EDENS AHEAD You may be among the many people who seem to think the former armed services members complain far too much about "benefits" and seem to feel they were short-changed many years ago and some who seem to feel they are still being "cheated out"of advantages they earned.
During the waning months of World War II, I can remember that we persons then in the armed services were told of many wonders which we would consider to be commonplace for us as returned civilians once the war was ended.
One such "promise" which was heard frequently, was that we would all return to our old life styles - our old jobs, our families, (as we remembered them), our favorite sports activities (in far better physical condition than we had ever met them before) and a more, rather than less, degree of pleasures in our lives.
There was persistent rumor which ran through various branches of the service which said each veteran would received a bonus payment of twenty-thousand dollars upon discharge as a token of gratitude from a grateful citizenry.
It was also predicted that we would all be flying individual or family helicopters shortly after the end of the war instead of old-fashioned cars and trucks. It all depend on how fast the assembly lines could switch over from making B-24's and B17's to turn out the little, inexpensive choppers we would enjoy so much. Many of us could expect to make a living in those plants, too - making all the things we would need.
Everything was going to be better after the war. We believed that, and it is good that we did, in some ways. That's what is needed for men to work hard to be on the winning side in any war. As long as one had confidence in a brighter future he will strive more diligently to meet whatever the pressing needs facing him.
The "promises" quoted above were real. I met with each of them, and others you would not believe. I have wondered about the roots of such rumors and absolve the military authorities of making such promises. I do hold the ultimate authorities of not having less-fancy plans at ready. Returning home, I found the "bonus" talk had been passed down to be a "states" worry. A state just to the north of mine promptly voted a $300 Bonus payment to GI of their state showing Honorable Discharge papers. A number of states did that, but my own saw it a different light. They used the same amount of state funds as other state governments, but specified that such a Bonus Fund be spent in setting up a statewide Veteran's Office. For the next few years it channeled needs the federal offices or duplicated services offered and the VA offices. Then, unfunded, of course, the state VA idea simply faded way.
I have wondered how such stories ever started. Newspapers and magazines of the era published stories of such bright futures. While GIs had limited access to the papers such publication did color what family members wrote to them from home. I have yet to see a study of just how much trust we troops placed on words from home, but it was well above average. I can recall the service's own publication "Stars & Stripes" running a few stories of like nature.
Today - when you overhear combat veterans of recent or current wars seemingly complaining about their lot, run the "Caution" flag up high on your brain staff where can keep a wary eye on it as you think and re-think that which you think you are thinking about his or her expressed views.
A.L.M. February 27, 2005 [c625wds]
