Speed-Up for Convalescents

The familiar woebegone soldier in wine-colored or grey pajamas, not sick enough to rate much attention, not well enough to return to his outfit, is disappearing from Army hospital corridors. Last week convalescing soldiers from coast to coast were having a busy time of it -- and liking it.

Army doctors believe that emotional reconditioning is just as important as physical toughening. When possible, convalescents are now housed apart, away from the sickroom atmosphere, allowed to wear uniforms, play games, watch movies and live a normal military life as far as their disabilities will let them. Exercises range from light finger-&-toe work to calisthenics (including push-ups), drill and outdoor fatigue such as gardening.

Every soldier is put with men at his own stage of recovery to do group exercises -- even the ones with injured legs can toughen the rest of their bodies. Aim is to make a man ready for regular duty the day he returns to his unit.

Mental exercise is also provided. Air Forces Chief H. H. Arnold issued an order instituting courses for convalescents "designed to provide general military in formation and to qualify men for assignment to schools for higher technical training and higher technical ratings." A man who completes ten hours or more of the work gets a "Certificate of Completion."

At Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Major Howard A. Rusk, now head of the Army Air Forces' reconditioning program, laid out the schooling with courses in chemical warfare, camouflage, radio, model aircraft building, mathematics and a special course for illiterate soldiers. At Dale Mabry Field in Florida, convalescents' courses range from identification of Japanese air craft to Arctic warfare. Officers, their wives, Red Cross workers and college professors lecture on such subjects as "Our Latin American Neighbors" and "How to Keep in Fighting Trim in Africa." The Army has made the happy discovery that such work not only makes better and wiser men; it also shortens convalescence, speeds sick soldiers' return to active duty.

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