utensils out of metal roofing, and
The Selective Service and train- NC, took over her new duties as
ing act provides for reemploy- Chief Nurse at Treasure Island's drinking glasses out of beer bot-
ment rights after completion of Naval Hospital last week, reliev- tles.
active duty and for the legal ing Lt. R. H . Lavigne, NC, who Final Days Toughest
means of enforcing rights in con- was acting Chief Nurse. "Shirts w.ere donated by the
tentions over a veterans former A prisoner of the Japs when men for pajamas and were also
job. In connection with assistance Manila fell at the outset of the cut into scraps for dressings," Lt.
in securing a former job the Se- war, Lt. Commander Cobb was Commander Cobb stated. "We
lective Service board in the vet- rescued along with 2,000 other were in dire need of many things,
eran's home community provides prisoners-of-war from the disease and makeshift methods were our
job counseling and job placement and starvation riddled Jap prison chief source of supply."
services. camp at Los Banos. "The final days before we were
The Soldiers and Sailors Civil Before assuming her new post, liberated by American para-
Relief Act protects the civil rights ASSUMING HER NEW post as Chief Nurse at Treasure Island's the veteran nurse of twenty years troopers were the toughest,'' com-
Naval Hospital is Lt. Commander Laura M. Cobb, NC. A veteran of
of service personnel while they twenty years of Navy service, three ,of which were spent as a pris- of caring for the sick and mented the pleasant-voiced Navy
are in the armed forces with pro- oner-of-war in a Jap camp at Los Banos, the much decorated nurse wounded in the United States nurse. "It was then that the Japs
visions for the welfare of their comes here following a 90-day leave. Navy, completed a three months' practically discontinued our
dependents. This protection ex- leave. Born in Topeka, Kans., she meager rice ration altogether."
tends over the period of service resided at Wichita before enter- Unprecedented Award
a nd for a limited time after d's- Navy-' Makes Plans Commander Stone i·ng the service·. For her heroic work through
charge or separation in such mat- For Needs of 3rd To Go Aboard With a clear path to Corregidor three grievous years of Jap im-
ters as taxes, evictions, and rights awaiting her and possible escape prisonment, Lt. Commander Cobb
in public lands. Fleet Personnel The USS Benson to Australia in the offing, Lt. received the Defense of the
Before separation, Navy legal Commander Cobb refused to leave Philippines ribbon, the Distin-
assistance officers should be con- The Navy is completing plans "To all hands good-bye and the wounded men left in her care guished Army Unit Citation and
l>nlted on the full provisions of for taking care of the needs of good luck" - With this closing during those early dark days of the Navy's unprecedented award
this act ; after separation local the personnel of Admiral William line, Commander H. E . Stone, the war. to a nurse, the Gold Star in lieu
legal aid societies of civilian at- F . Halsey's Third Fleet when commanding officer of the Opera- Captured in Manila of a Second Bronze Star.
torneys should be consulted. units start arriving October 15 to tional Training School, issued his Captured by the men of Nippon Treasure Island's new Chief
The Vocational Training Act be on hand for Navy Day, Oc- last administrative memorandum in Manila with eleven other Navy Nurse also wears the Pre-I;'earl
permits as many as four years of tober 27. The sizeable task of ar- nurses, she was sent to a deten- Harbor ribbon and the Asiatic-
training for the vocationally ranging for the Fleet's require- as commanding officer. Comman- tion camp at Los Banos. While Pacific area of war ribbon with
handicapped veterans. Adminis- ments in food, mail, debarkat:on der Stone was relieved of his com- there the senior nurse and her two battle stars.
tered by the Veterans Administra- and recreation is being worked out mand by Commander C. J. Mc- assistants worked in the camp When asked if she believed the
tion, the Vocational Training Act well in advance by Navy and city Whinnie at quarters in the school hospital-or what was left of one. Japs had any scruples whatso-
provides for vocational advisers to officials. quadrangle on October 5, at 0940. The J aps had managed to take ever, Lt. Commander Cobb's
aid and guide each applicant who Arriving with the Fleet for sep- c'ommander Stone's connection everything out but the four walls. brown eyes took on a firm look
is entitled to and found to be in aration from the service will be with Operational Training began "We were in continual need of and she replied forcefully : "No.
need of vocational training to se- an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 back in October, 1941, when he medical supplies,'' the dark-haired They showed very few traces of
lect the courses of training most sailors. Present plans call for reported for duty as executive nurse said. " If it wasn't for the humanity at Los Banos."
suitable to overcome his handicap these men to debark immediately officer for what was then known
and to restore employability. upon arrival in port. They will be in that capacity until December f-:.~ ;;,i ;;;;,.-iiii itiME: :.--If
as Local Defense Schools. Serving
The Servicemen's Readjustment transferred directly to trains for _______________________ ,
Act of 1944 was the last general transportation to home Naval dis- 1, at which time he assumed com-
act passed for the benefit of vet- trict ·separation centers. mand of the then fast growing
erans. It supplements many pro- For the additional thousands of training activity. Commander
visions of the other acts and has sailors who will be going home on Stone is a native of Iowa and
become known as the GI Bill of leave, transportation officials will began his career as an educator
Rights. This law is administered board ships with tickets and make in that state, serving as State
by the Veterans Administration all arrangements to get the men Superintendent of Rural Schools
and among other things author- home as swiftly as possible. at the time he left there to accept
izes this agency to acquire addi- A great supply of fresh meat, a position as Dean of Students at
tional hospital facilities. It defines vegetables, fruits and milk will be the Universiy of California at Los
certain procedures to be followed necessary for the crews of the Angeles, and from there to the
at the time of separation from Third Fleet who will remain in University of California at Berke-
active duty and authorizes boards San Francisco. ley as Dean of Students and Mem-
to review the type and nature of Servicemen will have their mail ber of the Board from where he
discharges, dismissals and retire- delivered to their vessels at anch- is now on Military leave. This
ments from the Armed Services. orage. A special branch post of- fine educational background has
Other benefits include: the educa- fice will be established at a pier evidenced itself in the already na-
>.,_,; tion and training of veterans; to facilitate handling of mail. A tionally recognized achievements
guarantee of loans for the pur- telephone center, at which priori- of the Operational Training
chase of homes, farms and busi- ties on trans-continental calls will School.
ness property; and readjustment be arranged, is planned so that Commander Stone makes his
allowance for unemployed vet- men from the Fleet can get mes- permanent r.esidence in Berkeley
erans. sages through to their homes and has both a son and son-in-
Most states have passed laws promptly. Telegraph facilities will
that benefit veterans. Information also be established at the tele- law in the naval service. Nine-
teen years and seven months of
on such laws will be available at phone center, if possible.
Naval Reserve service have given
'-' separation centers, community Arrangements will be made to
him a good idea of what it is all
veteran information centers, and run Navy buses to supplement
1
from Navy district civil readjust- municipal transportat on Numer- about. He leaves O.T.S. to report
~.s Troop Transportation Officer
ment officers at headquarters of ous small craft will bring libertv
aboard the USS Admiral Benson,
each Naval district. narties ashore since vessels will
he anchored in the bay prior to AP 120 under the command of
Captain Frank H. Gardner. Com-
Navy Day.
mander Stone will be no stranger
A recreation area where men
_, can take sunbaths, rest and relax aboard the Benson, for its entire
•vill be set up. probably near the crew was trained at O.T.S., and
many members of the crew for-
beach. Tours of places of inter.est
such as Muir Woods, Tamalpais. merly served as instructors under
Santa Cruz, etc .. are planned for li.im as members of O.T.S., Ship's
/ Company.
the incoming sailors.
/ Greeting ships of the Third Commander McWhinnie is no
i Fleet upon arrival will be 72 stranger at O.T.S., having re-
planes from Air Group 11, sta- ported for duty on Septem.ber 13,
tioned at Santa Rosa. They will 1944, and having served as head
rendezvous over the Golden Gate of the gunnery department and
~ridge and then sweep out to sea Group Two since that time.. He
in massed formation to greet the comes well equipped to take over WITH SPARKLING BROWN EYES and attractive· _blond hair, 18-
ships. They will carry out various the reins of the school, both by year-old Pat Throne walked into James O'Grady's love life. The Sea-
man First Class from Operati,onal Training School wants to get back
maneuvers as they escort the virtue of long training and de- to Kansas City where comely Pat is employed as a stenographer.
Fleet into San Francisco Bay. stroyer experience. Pat's "counting the days"while beau Jimmy keeps totalling his points.