Psychiatric Assistant, Georgia Mental Health Center, 1965 to 1967. Observed and charted behavior patterns of patients. Background Information.-Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Navy Reserve after 11⁄2 years prior to active duty in the U.S. Airborne. Honorably discharged from U.S. Army Airborne in June 1959. Have participated in and coordinated various beneficial activities for the Inner-City Community Development Program. Program Chairman, Atlanta Chapter, National Association of Black Social Workers; Vice President of Black Knight Chess Club and Coordinator of Three National Chess Tournaments (held in Atlanta); Incorporator of Creative Music UjamAA and on the Board of Directors. Enjoys reading and playing chess. Senator STONE. We have one more witness who has requested to testify. He is arriving on a plane a few minutes after 11 o'clock. He should have arrived already. It is Mr. Mackall, the Florida director of veterans' affairs from Tallahassee. Is he here yet? If he is not here, we will take another recess. I think this hearing was scheduled to run longer than it has anyway. I am very gratified at the brevity and conciseness of our witnesses. We will take a recess to allow a chance for Mr. Mackall to arrive. [Whereupon, a short recess was taken from 11:27 to 11:45 a.m.] Senator STONE. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Mackall, our last witness, is to arrive momentarily, he has not yet landed. But Mr. Hanson, the national vice commander of the International Veterans Association, has asked to testify. Since he has come a long way and is a frequent correspondent with my office, I might add I get a lot of good letters from him, if you will give us your name and position, please, for the record. TESTIMONY OF JACK R. HANSON, NATIONAL VICE COMMANDER, INTERNATIONAL VETERANS ASSOCIATION, INC., MIAMI, FLA. Mr. HANSON. I am Jack Hanson from San Antonio, Fla., not Texas. I address you, Senator Stone, and this group, with the highest honor that the world recognizes; fellow American citizens. My message will be blunt and to the point. The scale of truth and justice in our logo is balanced for these two vital governing factors are symbolic of our objectives for all honorably discharged veterans. Truth demands facts to support its foundations for justice. Justice demands truth to arrive at an equitable decision, as our Constitution demands. With reference to S. 364, as cited, we find that this commendable bill was introduced to lift the curtain of selective jurisdiction veiling the activities of the Veterans' Administration. The Constitution of our United States clearly states: "The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court." No agency of our Government is empowered to be immune from judicial review nor are any statutes beyond final adjudication by the Supreme Court. Any other interpretation is contrary to truth and suggests a clandestine conspiracy. Secrecy in governing is an ever present danger which is recognized as essential in dictatorships, autocracies, and all forms of suppressed freedoms. With few exceptions, the implications and ramifications contained in S. 364 have been withheld from the honorably discharged veterans. Not just those belonging to the many established veterans organizations but also the 24 million, or approximately, veterans who for reasons of their own have not seen fit to join. It could be accurately stated that over 90 percent of these deserving veteran citizens are completely unaware that a Veterans Judicial Review Act exists, let alone the need for such legislation. If this is the purpose of those in a position to inform veterans, they have to date done an admirable job of stifling a discrimination of nationwide significance. Further observance to this policy of secrecy can only result in a tumor in the body of society becoming malignant and fatal. Is the truth embarrassing? Discrimination in justice makes truth a fantasy. The felon, deserter, court-martialed, Benedict Arnolds, and even aliens have appealed to our judicial system all the way up to and including the Supreme Court. Is the honorably discharged veteran to be denied the right of "due process of law" to continue a policy directed toward self-serving interests of the few? Wherein lies justice? The irony of the need for a Veterans' Administration Review Act lies in the fact that none of our governing bodies would exist were it not for the veterans who fought and died to preserve the rights embodied in our envied Constitution. Not just in America, but on foreign soil to assist other freedoms imperiled. The sacrifice of these noble patriots will not be ignored in favor of unequal justice. To do so makes justice an amended falsehood with special interest intent. What are these interests of special intent? Power is predominant but for what purpose? Is it possible that a backdoor method of subjugation is directed toward regimenting society into a socialistic theory of governing? The trend exists in the minds of the few, who desire to control the many, contrary to our constitutional articles. The seeds of "isms" flourish rapidly when justice is ignored. There is nothing in the context of S. 364 that allows anything but truth and justice to prevail. Arguments of opponents use weak circumventing debatable reasons to further a secret system of autocratic power to legislate, judge, and execute their judging, with a "kangaroo court" of appeal, which allows a nonpoliced agency to direct its policies of vested interests toward an unknow goal. Wherein lies justice? With the Veterans' Administration immune to judicial review in any civil court of law, who controls its activities? In summary; when truth and justice are ignored in favor of secrecy, self-governing, and evasion of constitutional rights, we will then be an autocracy of, by and for the governing powers. S. 364 and companion bills must be enacted by Congress. Thank you, fellow citizens. Senator STONE. Thank you for coming to testify. I think your position, the position of your organization, is clear. I appreciate very much that you would come and testify. [The prepared statement of Jack R. Hanson, national vice commander, International Veterans Association, Inc. follows:] PREPARED STATEMENT OF JACK R. HANSON, NATIONAL VICE COMMANDER INTERNATIONAL VETERANS ASSOCIATION, INC. Fellow citizens: the scale of truth and justice in our logo is balanced for these two vital governing factors are symbolic of our objectives for all honorably discharged veterans. Truth demands facts to support its foundation for justice. Justice demands truth to arrive at an equitable decision as our Constitution demands. With reference to S-364, as cited, we find that this commendable bill was introduced to lift the curtain of selective jurisdiction veiling the activities of the Veterans' Administration. The Constitution of our United States clearly states "The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court." No agency of our government is empowered to be immune from judicial review, nor are any statutes beyond final adjudication by the Supreme Court. Any other interpretation is contrary to truth and suggests a clandestine conspiracy. Secrecy in governing is an ever present danger which is recognized as essential in dictatorships, autocracies, and all forms of suppressed freedoms. With few exceptions the implications and ramifications contained in S-364 have been withheld from the honorably discharged veterans. Not just those belonging to the many established veterans organizations but also the twenty-four million, or approximately, veterans who for reasons of their own have not seen fit to join. It could be accurately stated that over ninety percent of these deserving veteran citizens are completely unaware that a Veterans Judicial Review Act exists, let alone the need for such legislation. If this is the purpose of those in a position to inform veterans, they have to date done an admirable job of stifling a discrimination of nationwide significance. Further observance to this policy of secrecy can only result in a tumor in the body of society becoming malignant and fatal. IS THE TRUTH EMBARRASSING? Discrimination in justice makes truth a fantasy. The felon, deserter, courtmartialed, Benedict Arnolds, and even aliens have appealed to our judicial system all the way up to and including the Supreme Court. Is the honorably discharged veteran to be denied the right of "due process of law" to continue a policy directed toward self-serving interests of the few? Wherein lies justice? The irony of the need for a Veterans' Administration Review Act lies in the fact that none of our governing bodies would exist were it not for the veterans who fought and died to preserve the rights embodied in our envied constitution. Not just in America, but on foreign soil to assist other freedoms imperiled. The sacrifice of those noble patriots will not be ignored in favor of unequal justice. To do so makes justice an amended falsehood with special interest intent. What are these interests of special intent? Power is predominant but for what purpose? Is it possible that a backdoor method of subjugation is directed toward regimenting society into a socialistic theory of governing? The trend exists in the minds of the few, who desire to control the many, contrary to our constitutional articles. The seeds of "isms" flourish rapidly when justice is ignored. There is nothing in the contest of S-364 that allows anything but truth and justice to prevail. Arguments of opponents use weak circumventing debatable reasons to further a secret system of autocratic power to legislate, judge, and execute their agencies self-enacted statutes. Without judicial review a form of dictatorship judging, with a "kangaroo court" of appeal, allows a nonpoliced agency to direct its policies of vested interests towards an unknown goal. Wherein lies justice? With the Veterans Administration immune to judicial review in any civil court of law, who controls its activities? In summary: When truth and justice are ignored in favor of secrecy, selfgoverning, and evasion of constitutional rights-we will then be an autocracy of, by, and for the governing powers. S-364 and companion bills must be enacted by Congress. Thank you, fellow citizens. The circle means that we are all banded together for the common good of all veterans, The shield means that we are trying to protect our rights. The crossed swords means that we are willing to fight for our rights. The torch means that we are trying to show the light for all veterans in their claims. The scales with the truth and justice on them means that is all that we ask for is truth and justice in our claims, Senator STONE. We will give Mr. Mackall 10 more minutes. If he is not here, we will adjourn the hearing. I believe we have another witness who wants to testify. Mr. Ivey Simon. TESTIMONY OF IVEY SIMON, CHAPTER COMMANDER, CHAPTER 23, DAV, PENSACOLA, FLA. Mr. SIMON. I am Ivey Simon. I am the chapter commander of DAV, chapter 23. I am also the district service officer for the 11th district, which goes as far as Panama City, around the Milton area, De Funiak and Crestview. I would like to bring up a point about the service officer work in Escambia County. Mr. John McCarthy, our national service representative, he just spoke to me, and 75 percent of our national service officers are Vietnam veterans. In chapter 23, I have seven service officers which takes care of the veterans and widows here in Escambia County. One of them is a Vietnam veteran. He is here today. I don't believe we need anyone else to help our veterans and widows in Escambia County. We even make housecalls on the widows of veterans if they are unable to come to the chapter on Wednesdays. We will make a housecall and take care of everything for them in Escambia County. We service officers work with the veterans in many ways. We do all the paperwork that has to be sent to the national service officer in St. Petersburg, Fla. There the NSO does the rest. He makes sure that the veteran claim is ready to go before the medical board. In Escambia County we also have the county service officers. They also help any veteran and their orphans and their families. Escambia County has always had plenty of service officers. I just wanted to get it straight about this Vietnam veteran issue; 75 percent are Vietnam veterans. Senator STONE. Thank you. I am glad to have had the chance to allow you time for your side of it. [The following related material was supplied by Ivey M. J. Simon:] Hon. ALAN CRANSTON, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: As district service officer for the eleventh district of Florida, I have to help many veterans and orphans and widows also. It makes me real angry when some one states that the Disabled Americans Veterans service officers don't give any help to the Vietnam veterans. I have a very good service officer in my chapter that is a Vietnam veteran. I also have them as very good members in the chapter. I am commander of chapter No. 23 Disabled American Veterans Pensacola, Fla., also chapter service officer. I work with all veterans; no one is mistreated. I am typing you this letter with one hand so please excuse my typing. I lost my right hand, at least the use of it. I do not want any one to say that we mistreat the Vietnam veterans. It makes me boil over. I work with the veterans if they need my help day or night. I have six hundred and seventy eight veterans in my chapter. My time is free, at any time. Please notice we service officers in every chapter fill the veterans forms, then we mail his claim to the National service officer in St. Petersburg, FL. There the National service officer gets his record ready to send to the medical board. I ain't bragging, its just fair that we should get some credit for what we do. In order for me to be a good commander and service officer, I tell my officers to do the same. If at any time that I can be of any help to you, sir, please do call on me. As long as I have been commander of the chapter this is the first letter that I ever received from Washington. I will have to frame it. Maybe some day I will be able to come to Washington and see the White House and the Capitol building. I am sending you a copy of my September bulletin so you can see that. I try to let the veterans know that our National service Van will be in Pensacola in November. This is why I love to help the Disabled Veterans. Respectfully, IVEY M. J. SIMON, 93-774-78- -23 |