When the American Revolution had been won and the veterans of the world’s first army of free men returned to their families, there were no parades welcoming them home on Main Street. No speeches from courthouse steps praising their bravery or thanking them for their sacrifices.
A quarter of a million American men fought against the world’s greatest army to gain our freedom for little material gain. Lowly privates were paid $6 a month, equal to $160 in today’s dollars. That was considered a lot of money in those days except that the Continental dollar was practically worthless. These men weren’t in it for the money or fame. Only generals and leading officers became famous and honored as heroes.
America’s earliest disabled veterans received small pensions but those who survived unscathed received nothing. Many reached old age and died never being recognized for their part in creating what was to become the world’s greatest country. Finally, in 1832 Congress voted to award pensions to most surviving veterans of the Revolution without regard to rank, financial distress, or physical disability.
Many wars have come and gone since then. We’ve even had a war with ourselves, leaving more than half a million Americans dead. Three hundred of whom are resting forever in our own city cemetery. While Union veterans enjoyed federal benefits for their military service during the Civil War, as former enemies of the United States, Confederate soldiers were denied benefits. In 1958, Congress at last pardoned all surviving Confederate soldiers and allowed them benefits. By then, 93 years after Lee handed over his sword to Grant, there was just one remaining: Walter Washington Green Williams of Mississippi. Walter, also known as “Old Reb,” finally received every benefit Yankee soldiers had enjoyed since 1865. Unfortunately, he died the following year, reportedly at the age of 117.
Greater respect was given to returning soldiers following World War I, known then as the “Great War.” On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918, hostilities were temporarily halted between Germany and the Allied nations bringing the war to a close. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 to be Armistice Day in the United States as did many other countries including Great Britain, France, and even Germany. The last surviving American veteran of the First World War was Cpl. Frank Buckles who passed away on February 27, 2011, at 110 years old. Buckles was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors and President Barack Obama paying respects.
A little over two decades after “the war to end all wars” on December 7, 1941, the United States again entered a conflict even more terrible than the previous. Sixteen million Americans answered the call to fight for freedom. No one really knows the exact number, but it is estimated that there were around 407,000 American military deaths during World War II.
Veterans from this horrible war are now in their 90s or older. There are now less than 167,284 alive today that we will be able to honor this coming Veterans Day. Sadly, around 180 of these heroes are dying each day. Private First-Class Lawrence Brooks, who was the oldest veteran of World War II died on Jan. 5, 2022, age of 112. Brooks had been drafted into the Army when he was 35. After his death, actor Gary Sinise posted a tribute on Twitter and President Joe Biden called him “truly the best of America.” Brooks was known as the last American man born in the 1900s decade as well as being the oldest living man in the United States at the time of his death. He was laid to rest at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in New Orleans.
After World War II, November 11 was recognized as a day of tribute to veterans of both wars, then in 1954, the United States designated the holiday as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all U.S. wars.
We now have around 18 million American veterans in our nation. They have survived World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Grenada Invasion, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, the Iraq War and numerous other interventions and conflicts.
War can take a toll on those who serve. According to some statistics, veterans are at a 57% higher risk of suicide than people who have never served in the military. Nearly 4 million vets suffer from PTSD and depression, and 3.8 million have a service-related disability. About 40,000 homeless veterans are without a place to sleep on any given night. You’ve seen them walking the streets of our cities.
Hopefully, when we pause to think about those who served our country this Friday morning at 11 a.m., we will remember that many are still sacrificing and could use a little help. They put their lives on the line for us.
Steve Reece is a writer for the Reporter and a known crime fighter. Email him at stevereece@gmail.com.
