November 11, 2004

• VETERAN"S DAY

  As a veteran, I feel I am entitled to reflect on the meaning of the term and what being a veteran means in America.
  For many of us, military service and fighting in a war is one of if not the most influential times of our life. I have friends and acquaintances who still feel that was the most important thing that ever happened to them - after more than fifty years!
  The U.S. has fought many wars during the past 228 years and has faced the problem of how to treat returning veterans after all of them. It seems that the attitude toward returning veterans reflects the country's attitude toward the war; the wars of the past century are good examples.
  Spanish-American War: Even though we were the aggressors and it was pretty much a push-over, Americans were proud of their veterans and they led a wave of patriotic nationalism that led to the U.S. assuming a much more internationalist place in the world.
  World War I: We entered late but there was a massive wave of patriotic feeling which carried over to the returning veterans. This unfortunately was dampened 15 years later when, during the great depression, Veterans were singled out for shabby treatment (The Washington Bonus Army fiasco). The American Legion and VFW became important political forces and when the U.S. began to prepare for another war the attitude toward veterans was generally favorable.
  World War II: Really the biggest war ever fought and the first which really deserved the name. Almost the whole world was involved as were all Americans. Veterans of this war returned to one of the most explosive economic expansions ever seen in the world. They recieved unheard-of benefits (A year's unemployment pay, college education, mortgage loans and guarantees, etc.) all of which were material contributions to our country's economic growth and prosperity.
  Cold War/Korean War: Veterans of this time got most of the benefits accorded the WW2 vets but the fact that the war was, except for the Korean phase - which had hard fighting- mostly political posturing and inconclusive led to a change in attitude toward veterans.
  Viet Nam: The first American war of modern times where there was wide-spread opposition and a pretty clear military/political defeat. Veterans of this war were shocked at the attitude of contempt and rejection many of them encountered. It was fashionable and acceptable to dodge participation in that war.
  The Gulf War: This short-term military action was the first post-Cold War action of the U.S. It was outstandly successful but as it was fought mostly by professional soldiers, had little impact on the American attitude toward returned veterans. The impact it had was favorable.
  Afghanistan-Iraq: The current "War on Terrorism" has two aspects: In Afghanistan it has been pretty successful, American participation has been somewhat limited to professional military activity. There are few veterans of this conflict so far.
  In Iraq, a different situation has occured. The massive use of reserve and National Guard troops in a sort of "backdoor draft" has brought this war home to America like none since Viet Nam. There are already many veterans of this war trying to cope with returning to "real life". They have been regarded pretty favorably so far and the military still seems to have support from the American people, but comparisons with Viet Nam keep cropping up and if public opinion turns more against this war, veterans of it may find themselves in the Viet Nam boat.

  • 11:42 am
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