I know my birthday is a time for joy but I wanted to bring up the 90th anniversary of this horrendous event which demonstrates how little the American government, especially the Republicans, cares about its war vets. So whenever you here one of these assholes shout “Support our troops!” at you, remind them what shitbirds Herbert Hoover and wannabe dictator Douglas MacArthur were when it comes to the suffering of former soldiers.
It began oddly in 1924, not in 1918 or 1919. Congress passed the World War Adjusted Compensation Act for all American participants in WWI. Instead of a cash bonus or in past wars like the American Revolution, land. The legislation was the handiwork of the American Legion, formed in 1919 because all the WWI vets received when they mustered out was a mere $60 (under $1100 today). Hardly worth risking one’s life to make “the world safe for democracy.” The Compensation Act was originally a better plan. Every recipient was awarded a certificate they could cash out in 1945. The amount granted was a dollar per day they served in the Armed Forces during WWI (~$18 now) with a quarter extra if any days were spent overseas ($22.50 now). Since the US entered the war late and it ended within a year, there was a cap of 500 days. Throw in two decades of compound interest, the certificate was pretty enticing…if you lived long enough given that fewer people in the Roaring Twenties made it to 65 than today. By today’s calculations, someone who fought in the American Expeditionary Force under General Pershing at the Battle of the Somme would have about $11K in 2022 money (plus interest) waiting for them in 1945. It seems crappy but before St. Reagan’s miracle economy, people spent a lower percentage of their income on rent, transportation, medical care, etc. than today. Only food was proportionally higher.
Republican POTUS Calvin Coolidge vetoed the Compensation Act immediately claiming, “patriotism…bought and paid for is not patriotism.” Being a “small government” asshole, I’m confident he was more upset at the price tag, a staggering $3.64 billion. Today it would be $58 billion. We’ve pissed away more just to help Ukraine lose its war with Russia while millions of Americans are homeless. Congress uncharacteristically overrode the crap POTUS days later and set up a trust fund to guarantee the certificates’ solvency when they matured. Plus, if the vet fell on hard times, they could borrow up to 22.5% of their certificate’s face value.
Then came what always happens whenever the Republicans are in charge of the US Government, an economic downturn! This one was the worst ever yet and earned its name of The Great Depression. Congress finally did something in 1931 by raising the amount the vets could borrow from 22.5 to 50%. However, it wasn’t really enough nor what the unemployed vets, numbering in the thousands, needed. Many wanted to cash out early since they had starving families to support. Ergo, 17,000 vets with their families in tow and allied organizations (making 43,000 people) camped out in DC around early 1932 to make this cash-out demand by heard.
By now, Hoover was prez and his actions, arrogance, indifference and bullshit claims of Communist involvement would result in what occurred on this day. His equally awful Attorney General couldn’t get the mini city cleared and to make matters worse, the cops killed two vets. Other factors were working agains the Hoover administration: DC’s police superintendent Glassford had a good relationship with the vets (despite those deaths), the House voted to move up the date on paying out the cash and probably public opinion (read on). The Senate sided with Hoover 62-18, showing how we’ve never needed the upper chamber if we want to go forward.
It was too late, rioting began shortly after the two vets were murdered and Hoover ordered then Army Chief of Staff MacArthur to “disperse” the Bonus Army. Amongst his forces were future WWII “heroes” Majors Patton and Eisenhower. Patton commanded the six tanks used to plow through the makeshift buildings. Eisenhower was MacArthur’s aide, aka gopher and explains why he was butt hurt when Prez Truman fired his old boss for insubordination during the Korean War. All three of these “heroes” proved they were truly loyal to power and not the country or people and sadly, they were never punished, especially MacArthur who ignored Hoover’s orders on where or when to stop.
The aftermath of this event did contribute to Hoover rightfully losing re-election to FDR by a huge margin. The do-nothing prez would continue to repeat his unfounded claims of Commnunist agitators until he died yet he also tried to have it both ways by saying the majority of the vets were upstanding Americans. Sound familiar?
You’d think FDR felt the opposite. Sadly, he opposed the pay out while on the campaign trail. He was more cagey when he got into office as a new “army” marched on DC in 1933. To keep matters from going badly like Hoover did, FDR had the vets housed, fed and entertained at Fort Hunt in nearby Virginia. While trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution, his wife Eleanor visited the camp to run a charm offensive or interference. In her defense, she let the public know the protestors/vets were nothing like the alarmists’ claims of thugs and Commies. Eventually, FDR used an executive order to get a good chunk positions into the Civilian Conservation Corps by ending the entry requirements. This worked out pretty well in the short run.
In 1936, a Democratic-controlled Congress decided to pay out the $2 Billion owed. FDR’s obstinance remained but he was powerless, both chambers overrode his veto with comfortable margins and the matter was resolved for good.
Again, the Bonus Army’s saga proves how full of shit both political parties are when it’s time for them pony up what our veterans are owed. The Republicans continue to this day to be the bigger assholes and their recent rejection to pass a bill to help those suffering from the side effects of burn pits…well, it shows you shouldn’t be surprised by a party of chicken hawks and selfish pricks. The Democrats aren’t off the hook neither. They’ve been complicit in letting Amerika get into numerous, senseless conflicts, failing to provide aid for suffering vets and pissing away billions for the Pentagon’s worthless toys. They too wear those sickening American flag lapels to show their “patriotism” when they’re equally spineless, greedy and cruel.