Shell script for extracting text from MS Word docs

["Venkatesh, PC" <PC Venkatesh occ treas gov>]

Sorry, this is a bit off-topic for this list.  Does anyone know of a shell
script/command line method for extracting text from MS Word docs? [I.e. not
opening the doc in abiword, etc.]. 
And, what mailing lists might be useful for questions of this sort?  Thanks

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P.C. Venkatesh
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