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CHESTER (PA.) TIMESTUESDAY, MARCH 16. 1946 5W 4 V VV ■ ♦Leave 11 To JoeVets With Troubles BeatA Path to HufnaVs DoorBy B. J. ABBOTTIf you're a veteran, and have no troubles, brother, you’re lucky.If you’re a veteran, and haven’t many troubles, you're unusual.But if you’re a veteran, and. like lots of veterans, have lots of troubles, you'd better meet Joe, and I mean quickly,Beeause Joe is just waiting to help you.He’s Joe to you, and Joe to me, and a good guy to know under any circumstances.Those who don't know him as Joe know him as Joseph M. Hufnai, service officer of Captain Lynch-Sergeant Brush Post No. 1521 VFW, and - member of the service department of the State of Pennsylvania.He was born at Swarthmore in '89, and he’s lived in Delaware County all his life, except when he was qualifying to be a veteran himself. Joe played ball in the Delaware County League as an amateur, andLynch-Brush Post Has Croix de GuerreBelieved to be the only French Croix de Guerre ever awarded to a unit of less strength than a regiment, there is housed at the Lynch-Brush Post No. 1521, VFW, the medal, first class, with palm leaf, and the original citation, signed by then General Petain,It was awarded to 2nd. Platoon, B, (Chester) company, lllth Infantry. commanded by Second Lieutenant John H, Shenkel. On July first, 1918. 58 men of the platoon took Hill 204 from the Germans, who had previously inflicted 5009 casualties on the French in an attack two weeks earlier.The lllth Infantry was, at the time, under the superior command of the French General Mangin, and it was that commander’!plan to make frequent raids in the vicinity of the hill, always with different units, to convey an impression of strength concentratedin the New York State League asa pro. Came World War I. and off went Joe to earn three stripes, and become Platoon Sergeant of the Fourth Platoon. Company B, 11th Infantry. A wound at the Battle of the‘Marne in 1918 put a stop to his diamond activities, but he's still playing ball for any veteran, veteran's widow, or dependents.While brigaded with the Fifth Battalion of the Royal Scots. Joe and his Platoon were selected to act as demonstration platoon in a display before the Duke of Windsor, then the Prince of Wales. Joe still rates the time when he shook hands with His Royal Highness as one of the proudest moments of his life. (On this side, he also shook hands with Jimmy Wilde, former flyweight champion of the world,-and rates Jimmy pretty highly, too.)With that. background, it. isn’t hard for us to realize why Joe was selected for his present job. When the first injured and disabled servicemen . started to return from Worid War 31, in 1942, the Lynch-Brush Post decided to do something about it. They did. They installed Joe. The Post pays his salary, and bears the expenses of his office, his stationery tartd he uses plenty), a car to get to those who can’t get to him, and all. the etceteras that go with a good job well dom,^His duties? To assist all veterans, and their dependents, of any U. S. or allied services, who have been concerned in any war in which America took an active part. You don't have to . be a member of Lynch-Brush Post to avail yourself of the services the Post provides, although. th« Post funds,U-v • • ■JOSEPH M. HUFNAL9'dues and the receipts from poppy :sales, pay for that service.Perhaps at the top of Joe’s duties comes the problems of hospitaliza-i lion, because he figures that the Isick need the greatest attention, ;and the well can wait just a little ! while. Recently Joe heard of a I case—it wasn’t brought to him— ;of ft vet who, discharged in 1943, | developed tuberculosis within two I years. An older brother, a veteran I of World War l, had spent over :$20Q0 on treatment for the younger :raan. When Joe heard about it in i January last, he started things i humming. By last week, the sick jman was safely installed in a vets’ ill spiral in Lyons. N. J.. receiving expert attention for which the government is paying. The Franklin Rescue Squad ambulance took him ! there. The Veterans’ Adminiscra-i lion will pay all expenses from now ion. and . . . the brother will al-1 most certainly get reimbured for. 'all expenses paid by him.Hospitalization, out-patient treatment. emergency ambulance calls.BILL MAULDIN’S CARTOON\\, . . “child's plav’*, says Jot. It’sjust » question of knowing the right people, and he knows 'em. ,General Omar Bradley and Joe are buddies. They are both members of Post 14. Society of Twenty- , ieighth Division, here in Chester.; |Jose is the service officer of that; I post, too. He ulso keeps on the right] side of the women, and works side j by side wiib Miss Miller at the Vet-| elans’ Information and Advisory; Center on Fifth street. The Center! arranges for prominent local busi-l ness men to interview veterans who are thinking of starting out in busi-; ness for themselves. Thus, those, who have learned already can help, those who intend to learn.*While we were talking to Joe., a young vet who was having a little; financial trouble, came into the, office. He was married, and due to' start at college this week. His first5 check was not due till the end of a month. Was there any way in; which he could get an advance?' Joe called the Department of Public Assist since. Tenth and Walnut streets, scrawled a hasty note of: ' identification, and the ' youngster went on his way rejoicing.Terminal leave, review ot[ badges lor* discharges, replacement of lost; ipapers, GI or on-the-job training.! ] college placements, employment, in-1 isurance; it makes no difference—! jsee Joe. He’s available twenty-four j hours a day at his office. 128 East. Sixth street, dial 2-7661, or his home; at Swarthmore, 1082. !He can even help with lha vexed ] housing problem, through his con-itacts with real estate men; and, [more than once, lie’s found a needy I vet a bed for the night.In his ‘ “spare time — he only ]]handles an average of three hundred' leases a month—Joe runs a school; for service officers of other vets’j organizations. Al all times his ad-; vice is there for the asking. He always keeps a good stock of all the forms needed for veterans’ administration work, and, believe it or not, knows how they should be filled in.As a welcome relief from his other duties, he regularly visits the Naval Hospital at Philadelphia, toe Yets’ Hospital. Perry Point, Md., Coates-ville Hospital, and all the local ones.And, If the sad necessity arises, he'll arrange for funerals, buglers, and firing squads, assist the widow with her pension difficulties, and see that a proper headstone is provided and placed In position.So if you’re a vet. or dependant of a vet. the thing to do is, “Leave it to Joe.”Cl};r.SIovV.vVliSaiVXcJ.sw*r
Newspaper Details
Chester Times
Chester, Pennsylvania, US
Tue, Mar 16, 1948
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Delaware C.
PA, USA 23 Dec 2022
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