The United Way and Me

I was stationed in Jacksonville, FL when it happened. I had only been in the service five-to-seven months. Jacksonville was where I was sent from boot camp to be trained as an aircraft electrician, which is how I served my country for the next four years.

Most of the young men in my class were single guys like myself. There were a couple of married guys who lived off base. When there were "official meetings" or our unit had "duty", these married guys had to join us in the barracks. On one such assembly, we were informed that the United Way was requesting each of us to donate some small amount of money from our small paychecks. I think it was only one dollar per month. We were further informed that our commander wanted 100% participation from his command.

We discussed this among ourselves in the barracks that night, with at least one of the married guys speaking up strongly against it. We all agreed with his opinion; we didn't have money to give away. Personally, I had a car payment I couldn't make on the money the Navy paid me. I think it was a couple of days later that we were to turn in the forms to approve the Navy deducting a set amount from our paychecks. We all turned them back in declining the request.

This did not go over well with the commander. Did I mention that he wanted 100% participation from those in his command? Apparently, commanders were pretty used to getting what they wanted. When the paperwork hit his desk, something else hit the fan. We were all assembled again. This time we were told that, if we chose not comply with the request, we might have "bag inspections" on Saturdays.

I must explain what "bag inspections" were. When we joined the Navy, we were given a large duffel bag in which all of our Navy-issued belongings, (the underwear, shoes, socks, hats and uniforms provided in boot camp) were packed. A bag inspection would entail having to pack all of those possessions in the bag, carry it to a designated inspection spot (probably not close to the barracks), and then lay it all out to ensure we had all of the proper equipment in acceptable condition.

The idea of a bag inspection was not a pleasant thought, so it made a reasonable threat. No young sailor wanted to spend part of his Saturday that way. So - the opinion in the barracks quickly changed. Everyone but me decided to sign the papers and let the Navy take a little of our money to help out the United Way. It was not because any of us became more charitable with our limited funds. It was because - for almost everyone there, it seemed like the most reasonable option.

When our barracks chief discovered that I had still refused, he told me that I would have four hours of "extra duty" on Saturday. I was to report to him at 0800 hours in dungarees. For four hours I was charged with cleaning this and moving that. About half way through the morning, this petty officer in charge told me that, if I insisted on refusing to sign the paper, we could be doing this for many more weeks. I said to him, "Sir, you can have me do extra duty for the next four years; but I will not give money to the United Way." I never heard anything else from him. I was never forced to do extra duty again. In retrospect, that petty officer didn't want to have to supervise me on his Saturday either.

At the time this all became an issue, I had nothing against the United Way. I had heard their advertisements about a new way to support various organizations like the heart association, cancer society, etc. People could make one pledge and not be pestered by dozens of agencies wanting financial donations. It sounded reasonable. In fact, if this proposition had been made while I was still working at the factory in my hometown, I would have probably signed on to do it.

The practice of coercing military men to give to the United Way was undoubtedly being investigated at the very time that my barracks mates and I were being coerced. By the next year, when the United Way drive was in gear at my next duty station, we were clearly informed that we could not be forced to contribute - that congress had passed a law making it illegal to do so. Still, we were told that our commander wanted 100% participation from those in his command. I don't know how many refused this time. Maybe I was the only one again. The four hours of extra duty the prior year was fresh in my mind, and I had not changed my mind.

This time I was not threatened, but I was called into the squadron commander's office. He issued no threat. He wanted to know why I would not contribute. In his mind it seemed like such a little amount and such a reasonable request to ask everyone to do their part. Then he told me that, if I still didn't want to contribute, he would personally put the money in for me. In retrospect, I suppose he anticipated that suggestion would make me feel guilty enough to sign on. It didn't. I told him - respectfully - that he could do whatever he wanted but I would not give. I also told him what happened to me in the previous command.

The United Way supports a lot of good works. My problem was not with their goals, but their methodology of reaching those goals. Just because someone decided it would be a great thing if every American worker gave to a particular cause or cluster of causes, does not mean that you or I should feel obliged to give. Neither does it mean that some corporate head should apply pressure on underlings to give. That, I am fairly sure, still happens.

I am a pretty generous man. I give to worthy organizations regularly. But I have little tolerance for manipulating and coercing people to be generous. So, for that violation of my person - and not me alone - the United Way shall never get one red cent of my money. Over the years, I have found more reasons not to contribute to the United Way. They have had a tendency to support agencies that many of us would not choose to support. Many years ago the excessively high compensation to the head of United Way was exposed. If I had ever a doubt about changing my mind, that solidified it.