Subject: [KYF] NEWS: Albert Alcorn, Spanish Am Vet, 1924 Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2003 11:25 AM Submitted by Mary Lou Hudson Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, KY - Sept. 16, 1924 Spanish War Vet Talks To Legion Meet Valor of Bygone Days Cited at Legion Meeting. Heroes of 1898 Albert Alcorn Tells of the Anxious Days When Spanish-American War Was Being Fought Associated Press St. Paul, Sept 16 -- Veterans of the Spanish-American and the World Wars heard the fortunes of battle, deed of valor and the hardship and suffering of campaigns compared over more than two decades when Albert D. Alcorn, retiring commander-in-chief of the United Spanish War Veterans today addressed the convention of the American Legion. "When you boys went to the World War, you remember that you were heroes in the eyes of those you were leaving behind," said Mr. Alcorn. "If you were fortunate to be among the first to return from foreign fields, you were still heroes but if among the last, you saw very little celebrations in your honor. You were brought into the country, mustered out and sent to your respective homes with barely mention of your service. The novelty of receiving returning troops had worn off. The people soon forget. Many of you were lucky indeed to find your old jobs awaiting you. "The same thing applied to the Spanish-American War period. They call it a little war, but they forget the days of 1898, when the people of the Eastern coast and the Golf coast were terrified and unnerved with fear of a bombardment by the Spanish fleet that had disappeared from the Azores and which was though to be somewhere in the vicinity of our shores prepared to strike our most vulnerable spot. "They forget that the bankers of the coast cities were so frightened and panic stricken that they were shipping their money to interior points for safety. "They forget that there were many anxious moments in homes from which the 312,000 volunteers came at that time. "They forget that the terrible ravages of fever in camps in our own country caused a greater percentage of fatalism than in any other war period. "They forget that when we came home they were proud of us because the war was short; that we never lost a battle, never lost a flag and never retreated from a single foot of ground. "They forget that the display of fighting qualities of the men of that period first opened the eyes of the world that this nation was amply able to back, with force, if necessary, its ideas of freedom and justice and humanity. "We can see no reason therefore for discrimination against us in favor of the veterans of any other war in which this nation has been engaged. The same debt of gratitude and the same duty of service is due us. "So, my comrades of the World War, if you hear a comrade of the Spanish War boast of his service in a war that was 100 percent volunteer, the veterans of which are grossly discriminated against, put yourselves in his place. Remember twenty years have elapsed between his war and your war. Do not think that because we are proud of our service and ask for equal consideration, that we are attempting to place obstructions in the way of your obtaining what is rightly due you. "Numerically we are only a small unit as compared with your. Your power is in proportion to your numerical strength. We recognize that fact. As older veterans we need your continued help and support in order that we may receive something like equal consideration as the veterans of all wars." ______________________________