The Pittsburgh Press (June 15, 1946)
Millett: No wonder servicemen are a bit disgusted
They’re denied many things which are their just rights
By Ruth Millett
“A considerable number of returning servicemen who might otherwise have made a good adjustment to civilian life are being thrown into a neurotic state as a result of finding the country they defended in a chaotic condition,” says the president of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Carl M. Bowman.
Dr. Bowman points out that the men having the hardest time are those with wives and children to care for.
And no wonder. Take a look at Jim, out of the Army a few months, and still unable to solve these problems:
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Finding a home where he and his wife and children can live together in peace and privacy.
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Finding office space, so that he can get back into business for himself.
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Getting possession of a car. The dealers haven’t any time even to talk to a man with no car to trade in on a new one – and Jim had to sell his when he went into the service.
Meanwhile, he is seeing his savings eaten up because costs keep crawling up.
You can’t blame Jim for wishing that the G.I. Bill of Rights had:
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Promised him a chance either to rent a home or to buy one at normal prices, rather than at inflationary ones he can’t touch.
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Promised him office or shop space, so that he could resume his old business or profession.
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Promised him the right to buy the first cars available.
No office. No home. No car. Just a family he wants to be able to live with and provide for. That’s Jim’s situation.
If he’s getting neurotic, it’s no wonder.