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October 30, 1945
Mr. Harry S. Truman,
President of the United States,
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
May I have the honor of addressing you as I often did to our
late beloved President?
With regards to youthful military training: I have not heard
anyone stressing this point of view. As a boy, I was a cadet,
which did wonders for me. Before that, although fairly tall
for my age, my folks kept me in short trousers because I was so
careless as to my appearance. I begged for long trousers.
They said I would look worse, but I persisted and promised. I
got them, and a transformation took place. I kept things in
perfect press. We then had "cadets" in our University. My
posture in uniform became erect, no slouching, our health 1m-
proved; we learned coordination, cooperation, in our drills.
I studied the military manual and so was instructor, then quick-
ly rose to First Lieutenant. When my enlistment expired I was
offered majority as I could handle the boys, but refused because
of an injustice by my Commandant and I was almost graduating.
Now enlarge on health, posture (which prevents many illnesses
later), exercise, self-reliance, discipline, cooperation, co-
ordination and the proper handling and use of a gun, the dream
of every boy. The dream, if war, to quickly become an Officer.
In War I, I could not wait for U.S.A. and paid my own way to
France and joined up with the French Army, by special permission
of U.S.A. and by Special French Presidential Decree. Ever since,
despite increased weight, etc., when I put on my uniform, my
posture becomes military, my step, movements become soldier-
like, and I am a young man again.
So, if for no other reason, excepting the good effort on the
individual, I am absolutely in favor of military training,
compulsory for the youth. This will also prevent much juvenile
delinquency.
Respectfully submitted,
Julin A Gehrung
Julien A. Gehrung, M.D., A.B. (B.Sc.)
A.M., F.A.C.S.
Chevalier de la Leg. d'Honeur
Born July 31, 1878
Officier de l'Instr. Publ., etc.
St. Louis, Mo.
787 Madison Avenue
Paterson, New Jersey
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"ocrText": "4-R\nack\nany\nOctober 30, 1945\nMr. Harry S. Truman,\nPresident of the United States,\nThe White House\nWashington, D.C.\nDear Sir:\nMay I have the honor of addressing you as I often did to our\nlate beloved President?\nWith regards to youthful military training: I have not heard\nanyone stressing this point of view. As a boy, I was a cadet,\nwhich did wonders for me. Before that, although fairly tall\nfor my age, my folks kept me in short trousers because I was so\ncareless as to my appearance. I begged for long trousers.\nThey said I would look worse, but I persisted and promised. I\ngot them, and a transformation took place. I kept things in\nperfect press. We then had \"cadets\" in our University. My\nposture in uniform became erect, no slouching, our health 1m-\nproved; we learned coordination, cooperation, in our drills.\nI studied the military manual and so was instructor, then quick-\nly rose to First Lieutenant. When my enlistment expired I was\noffered majority as I could handle the boys, but refused because\nof an injustice by my Commandant and I was almost graduating.\nNow enlarge on health, posture (which prevents many illnesses\nlater), exercise, self-reliance, discipline, cooperation, co-\nordination and the proper handling and use of a gun, the dream\nof every boy. The dream, if war, to quickly become an Officer.\nIn War I, I could not wait for U.S.A. and paid my own way to\nFrance and joined up with the French Army, by special permission\nof U.S.A. and by Special French Presidential Decree. Ever since,\ndespite increased weight, etc., when I put on my uniform, my\nposture becomes military, my step, movements become soldier-\nlike, and I am a young man again.\nSo, if for no other reason, excepting the good effort on the\nindividual, I am absolutely in favor of military training,\ncompulsory for the youth. This will also prevent much juvenile\ndelinquency.\nRespectfully submitted,\nJulin A Gehrung\nJulien A. Gehrung, M.D., A.B. (B.Sc.)\nA.M., F.A.C.S.\nChevalier de la Leg. d'Honeur\nBorn July 31, 1878\nOfficier de l'Instr. Publ., etc.\nSt. Louis, Mo.\n787 Madison Avenue\nPaterson, New Jersey"
}