G.
West Coast Counseling Service
MONTEREY
OAKLAND
SAN DIEGO
SAN FRANCISCO
The first office of the West Coast Counseling Service was
opened in Monterey on May 1, 1969.  The other three offices were
set up during the Fall.  The four offices have thus far counseled
over 1250 G.I.'s and nearly 500 civilians regarding legal alternatives to military service.  As of December 31, 1969 118 servicemen representing all the branches of the Armed Forces have received
Conscientious Objector discharges, while over 600 additional men
are waiting action on applications for discharge.
The offices are located in downtown areas for the convenience
of the servicemen, are open seven days a week, and in Monterey and
the San Francisco Bay area are provided with 2M--hour answering
services.
The staff of the Counseling Service consists of Catholic and
Protestant clergymen, persons formerly in the military, civilian
conscientious objectors and other volunteer help.  Through person-
to-person contact at the airports and bus terminals of the Bay
area, a large number of the men en route to Vietnam are receiving,
usually for the first time, relevant information on their rights
to apply for discharge as conscientious objectors.
The distinctive purpose of the Counseling Service is to
provide such such information, and then to follow through on all
cases with legal and clerical counsel and the essential psychological support for the men.  Visitors to stockades, brigs and
prisons are also provided, and continuing attempts made to make
conditions in the prisons more bearable.
The Counseling Service serves generally as a much-needed
link between servicemen and those on the outside who are willing
to help them in their most critical problems.  It also brings
informational publications and speakers to the G.I.'s, who in
turn are provided opportunities to speak on the realities of
their situation to interested civilians.
You*undoubtedly have often had contact with men, especially
servicemen, with the needs the West Coast Counseling Services is
attempting to fill.  If you are interested in more details on our
project, we would be eager to share our information and experience
with you.
288 ALVARADO STREET
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA 93940
TELEPHONE (408) 373-2305
1733 JEFFERSON STREET     '
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 9461?
TELEPHONE <41e) 836-1039
520 E STREET, ROOM 512
SAN DIEGO.CALIFORNIA 92101
TELEPHONE (714) 234-1305
491 GUERRERO STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94110
TELEPHONE (415) 621-7035