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Show DUFFY TO AID OF EX-SERVICE MEN It was through the efforts of Francis Fran-cis Ryan Duffy, national vice-commander of the American Legion, that the veterans' organization began to learn much of the condition of mental abnormality ab-normality of many ex-service men In penal institutions of the nation, which had led to preparations for an extensive exten-sive survey of such prisoners, with a view to proper care and treatment of such unfortunates. The attention of Gov. John J. Elaine of Wisconsin was Called to the fact that many ex-service men were imprisoned in the penitentiaries of his state, "when they should rightfully right-fully bo receiving treatment in mental men-tal institutions, not incarcerated for crimes ,their condition of mind had led them to commit. Duffy was department commander of the American Legion when the state executive began his survey, which determined de-termined that GO per cent of the ex-service ex-service men held as prisoners were mentally abnormal and that 20 per cent of these were sufferers from aisablli-ties aisablli-ties traceable to war service. The Legion man interested himself in the project, and through the aid of Governor Gov-ernor Blaine and other state officials carried on a strong fight for the direction direc-tion of these men to proper Institutions, Institu-tions, which course for ihe most part' has been highly successful. This survey sur-vey caused the adoption of a resolution resolu-tion by the national executive committee com-mittee of the Legion directing its officials offi-cials to begin a survey of all federal prisons. Duffy was born in Fond du Lac, Wis., June 23, 1SSS, and that city is still his home. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, and is a practicing attorney-at-law in his home city, serving as commissioner of the Circuit court. He was commissioned in the Officers' Reserve corps in February 1917, and was assigned to the motor transport section. He was the first professional or business man to leave Fond du Lac for service at the outbreak of war. While in service he was assistant mo- ' tor transportation officer in base sec- I , Francis Ryan Duffy. tion 1, A. E. F., and was promoted to the rank of major in October, 1918. At one time he was on special duty in the advance section between Chateau-Thierry and Fismes, in connection connec-tion with the motor transport corps. He left the service in May, 1919. The new vice-commander of the Legion Le-gion served as a member of the state executive committee in 1921 and 1922. On August 26, 1922, he was elected department commander to succeed Edward Ed-ward J. Barrett who was named national na-tional vice-commander in 1922. The post of department commander in Wisconsin carried with It membership in the national executive committee, and it was there that Mr. Duffy's work for the men in prison was first heard. Following in Barrett's footsteps, the Fond du Lac man passed through the post of department commander, to be elected to the national office at San Francisco. |