Executive Order 3543

Whereas section 9 of the act of Congress approved August 9, 1921, entitled "An act to establish a Veterans' Bureau and to improve the facilities and service of such bureau, and further to amend and modify the war risk insurance act," provides that—

"Section 9. The director, subject to the general directions of the President, shall be responsible for the proper examination, medical care, treatment, hospitalization, dispensary, and convalescent care, necessary and reasonable after care, welfare of, nursing, vocational training, and such other services as may be necessary in carrying out the provisions of this act, and for that purpose is hereby authorized to utilize the now existing or future facilities of the United States Public Health Service, the War Department, the Navy Department, the Interior Department, the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and such other governmental facilities as may be made available for the purposes set forth in this act; and such governmental agencies are hereby authorized and directed to furnish such facilities, including personnel, equipment, medical, surgical, and hospital services and supplies as the director may deem necessary and advisable in carrying out the provisions of this act, in addition to such governmental facilities as are hereby made available."

And whereas said section 9 further provides that—

"In the event that there is not sufficient Government hospital and other facilities for the proper medical care and treatment of beneficiaries under this act, and the director deems it necessary and advisable to secure additional Government facilities, he may, within the limits of appropriations made for carrying out the provisions of this paragraph and with the approval of the President, improve or extend existing governmental facilities or acquire additional facilities by purchase or otherwise. Such new property and structures as may be so improved, extended, or acquired shall become part of the permanent equipment of the Veterans' Bureau or of some one of the now existing agencies of the Government, including the War Department, Navy Department, Interior Department, Treasury Department, the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, in such a way as will best serve the present emergency, taking into consideration the future services to be rendered the veterans of the World War, including the beneficiaries under this act."

Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me by said law, I hereby direct the Secretary of the Navy, on October 31, 1921, to transfer the naval hospital and reservation at Fort Lyon, Colo., to the United States Veterans' Bureau for hospital or sanatoria or other uses for sick and disabled soldiers, sailors, and marines. I hereby direct the Secretary of the Navy to leave the present naval personnel at Fort Lyon until such time as the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau may be able to assign the necessary medical and other personnel to this hospital, and also to carry to completion the improvements in the heating system now under way.

Warren G. Harding

The White House,

August 31, 1921.