The WAC

Sirs:

Your article on the women in the services [TIME, Jan. 17] makes me mad.

I have a good job at a shipyard but I would give it up if I could join the Air Forces WACs, but as I will not be 20 until December 1944, I am not eligible for any of the services. Why in the devil don't they lower the age limit? . . .

CHRISTINE ATKINS

Long Beach, Calif.

Sirs:

The sentiment "What is the matter with U.S. women?" seems to me to be the rankest sort of injustice. Before our record can justly be compared with that of British and Russian women, our Government will have to do three things which the British and Russian Governments did long ago:

First, cut down our civilian economy so as to make fewer civilian-front jobs for women to fill. Second, untie the homemaker's hands by providing adequate community care for her children, and by relieving her of the burden of obtaining and preparing the main meal of the day. Third, give us the truth about our defeats as well as our victories as soon as they happen, whether these are on the homefront or the battlefield. When these things are done and a fair and truly comprehensive count is taken, the whole world will realize that there's nothing the matter with American women and there never has been.

FRANCES S. VAN DYKE

Phoenix, Ariz.

Sirs:

. . . There's nothing the matter with U.S. women. It's the men.

We daresay there's not an able-bodied girl in the U.S. who hasn't seriously thought of joining some branch of the service--only to be knocked from her patriotic pedestal by some man.

Women, though independent to a certain extent, still live to please men. When the uncomplimentary remarks made by our men about the WACs, WAVES, SPARS, and Marines are curtailed, we believe the enlistment of women will leap to surprising heights.

BETTY LOU FORD

VALDA CYPHER

Amarillo, Tex.

Sirs:

In listing your reasons why women are not joining the armed forces you mentioned what I believe to be the most important reason: the attitude of the U.S. servicemen themselves. When young girls ask the opinion of their brothers, sweethearts, husbands and friends regarding their enlisting, the summation of all answers is the same: "Stay where you are; don't join!". . .

So, instead of concentrating on selling the idea to the women of the country . . . concentrate on educating the men of our armed forces. . . . More women in the service means more fathers in their homes. We want to serve. Men, please let us!

CLARA W. MILLER

Chicago

Sirs:

There is only one method of boosting the lagging WAC recruiting. . . . That is to get the greatest force in this country, the U.S. Army and all its soldiers, to go all out in a gigantic recruiting campaign. . .

I suggest that every soldier who can get a woman to join the WACs be given a ten-day furlough, and for each additional one he persuades to volunteer while he is on furlough, he be given a 15-day extension. Certainly a WAC for the duration is worth more to the Army than a few days of any soldier's time.

(S/SGT.) H. LEVICK TOLAN

Camp Lee, Va.

Sirs:

JAN. 17 COVER SHOWS COLONEL HOBBY WEARING THE WRONG CAP INSIGNIA. WACS HAVE A SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSIGNIA. WHO SLIPPED, TIME OR COLONEL HOBBY?

DAN WINSTON

Lieutenant

Salina, Kans.

> Reader Winston slipped. WAC officers wear the seal of the U.S. on caps, Minerva-head of WAC on lapels.--ED.

"I Felt Good About It"

Sirs:

"P.S. to Teheran" (TIME, Jan. 17) was too much for me to swallow. Something had to come up, and this is it.

It seems to me that the Communists have in the past been guilty of many of the crimes we are now fighting the Nazis for, "liquidations," suppression of religion and other forms of expression, fifth column activity in other countries, to mention a few. It was, therefore, extremely difficult for me to get used to the idea that the Russians were on our side. . . . I did get used to that idea, however, and felt very good about it. Now I'm right back where I was before.

Stalin . . . is apparently now sure enough of victory so that he feels he can tell the rest of the allies where to go. Furthermore, I don't doubt that he will get away with it, since our avowed policy of expediency prevents us from taking any vigorous stand on any issue. . .

Louis C. SMITH

Burlington, Vt.

What?

Sirs:

We asked . . . enlisted men, picked at random, the question "What are you fighting for?" Their answers:

"By God, it beats me, neighbor."

"Security."

"To keep the freedoms we had before the war."

"The ultimate protection of my family."

"To preserve democracy."

"I don't know."

"To come back home and stay there."

"We are all fighting for freedom; for a better world to live in."

"Survival."

"Because I have to. I ain't mad at nobody."

"I love kids and I hate to see them just pawns."

"For the preservation of the hot dog and the ice-cream soda."

(PVT.) FREDERICK THON

Editor

First Regiment Flash

Fort George G. Meade, Md.

Mr. Willkie's Backers

Sirs:

Congratulations for publishing the fog-clearing remarks of Vermont's governor on the Willkie campaign (TIME, Jan. 17). Mr. Willkie's supporters have been mute and inactive too long.

Convinced of Mr. Willkie's supreme ability, they have thought he could win without their active support. The hour has come for Willkie's followers to put their massive strength into the crusade. . . . Can the Republicans trust the fate of their party ... to men whose only program is the defeat of the greatest man the Republican Party has had since Lincoln?

(SERVICEMAN'S NAME WITHHELD)

Las Vegas, Nev.

Sirs:

. . . You wind up by saying this may have helped Mr. Willkie with the rank and file G.O.P.

There is one former supporter of Mr. Willkie who dissents. . . . Numerous times the writer has been told by Republican voters that Mr. Willkie is just . . . another New Dealer whose only plaint is, "I can do it better than the President."

Formerly I have tried to reason with these people. Now after this bitter diatribe of your granite-jawed governor, it appears there is something in what these people have been saying.

This regrettable speech of Governor Wills is the first authoritative warning the Republicans have had that there is a faction . . . who demand that their candidate receive the Republican nomination or else.

MARTIN FELKER

Portland, Ore.

To Ernie Pyle

Sirs:

Thanks for reprinting Ernie Pyle's "Farewell to a Texan" (TIME, Jan. 17). . . I don't think any American could read it dry-eyed.

R. LEE BOWDOIN

Cambridge, Mass.

About Medals

Sirs:

Your article on "Tinsel & Ribbon" (TIME, Jan. 24) struck upon a sore subject to many servicemen. The following anecdote may be cited:

A flight of two medium bombers were given the assignment of breaking apart a beached boat in Kiska Harbor the early part of 1943 by dropping 500 lb. bombs at extremely low altitude. A bomb was dropped and hit the target.

For this feat the flight leader received the Silver Star, his copilot the Distinguished Flying Cross. The pilot of the wing ship received the Air Medal, the copilot nothing. The enlisted men received no decorations. . . .

The lead plane released no bombs because the pilot (flight leader) neglected to check the safety switch. "The" bomb which hit the target was released by the copilot of the wing ship, the same copilot who received no decoration.

Another example:

A navigator needed some flying time to collect his flying pay for that month. His name was padded on the Form I (airplane flight log). For some reason, the local Bomber Command Headquarters decided that all crew members on that particular flight should be awarded the Air Medal. He received it.

(SERVICEMAN'S NAME WITHHELD)

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