Sunday, July 12, 1998

Unfair to lay government's shortcomings at Stenholm's feet

By Gordon Wood / Guest Columnist

Ben Doyle Sudderth, a brilliant attorney in Comanche, wrote a letter to the Abilene Reporter-News supporting Rudy Izzard for Congress. He criticized the government for failing to take care of World War II veterans and posed the question as to where incumbent Congressman Charles Stenholm has been the last 20 years.

To say Mr. Sudderth is a friend of mine would be an understatement. I have long valued his friendship and admired his accomplishments. However, I must respond to the two issues he has raised.

The veterans of World War II - including me - are proud to be Americans for many reasons, including the great support provided by our country upon our release from the service and return home. Because of the GI Bill, many area residents received a wonderful education at McMurry, Hardin-Simmons and Abilene Christian universities, with the government not only footing the bill but also providing funds for daily living expenses.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans were able to have new homes, again thanks to the GI Bill. I am convinced that, as a group, veterans have been well cared for by Uncle Sam.

I and others have been disappointed about some governmental shortcomings concerning veterans of the Vietnam War, but to lay this specifically at the feet of Congressman Stenholm would be extremely unfair.

As to Mr. Sudderth's question about where Congressman Stenholm has been for the past 20 years, I would like to make these observations.

n To properly view Charles Stenholm, it is important to look at his entire life. His congressional service has been a continuance of an outstanding record begun as a youth. In high school he was the Lone Star FFA Farmer of Texas. He was elected president of both the state and national FFA.

n In Congress he has an enviable record. If he did not, he would not be a senior member of the congressional body. His list of accomplishments is long and includes extremely effective work in agriculture, ranching, Social Security, the dairy industry, balancing the budget, education, environmental issues (seeing that farmers are not put out of business in the process), making certain Texas gets its share of federal dollars and protecting the interests of Dyess Air Force Base at a time when many bases are being closed. There are many more specific areas of service which are simply too numerous to mention.

n His record has been such that I know of no one in Congress who has more respect. He is a Christian statesman, and his kind are too few.

On a personal note, my brother, Garland, went through World War II in Africa, Sicily and Italy and was with Gen. Patton's army until the war ended. He was discharged at war's end and was 80 percent disabled. He lived in California, working there from 1944-1969, and became totally disabled. He somehow managed to drive his car from California to Brownwood.

Garland was nearer dead than alive when he arrived. My wife, Katharine, nursed him for almost a year before he was able to move out on his own. His veteran's pension had been lowered to $22 a month, even though he could not have worked a day if his life had depended on it. As soon as he was able to travel, I took him to Waco, and it required less than a week to get his pension back to 100 percent disability.

From 1970-1972 he was in veterans hospitals in Temple, Big Spring and Kerrville on numerous occasions. On one occasion, Dr. Seale Cutbirth and I drove him to Temple. He became unconscious, and both of us doubted if he would ever regain consciousness. There was a similar instance later when coach Morris Southall and Dr. Cutbirth drove him to Big Spring. On at least two other occasions, doctors said he could not live through the night; yet he lived several more years.

The veterans hospitals, as well as our local hospital, took first-class care of my brother. I am convinced there are several thousand similar instances across our land where ex-military personnel feel they have been dealt with fairly and compassionately by the federal government.

I am somewhat amazed that a great attorney like Mr. Sudderth cannot find better reasons to support Dr. Izzard.

Gordon Wood is former head football coach at Brownwood High School and the winningest high school football coach in Texas history.