Nobody Remembers The Day A President Declared War on Veterans

Nobody’s Opinion

Instead of copying and pasting some “Happy Veterans Day!” picture, I thought I’d share a little history to ponder…about what some vets did in 1932:

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Our government has made a habit of not always honoring their promises…as we have all been witnessing with Obama’s lies and promises about how,  “You can keep your doctor, period.” But, imagine how the good American men felt during the last great depression, when the government refused to pay them what THEY had promised. Back then, there was no such thing as food stamps.  But in 1932, millions of veterans of WWI, traveled to Washington D.C. to collect the ‘bonus’ that was promised to them eight years before. The men were tired of waiting, and the talk in Congress was to defer the payments until 1945. In 1932, 32,000 businesses failed, and unemployment was up to almost 25 percent. Two million people wandered the country setting up shacks called “Hooversville” because they blamed Hoover for their plight.

(This was before credit cards.)

Just like George W. Bush, when the market crashed, Hoover couldn’t stand by and do nothing, so Congress passed a massive income tax increase–from 24 percent to 60 percent. And they kept spending, just like today. (Obama is the biggest spender in world history.)

Bad idea.

So the vets, who couldn’t find work anyway, took their families to Washington D.C, and built a small “Hooverville” around Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capital. They build an even bigger site on the outer reaches of the city and they called it Anacostia Flats. Over 25,000 people gathered there to take their claims that the government owed them. This protest came from all 48 states and the men were given food and free railroad passes from people in every state to help them get there.

Basically, they were all homeless, and starving.

Nevertheless–the people were peaceful…in fact, they had a commander in charge who rules were,  “No panhandling, no liquor, no radical talk.” They even set up a school, a newspaper, and a library..The people in D.C., rich and poor, took them food.

Then on June 15, the House of Representatives passed the bonus bill 211 to 176. The next day, thousands of veterans surrounded the Capital in anticipation —- but the Senate defeated the bill. For a moment, it looked like the veterans were going to attack the Capital.

But…they didn’t. Summer ran on, many went home, but over 20,000 were still there.

The politicians were getting scared.

So, on July 28, Hoover ordered the police out. There were a few fights. One veteran lay dead, three policemen were injured. And then, General MacArthur, who had been training his troops for this moment, ordered his men to clear downtown of  veterans. For the first time in American history, tanks were brought out into the streets, and 300 helmeted infantrymen, with loaded rifles and fixed bayonets, and gas masks, led by George Patton, cleared the streets.

From there they went out the camps and set fire to the camps.

Eisenhower (who was at the side of MacArthur) said MacArthur went too far.(Not the last time he disobeyed an order.)

MacArthur defended his actions:

Had he let it go on another week—-” I believe the institutions of our Government would have been severely threatened.”

FDR opposed giving the men the money, but after the event, he told an adviser that “this will elect me.”

Attacking the American Vets assured FDR election.

So, did the vets ever get their money? Yes. In June 1936, Harry Truman gave it to them. Almost $2 billion was handed out to 3 million WWI veterans.

Then in 1942, Congress passed the G.I Bill of Rights.. which, by giving vets education and loans to buy homes, built the middle class, whose consumption would power the postwar economy.

And now, Obama has been purchasing billions of hollow point bullets. .

Apparently, the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security has ordered 750 million handgun, rifle, and shotgun rounds (in addition to the 450 million purchased earlier this year.(Add to this tanks and drones.)

Our police departments all over the country are being militarized.

Either they are expecting a full-fledged invasion, or more likely, a collapsed of the economy. Someday, the “promises” of pension rewards, welfare, and food stamps will run out.

And if you think that your government will NOT fire on its citizens,

Think again.

They did it once before.

And if that isn’t a reason to thank a vet today, I don’t know what is. Someday you might have to depend on that vet for your very survival, to protect you from Obama’s generals…who are at this very moment, training their troops.

(info from Smithsonian, Februray, 2003.)

November 10, 2013 - Posted by Joyanna Adams | American History, Uncategorized | History, veterans