Was The Greatest Generation, really the greatest?

Question

I admire them. Between 33% and 50% of the 1.5 million combat troops were KIA, of 10 million uniform. I don't know statistics of wounded. My generation of their children now ages from 20 to 90yo, had to deal with their mental and physical injuries. Some, went in as criminals and came out same. These, mostly men, continued violence, some on us. My friends and I, were beaten by these men, were threatened and probably some killed. We were sexually molested. Our mothers were beaten. Every war has these effects. Can we do better with the soldiers from wars after Vietnam??? Current problems with VA system would indicate we are failing again.

Answer 1

My best friend's father who was a pilot in WWII and part of that generation made a comment to me when the Brokaw book came out that to him they were not the greatest since their parents made it through WWI, the impacts still remaining from the Civil War, the Great Depression and instilled the pride in the US that sent so many from all walks of life to serve their country and maintain the home front during WWII. He also said the Civil war generation and our first generation moving from colony to independent country also were pretty fantastic and over achieving generations.

Answer 2

Wars train men to be killers. Then they are told it is the right thing to do to kill. Violence is a way of solving problems.
Some are beaten, tortured and come home permanently disabled. Some went in as good men and came out as criminals. They learned in foreign countries to satisfy normal urges to go to foreign women prostitutes and or rape.
then they come back home to civilization and their wives and children who love them. All of a sudden that mine set changes? Unfortunately it doesn't. Those were the years the teenage years 19-21 when they are learning what is it like to be a man? What does a real man do?
Sadly to say that most are abusive husbands or really strict fathers. All of their injury's do not show. Or should say the worse injury's don't show. Those in the mind.
Read the statistics on the Vietnam war? or those who came home after ww2. Those who saw the most battle and seen their friends die where the most to suffer mentally.
We can do better use diplomacy to solve problems. Don't be so anxious to get into other countries wars.

Answer 3

I don't think you can blame "normal" endemic crime on war experiences. Most criminals nowadays have never served in the military.
While it is true that WWII GIs suffered PTSD (it was called Battle Fatigue in those days) they seem to have recovered much more effectively than soldiers of the Vietnam era.
It is my belief that this is largely due to the way it was treated. A soldier suffering acute Battle Fatigue in WWII would be given a "rest." During the Vietnam War, it was considered more efficient to send the soldier right back into battle. When this was done, the soldier often did function well as a fighter, but suffered the consequences later. The rest given to soldiers with battle fatigue in WWII gave them time to integrate their experiences.
Further, combat "buddies" of WWII often maintained contact after the war, providing further therapeutic interactions. The way Vietnam vets were cycled in and out of the war, they often had no later contact with the buddies who shared the most intense and traumatic experiences of their lives.
You are right, we need to look at the way we are treating our soldiers.

Answer 4

The word greatest is sujectively used often, when it should be objectively used.