A last word

Over the course of the last few weeks, I have written about the GI Bill in many of its incarnations.  From its early days as a response to genuine fears of an economic collapse at the end of the Second World War, to the disgraceful treatment of Vietnam vets and finally to the excellent forward looking program it is today.  In the end, I think I can say I enjoyed the process.  Not that it was an easy one.  I spent many days staring at a blank screen, taking little YouTube video breaks and generally trying to avoid hauling myself through what is an admittedly dry topic.  But I learned something.

          Just because a topic is dry, and this rivaled the Mojave for its aridness, doesn’t make it any less important.  The sacrifices of those that came before me needed to be told.  I was originally going to interview two members of my hometown Veterans of Foreign Wars post.  Unfortunately, Mike and Dutch have both passed on in the three long years since I have seen them. 

          Mike was a World War II vet and formerly the Post Commander at good old VFW Woodstock 5040.  Mike flew in bombers during the war, and always had great insights into the past.  It was Mike that first interested me in the history of American Veterans.  The subject he had the most to say about was the plight of Vietnam vets after their war.  You see, Mike never agreed with the policy to keep the ‘Nam boys out of the club.  He always had thought that they were given the bum’s rush when they came home and felt a little bad about it.  After all, to him, one veteran had seen enough of the horrors of war to belong.  Unfortunately, few in the governing body of the VFW agreed with him, and Vietnam vets weren’t allowed to join until the 1980’s.

          Dutch was a Vietnam vet and fiercely proud of his service.  He was a very active member of the post as well, though I think that may have been due to the cheap beer available at the cantina.  He was also very vocal about veteran’s rights and the poor treatment he received when he returned from Vietnam.  Dutch fought to open up the VFW to all veterans who fought for their country in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.  I learned a lot from Mike and Dutch, and I wish I had the chance to interview them.

          Veterans of my generation owe a great debt to those that came before.  It is imperative that we do not let them down.  These benefits are more than just a right given those that have served.  It is a duty.  A duty to learn succeed and improve the world they have left to us.  And to never forget the long road it took to get us here.

Image retrieved 12/16/2010 from world wide web http://www.firelink.monster.com/