Benefits Of The GI Bill

With no relief in sight from the government or anyone else, people’s anger and resentment grew. The Communist party and other socialist groups saw a swell in their numbers. Labor strikes and protests against the government began to erupt. The most notable of these was the Bonus Army March on Washington. More than

The march of The Bonus Army changed the nation. Three hundred World War 1 veterans came across the country on freight trains riding the rails to Washington, D.C. All World War 1 veterans were asking for what was owed to them for fighting for our country. The Bonus Marchers were not asking for a handout, but more of what they deserved. President Hoover rejected this request, this made the veterans march on Washington, D.C. Veterans could have chose to go work in a better and safe environment than to choose to be a soldier.

As World War II was winding down, it became evident, that the approximately 16 million soldiers returning home from war would require some type of benefits package to avoid a possible post-war depression on the home front. While this may not have been an immediate concern of the returning soldiers, congress took it upon themselves to create the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, what many refer to as the GI Bill of Rights. On the 22nd of June 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill into law, which included 10 significant parts. The American Legion (2013) displays them as followed:

In 1924, after the war, congress gave veterans of World War I certificates valid in 1945 for $1000 each. During the Great Depression, many of the service men had lost their jobs so they decided asked congress to redeem the bonus certificates early, in 1932 (11). The “Bonus Army” was formed and led by an Oregon man named Walter Waters (11). The army now contained 15,000 veterans who hitched rides, hopped trains and hiked into the Capital (11). President Hoover refused to acknowledge the veterans but Congress argued over whether or not to give into the requests (11). On June 17, the Senate declined the demands and many of the people in the Bonus Army returned home, but thousands of them had nowhere to go. Therefore, they stayed in Washington,

Some of the farmers harassed bank agents who were sent to foreclose their homes. Another thing that the farmers in the Farm Holiday Association did was dump their farming goods (Farless). Another protest that emerged was the Veterans’ Bonus Army. “The Veterans’ Bonus Army clash in 1932 proved to be the most damaging for Hoover” (Farless). The Veterans’ Bonus Army consisted of 15,000 World War I veterans who traveled to Washington D.C. to demand their early payment of their 1945 planned bonus (Farless). President Herbert Hoover believed that they were anarchists, so he called in troops to break up the army (Farless). This incident was captured on film and it changed President Herbert Hoover’s popularity for the worst (Farless). After the decrease of President Herbert Hoover’s popularity, someone else became the public’s favorite – Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The march of the Bonus Army was a group of World War I veterans and their families who travelled to Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1932. They came from all over the nation to seek economic relief from the federal government. The veterans wanted to receive money that was promised for their services in the first world war and to redeem their service certificates ahead of schedule. The Great Depression was at its height and it was a difficult time to live. Many of the veterans were poor due to a shortage of jobs. Unemployment was at 25% and everyone that went to Washington, D.C. camped out in a self-made “Hooverville”. The government tried to get them to leave, but it was not facile. They were not leaving without a fight.

Conscientious objector status was granted to the men that demonstrated, ‘“a sincerity to believe in religious teachings combined with a profound moral aversion to war”’(United States Imposes The Draft). The majority of the conscientious objectors were Quakers, but roughly 75% of them wanted to fight in the way anyways. Rather than fighting in the war, the conscientious objectors had to perform an alternative service in the Civilian Public Service Camps. These camps entailed long hours of dangerous work resulting in no compensation (Franklin Roosevelt Approves Military Draft).

The march of the Bonus Army was a unique moment in our history. World War I veterans came from across the country to ask the government for their money ahead of schedule. Veterans united with a common cause: the prepayment of a promised benefit. President Hoover refused the veterans’ requests, which caused the movement and created unification across the nation. Together they marched in Washington, D.C.

The citizens who did not get drafted into the war may too have caused a negative impact on the soldiers upon their return to the States.

The first legislation in 1862 provided benefits to people who incurred disabilities due to military duty. If you were married to a now deceased soldier or if you were an orphan you received pensions. The pensions that the widows and orphans received would be equal to the amount that the soldier would have received if the soldier was disabled. By 1910 civil war veterans were grateful for a program of disability.

Bill (MGIB), eligible veterans enrolled in VA approved educational programs could receive up to thirty-six months of benefits if usage began within ten years of separation from service (Simon et al., 2010, p. 1008). Monthly benefits for veterans who had three or more years of service were eligible for $300 per month, with a total individual benefit of $10,800 for thirty-six months of usage (Simon et al., 2010, p. 1011). Veterans serving a two-year enlistment contract qualified for a $272 monthly stipend for a maximum of $9,800 for thirty-six months of usage (Simon et al., 2010, p. 1011). This remained relatively steady from 1985 to 1992 despite the increased costs of college tuition (Simon et al., 2010, p. 1011). However, in January of 1999 and then again in January of 2000 Congress did increase MGIB benefits to account for rising tuition costs (Simon et al., 2010, p. 1012). These increases continued to be implemented between 2000 and 20003 (Simon et al., 2010, p. 1012). This hit its peak in 2003, when MGIB benefits were at its highest value since 1991 (Simon et al., 2010, p.

World War II had a great toll on the nation’s economy. It hurt many Americans, and a lot of them had to leave their education to serve as soldiers and sailors. The war used many of the already shorted resources, and with a lot of the men who ran farms, bakeries, and meat providers being taken into war, this led to a shortage of cash flow and resources. During WWII Roosevelt talked over the matter with President George F. Zook and other leaders of the American Council of Education. He believed the federal government had a responsibility and an important role in helping returning veterans get an education. Several Bills branched off the GI Bill including a Vocational Rehabilitation Bill. This bill provided federal funds to retrain and rehabilitate veterans who had been disabled in the civilian defense industry. In a quote from history.com, “In his speech at the signing of the bill, Roosevelt acknowledged the sacrifices of

The American Heroes COLA Act came into fruition on Wednesday April 19th, 2012. The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) agreed to pass two bills that affect veterans benefits. There is slight doubt that under present law, veterans are getting the same COLA that is going to Social Security recipients. Once a year since 1983, Legislature has voted for, and the sitting president has authorized, a bill that guarantees that veterans' disability payment and survivors' dependency and security reimbursement increases on Dec. 1 by the same percentage as Social Security. American Heroes Cola Act would requires the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to automatically increase the rates of veterans' disability income, compensation for dependents, clothing allowance, and reimbursement for veterans surviving next of kin and children at the same rate that Social

After World War II the government made education an important priority in the United States. On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944; also know as the GI Bill of Rights. The bill provided a free college education to returning soldiers from the war (Keesee)

The GI Bill also provides assistance with career advancement. Entrepreneurship training helps veterans start their own businesses, flight training allows veterans to become airline pilots, and funding for license and certification testing helps servicemen and women become certified mechanics, therapists, web developers, and attorneys (“Education Benefits”, 2017).