This Veteran's Day, remembering the 1946 mass protests by WWII troops wanting to return home. (link)

[Cosmos]

A fascinating story...

The 1946 protests showed the country, and veterans themselves, the power that veterans have to shape foreign policy. In a sense, they gave license to subsequent generations of veterans to voice their critiques, including some who are now questioning the wisdom of the 20-year Afghanistan war that ended with a humiliating withdrawal this year.

“We can’t take for granted the notion that the service member or the veteran is a passive, conservative supporter of U.S. foreign policy,” Nagaraja said. He noted that newer veterans groups, such as About Face and Common Defense, have built on the legacy of the 1946 protests and “challenged a very tokenized identity politics of the veteran as someone who’s saluted at sports games but we don’t actually hear from very much.”

MSN

 

[WHCANole]

A fascinating story...

The 1946 protests showed the country, and veterans themselves, the power that veterans have to shape foreign policy. In a sense, they gave license to subsequent generations of veterans to voice their critiques, including some who are now questioning the wisdom of the 20-year Afghanistan war that ended with a humiliating withdrawal this year.

“We can’t take for granted the notion that the service member or the veteran is a passive, conservative supporter of U.S. foreign policy,” Nagaraja said. He noted that newer veterans groups, such as About Face and Common Defense, have built on the legacy of the 1946 protests and “challenged a very tokenized identity politics of the veteran as someone who’s saluted at sports games but we don’t actually hear from very much.”

MSN

Makes a pretty good case for an all-volunteer Military doesn't it? That's why you haven't seen the protests against Iraq and Afghanistan like you did during Vietnam. The flip side is that it makes it easier to send in the troops than it would be if there was a draft.

 

[The Spin Meister]

In the 1930s WWI veterans camped out in DC to protest their plight. Set up tent cities and ....correction.... Wilson ordered the Army to remove them. Let by McArthur, Esienhower as his aid, and Patton leading the Calvary they were forced out after a bloody battle.

Not the same as the OP as this was non active veterans instead of active military but a critical event all the same.

Bonus Expeditionary Forces March on Washington (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[delcoLion]

In the 1930s WWI veterans camped out in DC to protest their plight. Set up tent cities and stayed for weeks until TrumN ordered the Army to remove them. Let by McArthur, Esienhower as his aid, and Patton leading the Calvary they were forced out after a bloody battle.

Not the same as the OP as this was non active veterans instead of active military but a critical event all the same.

Bonus Expeditionary Forces March on Washington (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

Truman?
It was Hoover, BTW.

 

[The Spin Meister]

Truman?
It was Hoover, BTW.

Oops, conflated the two stories! Thanks and corrected.