Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 18, Number 6, DeMotte, Jasper County, 2 January 1948 — To Leave V.A. [ARTICLE]

To Leave V.A.

More Than One-Fifth of Veteran Hospital Staff To Quit Service By Spring Washington, Dec. 29 The Veterans Administration faces the loss next spring of 1.400 physicians, more than fifth of its hospital staff, Maj. Gen. Paul R. Hawley said today. Hawley said replacement of those doctors will be the No. 1 problem of the man who succeeds him as medical director for the veterans administration. Hawley has resigned effective next Wednesday after two years of service. The doctors involved are young officers trained in the wartime Army specialized training and Navy V-12 programs. The terms of expire in May. Hawley told a reporter. The officers in many cases were assigned to the more isolated hospitals for which, frequently, it was difficult to obtain civilian per sonel. Much Dissatisfaction. Considerable numbers are reported to have expressed their dissatisfaction, and their intention of leaving VA upon completion of their two-year terms. Ninety-three members of thd first contigent to enter VA service quit a month ago. The Veterans Administration employs about 6,700 for its 126 hospitals and their 118,000 patients. Hawley said the problem of chronic alcoholism among veterans still is increasing, and predicted that VA physicians will treat 10,000 of alcoholism this year, compared with 6,459 last year and 3,529 in 1945.