The Bonus Army
Page 51
“A tragic yet enormously important chapter in the making of 20th-century America, beautifully and brilliantly told by Dickson and Allen. The GI Bill lifted ten million veterans into the middle class through vocational rehabilitation, low-cost home mortgages, college tuition, and living expenses. Without the Bonus Army tragedy, there never would have been a GI Bill. You cannot fully understand contemporary America unless you understand the Bonus Army.”—Mark Shields
“In The Bonus Army, authors Paul Dickson and Thomas B. Allen provide an astonishing, and largely forgotten, account of how our veterans, fueled by desperation and determination, anger and honor, overcame political obstacles and tactics as formidable as those they had faced on the battlefield. This is must reading, not only for today’s political leaders, but for all Americans who understand the need to fight for the fair treatment of those we ask to carry the fight for freedom.”—William S. Cohen, former Secretary of Defense
“Meticulously researched and engagingly written, The Bonus Army captures the pathos and high emotion that this under-appreciated episode in American history generated in 1932. As the nation prepares to welcome home another generation of wartime veterans, it offers a cautionary and instructional tale about the permanent bond that modern military service creates between veterans and the state.”—Jennifer D. Keene, author of Doughboys, the Great War, and the Remaking of America
“In the current era of rights and entitlements, the back story to the saga of the Bonus Army—the federal government refusing to pay its citizens what it owes them—is hard to fathom . . . In The Bonus Army, Paul Dickson and Thomas B. Allen tell the whole story, all the way to its legacy, the GI bill enacted for veterans of World War II.”—Washington Post
“This thoroughly researched and eminently readable book is one that every veteran, indeed, every American should read . . . Mr. Dickson and Mr. Allen have done a fine job of reminding Americans of the almost forgotten fight a relatively few of them made to finally shame the Congress into paying what in effect was a mere pittance in return for the sacrifices they had made during the Great War.”—Lyn Nofziger, Washington Times
“A timely reminder of society’s obligations to returned soldiers.”—Roger K. Miller, Denver Post
“The authors argue that this is one of the pivotal events of 20th-century U.S. history, and they make a good case . . . The benefits veterans have today express a stronger appreciation of service. This book is a reminder that they also have another purpose, which is to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”—Bruce Ramsey, Seattle Times
“Extensively researched and documented, The Bonus Army provides a valuable historical record as well as a timely look at how this nation has treated its veterans.” —Jewel Lansing, Portland Oregonian
“By a far stretch the best-written account of the Bonus Expeditionary Force and the first scholarly attempt in nearly two decades. The authors, both experienced history writers, debunk many of the old myths and shine new light on this astonishing episode . . . In telling the story of The Bonus Army, in a gripping style packed with facts, Dickson and Allen do great honor to all veterans—and remind us that one of our most important battles was fought with blood and fire at the steps of our own government.”—Joel Turnipseed, Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Dramatic . . . The Bonus Army is more than a story of a group of strong and determined veterans. It is also a history of World War I and the economic depression that led thousands of men and women to march on the nation’s capital.”—Daily Oklahoman
“The Bonus Army has long been a topic of scholarly interest, but this is the most complete story we have of the movement and its aftermath . . . An excellent book.” —American Scholar
“An impressive, important, and extremely well researched account of what happened when the U.S. reneged on its pledge.”—Murray Polner, History News Network
“Dickson and Allen have done some great research and are superb storytellers. They expand beyond the dimensions of a conventional history, telling the stories of veterans in the camps, the leaders of government and the local resident . . . This highly readable book covers the event in fine detail. It serves as a great civics lesson on how countries should and should not treat those who serve in uniform.”—Kevin M. Hymel, Army Magazine
“Dickson and Allen have written a thoroughly researched and spirited narrative. They have done yeoman work in mining the relevant archives, and their interviews with many of the surviving witnesses add new testimony to the record of the March . . . The Bonus Army has received much less attention than it deserves. But, with their readable and exhaustive account, Dickson and Allen have gone a long way toward remedying that situation.”—Tom Miller, Military.com
“In describing the use of tanks, bayonets and tear gas to expel the unarmed vets and their families from Washington—as well as the deadly mistreatment of BEF members in government work camps after the march—Dickson and Allen highlight the sacrifices these women and men made on our own soil to win fair treatment for veterans of future wars. Their important and moving work will appeal to both professional historians and casual readers interested in the history of America’s changing attitudes towards its soldiers.”—Publishers Weekly
“Dickson and Allen, who have written numerous books of American history, assert that the long-range importance of the Bonus Army has been grossly underestimated. In this agreeably written and often moving account, they describe a unique gathering of whites, blacks, and urban and rural poor united by a vision of social justice. This is an important reexamination of a still controversial event.”—Booklist
“Here a demonstrator is clubbed and tear-gassed, but there real reforms are won: thus unfolds this memorable story of a now-forgotten episode in 20th-century history . . . The lesson the New Deal government took home: avoid ticking off discontented veterans, whence the GI Bill. A lively, engaging work of history.”—Kirkus Reviews
To Nancy Dickson and Scottie Allen for
their total support and belief in this book.
Copyright © 2004 by Paul Dickson and Thomas B. Allen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Walker & Company, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Published by Walker Publishing Company, Inc., New York
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
ISBN-13: 978-0-8027-7738-6 (paperback)
First published by Walker Publishing Company in 2004
This e-book edition published in 2010
E-book ISBN: 978-0-8027-1936-2
The large photograph is courtesy of Underwood & Underwood/Library of Congress; the highlighted photograph is from the authors' collection.
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