General HANDY. No, sir. Senator O'MAHONEY. Well, perhaps one-fourth. General HANDY. That is nearer it. The demand would be about 100,000 a month, I think. Senator HILL. What were those men left out for? General HANDY. For reasons other than health-5,960 over 37. Senator HILL. I know that. I am talking about the men between 30 and 37. General HANDY. Some of them were discharged due to sentence of courts martial, others were Senator HILL. Were any of them discharged for essential industrial work? General HANDY. Yes; some of them were dependency discharges, hardship cases, minority, keymen in industry, and that sort of thing. Senator O'MAHONEY. Twenty-two thousand is not an awful lot in that case. General HANDY. No, sir. In addition, Senator, for reasons of health the discharges over 37 for the 11-month period would be some 21,000 and for over 30-including over 37-some 120,000. How many officers have been released for reasons other than health during the past year? The figure runs at about 10,000, for reasons other than health. Senator KILGORE. What reasons were those? Over age in grade? General HANDY. Some were. Some were retired; some were other than honorable. Senator HILL. Some of them slumped, they did not have any use for them. General HANDY. That is right, sir, and it also included all over 38, unless there was some specific job for the man. Senator GURNEY. How many? General HANDY. About 10,000 officers were released for reasons other than health during 1944. Senator JOHNSON. That is an 11-month period, too, of 1944? Senator JOHNSON. Not including December? General HANDY. That is for all of 1944. Most of these went out on the Army's policy of releasing to industry those over 38 for whom no suitable assignment existed. In many cases they had completed the special jobs for which they had been brought in. Total of these during the year was 7,512, including some still on terminal leave and not yet separated from Army strength. The next question: During the war how many officers have been discharged since Pearl Harbor? Under the same status (discharged since Pearl Harbor for reasons other than health) I have 15,000. In other words, there were a good many more in 1944 than there were before that time. Senator GURNEY. Has that policy been stepped up lately, or has it been cut down since October and November? Are we keeping them in now? General HANDY. Well, we are keeping them in if we have got a job for them, otherwise we let them go. Senator JOHNSON. In that over-all 120,000 total released for 1944, are there any officers? General HANDY. That was enlisted men, over 30, for reasons of health. Senator JOHNSON. That is enlisted men only; it does not include officers? General HANDY. No, sir; that was enlisted men. Senator JOHNSON. That is, for an 11 months' period? General HANDY. Yes, sir. Senator GURNEY. Other than health. General HANDY. That was enlisted men over 30 and for reasons of health. As a matter of fact, the total enlisted men of all ages discharged for all causes during 1944 numbers approximately 350,000. There were about that many men discharged during the year. Senator JOHNSON. A total of 350,000? General HANDY. Yes, sir. Senator JOHNSON. Officers and enlisted men? Senator O'MAHONEY. Does that indicate an efficient use of manpower? General HANDY. Well, it certainly does not indicate an inefficient use. Senator O'MAHONEY. Let me put the question in another way. Senator O'MAHONEY. You are satisfied, as a member of the General Staff, that all of these discharges were proprely made and for good and sufficient reasons? General HANDY. Well, we are satisfied as much as we can be certain that our policies were carried out. Senator MAYBANK. Doesn't that include a lot of people discharged for disability? General HANDY. Yes. Senator MAYBANK. Is it not a fact that you had to take people. that were not kept out of the Army for disability reasons, that were selected by the Selective Service? General HANDY. Yes. In other words, the 120,000 figure was for enlisted discharges of men 30 years of age and on up for reasons of health only. There were 350,000 enlisted men discharged for all reasons of all ages. Senator BURTON. For what period? Senator BURTON. Eleven months of 1944? General HANDY. That is the total year, the figure that I gave, the total enlisted men of all ages discharged for all causes during 1944 numbered approximately 350,000. Senator O'MAHONEY. There must have been quite a few under 30 that were discharged? General HANDY. Yes, sir; that is right. Senator O'MAHONEY. Have you the figure? General HANDY. It would be the difference between 120,000 for reasons of health, plus about 23,000 for reasons other than health, and 350,000 if you disregard the month of December. Senator JOHNSON. It would be 230,000? General HANDY. Something like that, nearer 210,000. Senator BURTON. For the whole war, could you give us an estimate as to how many have been discharged? General HANDY. Yes, sir; I think so. Since Pearl Harbor, as recorded through December 1, 1944, the Army has discharged or separated from the service by all means, which included killed and died, 77,000 officers and 1,498,000 enlisted men. Senator MAYBANK. That is including deaths? General HANDY. That is including deaths. The next question was: How many officers are now in officer pools awaiting assignments? The figures I have are these: Officers available in pools in the United States on the 31st of December were 12,000. Senator MAYBANK. What is that, General? General HANDY. Officers in pools in the United States on the 31st of December awaiting assignment shows as 12,000 of which about 4,000 were Air Force, 5,000 Ground Force, and 3,000 Service Forces. Senator O'MAHONEY. How many Air Force? General HANDY. Four thousand. Senator BURTON. Will you define what you mean by "officers in pools?" General HANDY. That is a reserve. Senator KILGORE. Awaiting combat assignment. General HANDY. That is right, or any other assignment. Senator MAYBANK. Isn't it a fact that a lot of Air Force men are in there awaiting their missions? General HANDY. Yes; that is true. Senator BURTON. When they are in the pools are they doing anything? General HANDY. Yes, sir; they use them for what they can, but sometimes there is difficulty in finding a job. Senator KILGORE. Don't they use a lot of these officers in the pools for training the enlisted men? General HANDY. Yes, sir. Senator BURTON. When these officers are back and are attending some sort of training school, they are not in a pool? General HANDY. No; they are not in a pool. Senator JOHNSON. I want the record to show that the hearing is now closed. (Whereupon, at 12:30 p. m., the committee adjourned.) frence HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS UNITED STATES SENATE SEVENTY-NINTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H. R. 2277 AN ACT TO INSURE ADEQUATE NURSING CARE 70840 MARCH 19, 21, 23, 26, 1945 [House hearings, bearing title “Procurement of Printed for the use of the Committee on Military Affairs UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1945 |