To Hear Only Thunder Again America's World War II Veterans Come Home

by Ells, Van Mark D.

• ISBN13: 9780739102435
• ISBN10: 0739102435
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-04-26
• Publisher: Lexington Books

Summary

The paucity of scholarly literature on World War II veteran readjustment might lead one to believe these nearly sixteen million men and women simply took off their uniforms after the War and reintegrated into society with ease. Mark D. Van Ells's path-breaking work is the first serious analysis of the immense effort that was required to avoid the potential social decay so often associated with veteran reintegration. To Hear Only Thunder Again explores the topical issues of educational, health, employment, housing, medical, and personal readjustment faced by veterans while continuously situating these issues against the backdrop of society's political response.

Author Biography

Mark D. Van Ells is assistant professor of history at Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction: The ``Veteran Problem'' in History	1	(22)
``The Art We Must Perfect'': Government Planning for World War II Veterans	23	(34)
``I Think I Was a Little Futsed Up'': Personal Readjustments	57	(38)
``Everyone Will Come Out of Here Wounded or Sick'': Medical Readjustments	95	(40)
``My Mind Was Like Virgin Soil'': Educational Readjustments	135	(36)
``I Still Had a Little of the Depression in Me'': Economic Readjustments	171	(38)
``A Safe, Quiet, and Peaceful Place'': Housing Readjustments	209	(36)
Conclusion	245	(6)
Bibliography	251	(14)
Index	265	(7)
About the Author	272