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Letter to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on Retirements for Physical Disability.

February 20, 1948

Dear :

A Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee recently has been studying the matter of physical disability retirements. On January 29, 1948, the Secretary of Defense expressed his views concerning the need for revision of statutes governing retirement for physical disability of personnel in the Armed Services in a letter addressed to. the Honorable Charles H. Elston, Chairman of the Subcommittee.

This is a subject which I have discussed with Secretary Forrestal on several occasions. I agree with him that the present statutes should be revised along the lines suggested in his letter to Mr. Elston. I hope that the Armed Services Committees will develop the needed corrective legislation for action by the Congress during the present session.

Secretary Forrestal is thoroughly acquainted with my views on the matter. I have asked him to act as my representative and to work in conjunction with your Committee and with the other appropriate committees of the Congress.

Sincerely yours,

HARRY S. TRUMAN

Note: This is the text of identical letters addressed to the Honorable Char Gurney, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and to the Honorable Walter G. Andrews, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

In his letter of January 29, 1948, Secretary Forfestal recommended the reexamination of officers and enlisted men retired since 1939 for physical disability, with periodic future examinations. He also proposed that pensions be commensurate with disability.

Harry S Truman, Letter to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on Retirements for Physical Disability. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/232343

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