WEBVTT 00:00:16.550 --> 00:00:19.030 All across America and around the world, welcome 00:00:19.030 --> 00:00:22.929 to America's number one veterans program, the 00:00:22.929 --> 00:00:26.190 Voice of America's Veterans, Veterans Radio. 00:00:26.609 --> 00:00:29.230 And now, here's your host for today's program, 00:00:29.989 --> 00:00:33.509 former chief warrant officer, 195th Assault Helicopter 00:00:33.509 --> 00:00:39.409 Company, Republic of Vietnam, 1969, Dale Throneberry. 00:00:41.469 --> 00:00:45.329 And good morning, everyone. 1969. Holy mackerel. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:49.140 40 years ago. I was talking to somebody earlier 00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:52.979 this week and Woodstock's 40th anniversary is 00:00:52.979 --> 00:00:55.119 this week also for those of you that can remember 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:57.539 Woodstock in upstate New York and somebody asked 00:00:57.539 --> 00:00:59.399 if I had been there and I said no I'm sorry I 00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:01.799 was out of town that week wasn't able to make 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:03.700 it but you are listening to Veterans Radio and 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:06.480 we are coming to you from the studios of WDEO 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:10.140 990 AM in Ann Arbor Michigan and we want to thank 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:13.879 the management of WDEO for offering us the opportunity 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:15.930 of using their studios. It's been a great ride 00:01:15.930 --> 00:01:18.010 for us and we're very excited to be on their 00:01:18.010 --> 00:01:21.010 station. Over 300 programs. Oh my gosh. Isn't 00:01:21.010 --> 00:01:23.989 that something? You know there's a lot of television 00:01:23.989 --> 00:01:26.730 programs and shows that make it for one year 00:01:26.730 --> 00:01:30.069 and we've almost six. I know it is kind of amazing 00:01:30.069 --> 00:01:32.629 and we never run out of topics. which is always, 00:01:32.810 --> 00:01:35.849 you know, my little segue today. Today we're 00:01:35.849 --> 00:01:38.590 going to be talking about the GI Bill, the big 00:01:38.590 --> 00:01:41.349 GI Bill, the new deal for veterans and the original 00:01:41.349 --> 00:01:45.950 GI Bill from 1944 is when it was signed by President 00:01:45.950 --> 00:01:48.319 Franklin Roosevelt. And I think you're going 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:50.640 to be interested today. We've got the author 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:53.099 of the book, The GI Bill, The New Deal for Veterans, 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:56.379 Glenn Altshuler, from Cornell University. And 00:01:56.379 --> 00:01:58.599 he's going to be talking to us about the history 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:00.599 of veterans' benefits. And I think you're going 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:02.519 to find it fascinating, because when I was reading 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:04.780 through it, I found it fascinating. Did you have 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:09.060 the GI Bill? Oh, yeah. I did, too. And yeah, 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.740 I think they had to get us a new edition or whatever 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:13.800 it was. And then they would give us next. But 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:17.129 it was retro. It was retro. They gave us... Well, 00:02:17.189 --> 00:02:18.629 we'll get into this later, but they gave us X 00:02:18.629 --> 00:02:20.449 amount of cash and we could choose whatever college 00:02:20.449 --> 00:02:22.430 we wanted to go to every month and we had to 00:02:22.430 --> 00:02:26.969 pay our own bills. I was driving a truck, married, 00:02:27.750 --> 00:02:30.000 two children. driving a truck and I heard it 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:34.080 on the radio, I called the school, called the 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:36.180 college, enrolled, quit my job the next day. 00:02:36.219 --> 00:02:38.219 That's a true story with the school full -time 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:40.319 when I heard the GI Bill was coming. That's a 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:43.180 true story. There's a lot of stories like that 00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:45.860 out there and I'm hoping that people out there 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:47.979 that are listening to our program today possibly 00:02:47.979 --> 00:02:50.620 can give us a call here at Veterans Radio and 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:55.560 our number in the studio is 877 -573 -7825. That's 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:59.580 877 -573 -7825. We're going to be talking with 00:02:59.580 --> 00:03:02.400 Glenn after the welcome home break. But first, 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:04.060 I understand that the Air Force wants to talk 00:03:04.060 --> 00:03:16.180 to us. They always have to make a big entrance. 00:03:17.259 --> 00:03:19.080 The reason we're doing this is that up at Selfridge 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:20.979 Air Force Base, this is locally in Michigan, 00:03:21.060 --> 00:03:23.960 up in Mount Clemens, the Selfridge Air Show is 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:26.479 going on starting this morning. You can go out 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:29.879 there and see the Thunderbirds the US Air Force's 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:33.759 crack Air Force team and you're gonna be able 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:35.419 to see them flying give their demonstrations. 00:03:35.419 --> 00:03:38.400 There are Static displays of different types 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:40.139 of aircraft. There's gonna be a remote -controlled 00:03:40.139 --> 00:03:43.360 aircraft and we talked about this with the Navy 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:45.659 Flyers the Blue Angels a couple of weeks ago 00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:47.759 that were here locally But now you have the opportunity 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:50.740 to go up and see the Thunderbirds. It is a free 00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:54.409 show folks Free admission free parking and I'll 00:03:54.409 --> 00:03:57.009 get into the rules of what you have to do and 00:03:57.009 --> 00:03:58.990 bring up there in just a second But Bob, I know 00:03:58.990 --> 00:04:00.729 you had a story you wanted to tell absolutely 00:04:00.729 --> 00:04:02.949 about the last time you saw the Blue Angels down 00:04:02.949 --> 00:04:04.909 in Dayton when I was down in Dayton covering 00:04:04.909 --> 00:04:08.280 the Dayton air program Dayton air show I was 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:10.319 covering the Thunderbirds when they arrived the 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:13.879 day before the air show and I was given Thunderbird 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:16.060 number one Well, you know they pull in information 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:19.319 and the mechanics come out and they put the ladder 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:21.779 and they open the canopy and unbuckle the pilot 00:04:21.779 --> 00:04:24.720 and My pilot climbed down out of the aircraft 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:27.259 and my pilot walked over it. It was just me and 00:04:27.259 --> 00:04:29.759 another guy there were five of them, I believe 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:33.660 that day and pilot took off took off the helmet 00:04:33.660 --> 00:04:40.579 and shook her hair I was I was well, you know, 00:04:40.579 --> 00:04:42.519 you don't expect that right? I'm from the other 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:45.199 millet. Come on All the guys out there with this 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:50.540 woman just flew 800 miles an hour They did a 00:04:50.540 --> 00:04:52.939 little air show too before they landed. I don't 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:54.779 know. They must you know kind of get the kinks 00:04:54.779 --> 00:04:56.959 out, right? Yeah, it's like they kind of practice 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:59.420 they do this really precision formation landing 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:02.279 of four or five jets and they they come in low 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:05.509 over the field usually and they and they peel 00:05:05.509 --> 00:05:07.730 off, and it's just exciting. So if anybody's 00:05:07.730 --> 00:05:09.750 got the opportunity today to get up to Selfridge 00:05:09.750 --> 00:05:12.410 Air Force Base, Air National Guard Base, excuse 00:05:12.410 --> 00:05:16.290 me. And by the way, I was just so taken back 00:05:16.290 --> 00:05:19.709 by the fact that we now have female fighter pilots. 00:05:19.810 --> 00:05:21.970 Well, we've got female fighter pilots. We have 00:05:21.970 --> 00:05:24.089 female helicopter pilots. In fact, even in the 00:05:24.089 --> 00:05:26.029 New York Times last Sunday, I believe it was 00:05:26.029 --> 00:05:29.430 a front -page story about women in Afghanistan 00:05:29.430 --> 00:05:33.069 and Iraq and the jobs that they're doing over 00:05:33.069 --> 00:05:34.550 there now. So it's pretty exciting. going to 00:05:34.550 --> 00:05:36.370 be doing another show on women in the military 00:05:36.370 --> 00:05:38.430 coming up in a couple of months. But I just wanted 00:05:38.430 --> 00:05:40.009 to make sure that those of you out there that 00:05:40.009 --> 00:05:42.449 have the opportunity, get up to Selfridge and 00:05:42.449 --> 00:05:44.470 take in this air show. Remember, you're going 00:05:44.470 --> 00:05:47.209 to be going onto a military base, so you will 00:05:47.209 --> 00:05:49.889 not be able to bring on coolers and all types 00:05:49.889 --> 00:05:52.509 of things like that. If you drive your car onto 00:05:52.509 --> 00:05:55.310 the base, they're going to search it. Motorcyclists, 00:05:55.350 --> 00:05:58.310 don't be wearing all your leathers necessarily, 00:05:58.569 --> 00:06:00.230 because they're going to be looking at appropriate 00:06:00.230 --> 00:06:01.990 attire. Yes, that's right. It's the military, 00:06:02.050 --> 00:06:05.410 and they do these things. No backpacks. No backpacks, 00:06:05.589 --> 00:06:07.870 no food. You can bring in a folding chair, but 00:06:07.870 --> 00:06:09.629 you can't bring in the little bag that you carry 00:06:09.629 --> 00:06:11.629 the chair in. There's all types of things, so 00:06:11.629 --> 00:06:13.269 you want to check on that. And you may have to 00:06:13.269 --> 00:06:15.850 do some walking because it's... Now, there is 00:06:15.850 --> 00:06:19.850 one thing. Water will be provided. Right. That's 00:06:19.850 --> 00:06:23.689 right. Not sodas, but water. Anything that you 00:06:23.689 --> 00:06:25.629 bring in, you have to carry in your hands. Remember, 00:06:25.709 --> 00:06:28.750 no glass or canned containers. Just be forewarned. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.819 Anyway, should be a great time. It's right off 00:06:30.819 --> 00:06:33.279 of M -59. You're going to be able to see it two 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:36.079 days, two shows. And for those of you that love 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:38.779 this type of stuff, I wanted to remind our audience 00:06:38.779 --> 00:06:41.160 out west that they're going to be out in Hillsboro, 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:44.459 Oregon next weekend over Labor Day. They're going 00:06:44.459 --> 00:06:47.689 to be in Cleveland, Ohio. On September 12th, 00:06:47.689 --> 00:06:49.430 they're going to be out in Sacramento, California. 00:06:49.529 --> 00:06:52.509 Then they go overseas to Hawaii and Seoul, Korea 00:06:52.509 --> 00:06:55.009 at an unknown location, it said. And they'll 00:06:55.009 --> 00:06:57.050 be back at Homestead Air Force Base, which I 00:06:57.050 --> 00:07:00.250 believe is their home base, in November in Homestead, 00:07:00.470 --> 00:07:02.589 Florida. For more information on the Thunderbirds, 00:07:02.670 --> 00:07:05.990 go to Thunderbirds .Airforce .com. It's a great 00:07:05.990 --> 00:07:07.949 show for you. Hopefully you'll get out to see 00:07:07.949 --> 00:07:10.850 that. Coming up also here on Veterans Radio. 00:07:10.910 --> 00:07:13.790 We've got a big show coming up of our own over 00:07:13.790 --> 00:07:15.910 Labor Day weekend We're gonna be out at the Eastern 00:07:15.910 --> 00:07:20.029 Michigan Army football game and We got a tailgate 00:07:20.029 --> 00:07:21.750 and we're gonna be doing recording a program 00:07:21.750 --> 00:07:24.350 out there on the fifth and we invite all Of you 00:07:24.350 --> 00:07:26.689 to come out there to see us and to meet up with 00:07:26.689 --> 00:07:29.589 your veterans It's it's a special program honoring 00:07:29.589 --> 00:07:32.569 veterans at Eastern Michigan. They're gonna be 00:07:32.569 --> 00:07:36.459 playing West Point the Michigan Chapter of the 00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:39.379 West Point graduates association. I know that's 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:42.120 wrong But they're gonna be there and we're gonna 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:45.100 be there and we invite all of you you can get 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:48.019 Inexpensive tickets three bucks if you go on 00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:50.639 to the Eastern Michigan website I think that's 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:52.459 important though that that they have to go to 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:54.399 the website to get the three dollar ticket right 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:56.579 don't come to the game and get the three dollar 00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:59.500 ticket Right, they won't have any available there 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:01.500 for you. But you can call the ticket office or 00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:04.000 you can go on to the Eastern Michigan University 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.259 website and go to their ticket office. Their 00:08:06.259 --> 00:08:10.199 promotional code to use is VETRIN. VETRIN. And 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:13.600 you can get game tickets for three bucks. Or... 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:19.480 Or... Or or what or you can be one of the first? 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:23.199 100 that come to our site right there outside 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:26.240 right or some stadium Beginning at four o 'clock 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:29.560 on the fifth and the tickets will be complementary 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:33.100 We have a hundred complementary tickets right 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:34.820 now Well, they're probably a little bit less 00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:37.500 than right now. Well, yes. But yeah, show up 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:39.720 at our tent. At 89. We're going to have a huge 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:41.460 tent. Let me tell you what's going on here. We're 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:43.019 going to have a huge tent set up there. There's 00:08:43.019 --> 00:08:45.539 going to be food for 150 people. Hot dogs. Hot 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:47.879 dogs, hamburgers, all types of things, beverages. 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:51.399 There's going to be live music for you that we're 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:52.879 going to be providing. We're also going to be 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:55.710 playing a little bit of... or let's say World 00:08:55.710 --> 00:08:59.110 War II, Vietnam era, current things. We invite 00:08:59.110 --> 00:09:01.549 all current Iraq, Afghanistan veterans to please 00:09:01.549 --> 00:09:04.549 come out. The American Legion, the VFW, the VVA 00:09:04.549 --> 00:09:07.500 is going to be there. The Traumatic Brain Injury 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:09.259 Association is going to be there with materials 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:11.340 to hand out. So this is a great opportunity. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.860 Between 4 and 7 on September 5th, and then we're 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:17.120 all going to the game. They're going to honor 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:19.279 veterans at halftime. The band's doing a great 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:21.120 show. And then they're going to have fireworks 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:22.960 at the end of the football game. So this is a 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:25.320 big, big deal. What a great day. And what time 00:09:25.320 --> 00:09:27.440 is that game again? The game is at 7 o 'clock, 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:30.440 Ryan Airson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan. and 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:32.879 we're going to be right outside the stadium and 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:34.399 it's going to be a great opportunity for you 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:37.299 to come and actually see how old we are. and 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:40.980 to talk with us and to answer questions because 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:42.980 we are going to be recording a show during that 00:09:42.980 --> 00:09:45.299 time period. Bring your cameras. So bring your 00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:47.519 cameras. You might want to take a shot. They 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:50.379 don't know. We are just a voice. We are just 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:52.000 a voice. That's right. But it's a great opportunity 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:54.019 and I'm very excited and Eastern Michigan has 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:56.960 gone out of its way to honor all veterans in 00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:58.559 the area so we want you to make sure that you 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:01.659 get out there and get your opportunity to be 00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:04.019 acknowledged. You men and women who have served 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:06.600 in the military, you did a great thing. And we 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:08.159 want to make sure that you are aware of what 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:11.139 you did for them. The other thing that I thought 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:12.580 was coming up, and I'll talk about this at the 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:14.860 end of the show, the USO, the Bob Hope Golf Outing 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:16.600 is coming up. And I'll talk about that at the 00:10:16.600 --> 00:10:20.460 end of the program. But right now, Veterans Radio 00:10:20.460 --> 00:10:23.159 has a tradition. Every show we have done for 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:24.980 almost six years now, we have been welcoming 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:28.289 home troops from around the world. And Bob? You're 00:10:28.289 --> 00:10:30.330 on. Thank you, Dale. Welcome home. Each week 00:10:30.330 --> 00:10:32.690 on Veterans Radio, we welcome home servicemen 00:10:32.690 --> 00:10:34.929 and women who have been stationed around the 00:10:34.929 --> 00:10:37.610 world in the service of their country and are 00:10:37.610 --> 00:10:40.590 returning home. This is Bob Gould. Dateline, 00:10:40.789 --> 00:10:43.009 Fort Hood, Texas. About 300 soldiers from the 00:10:43.009 --> 00:10:45.570 Special Troops Battalion 2nd Infantry Division 00:10:45.570 --> 00:10:48.289 are returning from a 12 -month deployment to 00:10:48.289 --> 00:10:52.210 Afghanistan. Dateline, Cape May, New Jersey. 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:56.220 Some 650 soldiers touched down in Fort Dix this 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:58.820 morning after their recent one -year tour in 00:10:58.820 --> 00:11:01.500 Iraq. They are part of a group of more than 2 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:04.360 ,800 soldiers with the Army National Guard's 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:07.720 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. They were 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:10.299 sent to Iraq in the largest overseas deployment 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:13.460 of the New Jersey National Guard since World 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:17.860 War II. A parade ceremony and festive picnic 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:21.789 will honor the 79 -member Alpha Troop two 101 00:11:21.789 --> 00:11:24.509 cavalry of the New York National Guard. They 00:11:24.509 --> 00:11:26.750 returned after nearly a year in Afghanistan. 00:11:27.250 --> 00:11:30.629 This followed the unit's 18th month tour. That 00:11:30.629 --> 00:11:36.149 was in 2005 and 2007. Dateline, Humboldt, Wisconsin. 00:11:36.769 --> 00:11:38.870 It was a welcome home celebration for more than 00:11:38.870 --> 00:11:42.330 two dozen soldiers from the 353rd Transportation 00:11:42.330 --> 00:11:45.309 Company. One soldier was heard to say, quote, 00:11:45.710 --> 00:11:49.009 there's no place like home. I can tell you that. 00:11:49.370 --> 00:11:53.149 It's just good to be home. Good to see the kids. 00:11:54.169 --> 00:11:57.090 This is Bob Gould and welcome home. Each week 00:11:57.090 --> 00:12:00.490 on Veterans Radio we do welcome home veterans 00:12:00.490 --> 00:12:03.110 that are returning in World War II music. How 00:12:03.110 --> 00:12:05.429 appropriate. What we're going to be talking about 00:12:05.429 --> 00:12:07.929 today is the GI Bill. The New Deal for Veterans 00:12:07.929 --> 00:12:09.789 is a new book that's been out and it's published 00:12:09.789 --> 00:12:13.269 written by Glenn Altshuler and Stuart Blumen 00:12:13.269 --> 00:12:16.590 and our guest on Veterans Radio is Glenn Altshuler 00:12:16.590 --> 00:12:18.289 and let me tell you a little bit about Glenn 00:12:18.289 --> 00:12:22.039 as soon as I find my notes. Here they go. Glenn 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:24.360 is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:26.460 American Studies and the Dean of the School of 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:28.759 Continuing Education and Summer Sessions at Cornell 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:31.159 University. He's also the author, and I thought 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:34.279 this was interesting, of All Shook Up, How Rock 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:36.580 and Roll Changed America, among other books. 00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:38.820 And Glenn, I want to welcome you to Veterans 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:45.940 Radio. Good morning. Go ahead. Hello. Yes, hi, 00:12:46.059 --> 00:12:48.480 you're on. Yes, it's a pleasure to be with you. 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:50.639 it's a pleasure to have you on the program and 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.940 i want to as i said to people i want to welcome 00:12:52.940 --> 00:12:55.399 glenn to veterans radio and we're gonna be talking 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:58.320 about the g i don't know as i was listening to 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:00.779 that music that bob played at the intro here 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:02.600 i thought maybe we should go back and play some 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:05.519 revolutionary wars music because that's where 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:08.019 this whole idea of helping out veterans started 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:12.240 wasn't well there are in every war there has 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:15.000 been a discussion during and following that war 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:19.129 about uh... ways to reward of veterans, and in 00:13:19.129 --> 00:13:22.590 the American Revolution, when money was scarce, 00:13:23.049 --> 00:13:28.190 one way that was used was land grants to veterans. 00:13:28.610 --> 00:13:33.190 And so Americans have appreciated the sacrifices 00:13:33.190 --> 00:13:36.470 of their soldiers in every war, but the ways 00:13:36.470 --> 00:13:39.049 in which they've rewarded those soldiers and 00:13:39.049 --> 00:13:41.789 thanked them have varied dramatically from war 00:13:41.789 --> 00:13:43.990 to war. I think it's going to be very interesting 00:13:43.990 --> 00:13:46.389 for our audience today, Glenn, to talk about 00:13:46.389 --> 00:13:48.529 the GI Bill and kind of the history of how we 00:13:48.529 --> 00:13:51.330 have treated veterans over the time. I thought 00:13:51.330 --> 00:13:54.990 that what I found most interesting was, as you 00:13:54.990 --> 00:13:57.370 mentioned earlier, about the Revolutionary War 00:13:57.370 --> 00:14:00.009 and up through the Civil War. So I wanted to 00:14:00.009 --> 00:14:03.830 address those issues initially. During the Revolutionary 00:14:03.830 --> 00:14:06.269 War, there was no draft. This was kind of an 00:14:06.269 --> 00:14:08.870 initial all -volunteer army, wasn't it? Very 00:14:08.870 --> 00:14:11.769 much so. And as you know, there's a great tradition 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:17.779 in America of opposition to standing armies. 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:20.960 And so for much of American history, there has 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:26.220 never been a draft, and we've relied on the voluntary 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:30.639 contributions of American citizens. Well, in 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:33.620 your book, you mentioned how long it took for 00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:36.679 these Revolutionary War veterans to get a, for 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:39.419 lack of a better word, a pension. That it took 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:42.830 quite a while, didn't it? It did, and, you know, 00:14:42.830 --> 00:14:46.629 coming out of the Revolutionary War, it was unclear 00:14:46.629 --> 00:14:52.950 whether states should be responsible for rewarding 00:14:52.950 --> 00:14:56.250 soldiers. There was a weak national government 00:14:56.250 --> 00:14:59.110 originally. There were debates about who should 00:14:59.110 --> 00:15:02.070 do what and in what way. The economy was a little 00:15:02.070 --> 00:15:05.659 bit shaky, so indeed it did take some time. And 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:07.919 how did they fund this? Because you mentioned 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:10.320 a lot of figures in the book. We're talking with 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:12.320 Glenn Alshula. The book is called GI Bill, a 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:14.419 New Deal for Veterans. And we're trying to figure 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:16.279 out how they were going to fund these benefits. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.740 And initially it was through tariffs, wasn't 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:23.000 it? Well, as you know, in early American history, 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:25.480 there were no income taxes. There were no sales 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:30.000 taxes. And tariffs were really the principal 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:33.700 mechanism in which revenues came into government. 00:15:34.449 --> 00:15:37.690 And so how much did these veterans receive once 00:15:37.690 --> 00:15:40.129 they started receiving some funds? Well, it really 00:15:40.129 --> 00:15:46.009 varied quite considerably. And as I said, the 00:15:46.009 --> 00:15:49.529 principal mechanism involved grants of land. 00:15:49.990 --> 00:15:52.090 So we can't really put a dollar figure on it. 00:15:52.230 --> 00:15:54.509 I also noticed again that you mentioned in your 00:15:54.509 --> 00:15:58.629 text that they were talking about the grants 00:15:58.629 --> 00:16:01.029 of land that many of the veterans would prefer 00:16:01.029 --> 00:16:04.100 cash, so they sold them off. That's right. that 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:07.019 there was a fair amount of land speculation and 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:09.340 uh... you know as you know uh... i live in ithaca 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:14.240 new york and upstate new york was to no small 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:17.879 degree settled by revolutionary war soldiers 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:20.419 through some of those land grants and that's 00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:25.279 one of many uh... areas that uh... saw a transformation 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:28.340 in the post -revolutionary war years right for 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.960 those of us out here in the midwest we know that 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:32.620 many of them came out here and also into ohio 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.879 in that area that's right and it's it's pretty 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:37.039 interesting so let's move forward and we go into 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:39.320 we've got uh... the war of eighteen twelve we 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:42.799 get into the mexican war were they able to provide 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:46.740 benefits for those veterans no significant benefits 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:49.740 coming out of uh... of those wars it's really 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:54.120 the civil war okay uh... that is the uh... significant 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:58.350 change and there of course uh... that's a war 00:16:58.350 --> 00:17:03.490 of north against uh... so the the benefits uh... 00:17:03.490 --> 00:17:06.670 so to speak uh... were obviously only for union 00:17:06.670 --> 00:17:10.930 soldiers and they came in the form of pension 00:17:10.930 --> 00:17:14.630 uh... initially to uh... our pensions to people 00:17:14.630 --> 00:17:18.269 who had suffered some injury or wound but then 00:17:18.269 --> 00:17:23.410 that was uh... defined so broadly that uh... 00:17:23.410 --> 00:17:26.720 many many Civil War veterans got pensions and 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:31.900 ultimately their families Became beneficiaries 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:35.220 of some of those pensions as well in the post 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:40.259 -civil war period The tensions to civil war veterans 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:43.480 were the biggest expenditure by the federal government 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:46.759 Yeah, I was again reading in there. You were 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:49.559 talking about a percentage that the government 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:52.720 was paying out in these in these benefits to 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:54.940 not only the veterans but to their families or 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:57.619 widows and their children. That's right. It's 00:17:57.619 --> 00:18:00.759 a large percentage of the federal budget. Yeah, 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:03.799 and remember, it's hard for us to remember now, 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:07.619 in those days the federal government's functions 00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:14.039 were pretty small. So post office, armed forces, 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:18.019 not much more than that. So when you have a pension 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:22.819 plan, In that context, it becomes a significant 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:25.599 proportion of the federal budget. And it was 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:30.220 through the rest of the 19th century when Civil 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:32.359 War veterans and their families began to die 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:35.369 out of it. It just seems like it was an awful 00:18:35.369 --> 00:18:37.569 lot of money. We're talking with Glenn Alshuler, 00:18:38.109 --> 00:18:40.230 the author of the GI Bill and New Deal for Veterans, 00:18:40.490 --> 00:18:42.990 and we encourage you to give us a call here at 00:18:42.990 --> 00:18:48.930 Veterans Radio at 877 -573 -7825. The Grand Army 00:18:48.930 --> 00:18:52.190 of the Republic seemed to be the political force 00:18:52.190 --> 00:18:54.890 behind those pension plans, wasn't it? Yes, you 00:18:54.890 --> 00:18:58.049 know, as you know, Dale, and of course this is 00:18:58.049 --> 00:19:01.130 true today with a number of veterans' organizations. 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:06.039 The formation of veterans organizations to assist 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:10.059 veterans is a tradition in American history, 00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:14.000 and the Grand Army of the Republic was a large 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:20.099 and powerful organization that lobbied the federal 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:24.039 government for the kinds of assistance that ultimately 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:28.160 these veterans got. I was thinking as we were 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:30.789 talking about these retirement plans and pensions 00:19:30.789 --> 00:19:33.329 that came up there. Many civilians were not necessarily 00:19:33.329 --> 00:19:36.250 in support of providing pensions to veterans 00:19:36.250 --> 00:19:38.109 because they felt that the veterans should have 00:19:38.109 --> 00:19:39.910 just, you know, they go off and they fight, but 00:19:39.910 --> 00:19:42.269 then they go back to civilian life and, you know, 00:19:42.569 --> 00:19:45.490 just go on with their lives. Yes, and some others, 00:19:45.630 --> 00:19:48.849 Dale, saw that there was some corruption in the 00:19:48.849 --> 00:19:53.309 system, that people were getting grants of money 00:19:53.309 --> 00:19:56.349 that perhaps didn't deserve it. And this was 00:19:56.349 --> 00:20:00.619 particularly true when the grants were tied to 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:03.700 injuries or wounds, and there was a thought that 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:07.940 people were essentially faking the evidence of 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:10.460 those wounds. I can only imagine the politics 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:13.220 of it, because we're coming up to World War I, 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:15.359 and this is where things really started to get 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:19.680 interesting. Because after World War I, again, 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:22.819 they still did not, they just gave them a mustering 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:25.440 out check, didn't they, initially? A mustering 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:30.440 out check initially and then a promise of a bonus, 00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:37.839 but because the American economy was faffed immediately 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:42.140 after the end of World War I, that bonus would 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:45.960 not be paid until 1940. And so when the Depression 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:49.720 hit, many veterans said, and you can certainly 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:52.599 understand it, look, I can't wait until 1940. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:57.480 for this bonus. I need this money now. And that 00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:04.039 is the impetus for the famous bonus army that 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:09.640 marched to Washington DC in 1932 to try to pressure 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:14.839 President Hoover to grant those bonuses immediately. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.180 President Hoover refused to meet with them. He 00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:21.819 sent a young general by the name of Douglas MacArthur. 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:25.819 to clear them out of their tents in Anacostia 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:31.460 Flats right outside of Washington. And that certainly 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:34.579 did not endear Herbert Hoover to members of the 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:36.700 armed forces. No, and it's always interesting 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:39.400 when you find these names in history of MacArthur, 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:41.599 and I think MacArthur's assistant, you know, 00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:44.119 was Eisenhower. That's right. And, you know, 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:47.039 that they actually pushing these veterans out 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:49.500 of there and... uh... there was some violence 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:51.579 it wasn't the army didn't get involved in this 00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:53.619 evidently was the uh... washington dc police 00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:56.819 that that got involved in that and it it's a 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:59.000 really interesting story though is it as to how 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:05.220 they the political trail that came out of world 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:08.700 war one because there were so many veterans that 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:11.200 came back uh... and i can't remember the exact 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:13.319 number it's not i don't have it in front of me 00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:16.140 to you know to an economy that you know that 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:18.859 again you go from fighting to civilian life overnight 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:20.640 and you're trying to figure out how you're going 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:23.440 to fit back into the into society from from the 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:25.819 veterans standpoint and of course most civilians 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:28.160 that don't have a clue as to what you've gone 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:30.619 through and they just think well you know just 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:44.069 come back and go back to work veterans of world 00:22:44.069 --> 00:22:50.650 war one provides the pressure to do a much better 00:22:50.650 --> 00:22:54.789 job for veterans of world war two uh... you know 00:22:54.789 --> 00:22:57.049 we all know that expression fighting the last 00:22:57.049 --> 00:23:01.269 war the gi bill of nineteen forty four not only 00:23:01.269 --> 00:23:04.750 fight the last war world war one but fight the 00:23:04.750 --> 00:23:09.369 current war world war two with uh... probably 00:23:09.369 --> 00:23:11.980 the most important piece of legislation of the 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:14.180 20th century. Well, we're going to get right 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.900 into that right now. We have about five minutes 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:17.720 to go before we get to the bottom of the hour. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:20.619 We're talking with Glenn Altshuler, who is one 00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:22.799 of the authors of the GI Bill, A New Deal for 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:25.259 Veterans. If you've got a question or a comment, 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:27.579 give us a call here locally at Veterans Radio 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:33.299 at 877 -573 -7825. All right, we've got World 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:36.200 War I is behind us. We've got Roosevelt is now 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:38.990 in the White House. And he is doing all sorts 00:23:38.990 --> 00:23:42.849 of things with his new deals. And what happens? 00:23:42.890 --> 00:23:46.329 How does this GI Bill get going? He was interested 00:23:46.329 --> 00:23:53.609 as early really as 1942, 1943, to make sure that 00:23:53.609 --> 00:23:59.069 veterans had a smooth transition to a peacetime 00:23:59.069 --> 00:24:04.390 economy. And he was motivated by several, for 00:24:04.390 --> 00:24:07.150 several reasons. One is there was a tremendous 00:24:07.150 --> 00:24:12.809 fear that if you don't do something to assist 00:24:12.809 --> 00:24:16.430 World War II veterans, you're going to have 16 00:24:16.430 --> 00:24:21.170 million men and women plopped down on the economy 00:24:21.170 --> 00:24:24.490 looking for jobs without adequate resources. 00:24:24.809 --> 00:24:27.410 That might plunge the United States back into 00:24:27.410 --> 00:24:32.230 a depression. So there was an economic impetus 00:24:32.230 --> 00:24:40.619 for helping GIs. And of course, there was a bad 00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:45.599 impetus that many of these guys and women had 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:48.220 interrupted their lives, had sacrificed for the 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:51.720 country, and at the very least, they should be 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:55.559 provided the opportunity that was available to 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:59.579 those who didn't go and serve in the armed forces. 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:05.289 Those two reasons converged. President Roosevelt, 00:25:06.250 --> 00:25:09.410 Democrats, and Republicans came together. This 00:25:09.410 --> 00:25:13.130 is a wonderful moment, Dale, of bipartisanship. 00:25:13.710 --> 00:25:17.809 We don't hear a lot about bipartisanship in 2009, 00:25:18.730 --> 00:25:24.309 but bipartisanship is certainly in evidence in 00:25:24.309 --> 00:25:28.509 the GI Bill of 1944, which passes unanimously 00:25:28.509 --> 00:25:31.750 and whose provisions are extraordinarily generous. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:35.720 the most generous provisions for veterans in 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:38.380 the history of the United States. I think it's 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:41.900 amazing that Roosevelt was able to maneuver this 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:45.539 bill through the various factions that were out 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:47.180 there. And I know that the American Legion was 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:50.599 very instrumental in getting the GI Bill program 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:52.259 approved. Can you talk about a little bit of 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:58.140 their influence? The American Legion is responsible 00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:05.259 for the shape of the bill and the really brilliant 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:10.059 idea of the American Legion was to put all of 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:13.859 the provisions that were being talked about together 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:18.059 in one piece of legislation. So this piece of 00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:22.140 legislation not only has a provision for GIs 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:27.039 to go to college, sub -college training, unemployment, 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:34.609 housing, The possibility of purchasing a business 00:26:34.609 --> 00:26:39.630 or farm. That's an extraordinary array of benefits. 00:26:40.829 --> 00:26:44.490 The American Legion is also responsible for calling 00:26:44.490 --> 00:26:49.230 the bill, the GI, the bill originally was called 00:26:49.230 --> 00:26:55.109 for GI Joe and GI Jane, and for mobilizing support 00:26:55.109 --> 00:26:59.009 for that legislation. The role of the American 00:26:59.009 --> 00:27:04.109 Legion is critical in the passage of the bill. 00:27:04.309 --> 00:27:06.710 There's no question about that. And I'm sure 00:27:06.710 --> 00:27:09.230 that the other veteran service organizations 00:27:09.230 --> 00:27:11.910 of the time got involved with that. And I think 00:27:11.910 --> 00:27:17.089 it's just very interesting to think about. Again, 00:27:17.250 --> 00:27:19.730 I'm so amazed how we got this through with the 00:27:19.730 --> 00:27:22.069 different factions that were out there from conservatives. 00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:26.019 to uh... liberals and there there was some restraint 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:28.339 that they didn't want to provide a bill for a 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:30.900 specific group of people because they'd already 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:32.680 had you know they finally got social security 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:35.019 passed in what nineteen thirty five i think five 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:38.500 yeah and you know one of the uh... one of the 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:42.519 irony i think for the g i feel is that the the 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:46.000 people who passed the bill and the american legion 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:49.140 really didn't think that the most important or 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:52.369 most costly provision in the bill would be the 00:27:52.369 --> 00:27:56.049 higher education provision. And so since they 00:27:56.049 --> 00:28:00.329 thought that maybe not all that many GIs would 00:28:00.329 --> 00:28:05.710 go to college or university, they made the provisions 00:28:05.710 --> 00:28:08.009 a little bit more generous because they didn't 00:28:08.009 --> 00:28:10.150 think they would be budget busters. I think this 00:28:10.150 --> 00:28:12.049 is a good place to take a break, and we're going 00:28:12.049 --> 00:28:14.190 to come back and talk about the amazing effect 00:28:14.190 --> 00:28:16.849 that the GI Bill had on our father's generation 00:28:16.849 --> 00:28:19.549 when they came home from World War II. We're 00:28:19.549 --> 00:28:23.470 talking with Glenn Altshuler, one of the authors 00:28:23.470 --> 00:28:25.690 of the GI Bill, A New Deal for Veterans, and 00:28:25.690 --> 00:28:27.589 we're going to be talking about that when we 00:28:27.589 --> 00:28:32.069 come back. Give us a call, 877 -573 -7825. Tell 00:28:32.069 --> 00:28:34.829 us how you used your GI Bill. We'll be right 00:28:34.829 --> 00:28:37.420 back. You're listening to Veterans Radio. for 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:40.500 3 ,400 recipients of the nation's highest award. 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:44.859 This is one of them. Staff Sergeant Webster Anderson, 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:47.920 although wounded by three hand grenades, refused 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:50.400 medical treatment and continued to lead his men. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:54.819 Details after this. During the early morning 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:57.240 hours, Battery A's defensive position was attacked 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:59.460 by a determined North Vietnamese Army infantry 00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:02.200 unit. The initial enemy onslaught breached the 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:05.049 Battery defensive perimeter. Anderson mounted 00:29:05.049 --> 00:29:07.329 the exposed parapet of his howitzer position 00:29:07.329 --> 00:29:10.089 and became the mainstay of the defense of the 00:29:10.089 --> 00:29:12.730 battery position. Anderson directed devastating 00:29:12.730 --> 00:29:15.109 direct howitzer fire on the assaulting enemy 00:29:15.109 --> 00:29:17.789 while providing rifle and grenade defensive fire 00:29:17.789 --> 00:29:20.390 against enemy soldiers attempting to overrun 00:29:20.390 --> 00:29:23.150 his gun section position. While protecting his 00:29:23.150 --> 00:29:25.549 crew and directing their fire against the enemy 00:29:25.549 --> 00:29:28.509 from his exposed position, two enemy grenades 00:29:28.509 --> 00:29:31.630 exploded at his feet, knocking him down and severely 00:29:31.630 --> 00:29:34.920 wounding him in the legs. Despite the excruciating 00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:37.619 pain, and though not able to stand, Anderson 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:40.079 propped himself on the parapet and continued 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:42.440 to direct howitzer fire upon the closing enemy 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:45.420 and to encourage his men to fight on. Seeing 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:47.640 an enemy grenade land within the gun pit near 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:50.259 a wounded member of his gun crew, Anderson, heedless 00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:53.119 of his own safety, seized the grenade and attempted 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:55.119 to throw it over the parapet to save his men. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:58.119 As the grenade was thrown from the position it 00:29:58.119 --> 00:30:01.019 exploded, and Anderson was again grievously wounded. 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:04.160 Although only partially conscious and severely 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:07.660 wounded Anderson refused medical evacuation and 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:09.559 continued to encourage his men on the defense 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:12.119 of the position Anderson by his inspirational 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:14.579 leadership was able to maintain the defense of 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:17.680 his section position and to defeat a Determined 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:20.259 attack the Medal of Honor series is a production 00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:23.779 of veterans radio We're back on veterans radio 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:27.269 and as the music Leads us right into our discussion 00:30:27.269 --> 00:30:29.609 of the GI Bill and New Deal for Veterans. We're 00:30:29.609 --> 00:30:32.289 talking with author Glenn Altshuler, who is a 00:30:32.289 --> 00:30:35.029 professor at Cornell University and also looks 00:30:35.029 --> 00:30:36.789 like you did a really great book on rock and 00:30:36.789 --> 00:30:39.470 roll. I have to check that one out too. I want 00:30:39.470 --> 00:30:41.529 to give you all of our listeners out there an 00:30:41.529 --> 00:30:45.990 opportunity to give us a call at 877 -573 -7825. 00:30:46.569 --> 00:30:50.369 The Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944, better 00:30:50.369 --> 00:30:53.009 known as the GI Bill, was signed by President 00:30:53.009 --> 00:30:57.789 Roosevelt on June 22, 1944. Tell us what happened 00:30:57.789 --> 00:31:02.829 as a result of that, Glenn. Well, there were 00:31:02.829 --> 00:31:10.569 16 million veterans of World War II. And that's 00:31:10.569 --> 00:31:14.589 an astonishing number of men and women. Right. 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:22.279 More than half of them used one or more provisions 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:26.839 of the GI Bill. And I don't think there's any 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:32.880 doubt that this legislation played a significant 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:38.259 role in the extraordinary prosperity of the United 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:44.339 States in the period of the late 1940s and through 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:50.140 of the 1950s. Probably most importantly, more 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:54.920 than two million veterans went to school on the 00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:57.160 GI Bill. And what I want to emphasize, Dale, 00:31:57.299 --> 00:32:05.839 is that this bill paid tuition up to $500 plus 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:11.180 living expenses for a veteran. And at that time, 00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:16.150 the tuition at Harvard was $500. So there was 00:32:16.150 --> 00:32:22.109 no college or university in America where the 00:32:22.109 --> 00:32:24.930 GI Bill would not pay full tuition. That's extraordinary. 00:32:25.109 --> 00:32:28.289 That is extraordinary. And it's not only the 00:32:28.289 --> 00:32:31.549 colleges. And we know about, in our area here, 00:32:31.809 --> 00:32:34.089 we're around University of Michigan, Eastern 00:32:34.089 --> 00:32:37.470 Michigan University, and that the construction 00:32:37.470 --> 00:32:41.490 boom that went along with this GI Bill to house 00:32:41.490 --> 00:32:46.019 these students. There were many temporary quarters. 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:49.359 Here at Cornell, we talk about this in the book, 00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:53.000 a lot of veterans were put up in quantum huts, 00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:58.359 in temporary barracks, in reconverted hotels. 00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:05.980 But also, of course, universities had to accommodate 00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:11.240 these GIs with lab spaces, with classrooms, with 00:33:11.630 --> 00:33:17.170 uh... more instructors and this bill not only 00:33:17.170 --> 00:33:20.890 served these g -i -s but it did something else 00:33:20.890 --> 00:33:25.349 that's vital it demonstrated to americans that 00:33:25.349 --> 00:33:30.450 an ordinary guy or gal could make it in college 00:33:30.450 --> 00:33:33.730 because the g -i -s did extraordinarily well 00:33:33.730 --> 00:33:38.809 and it demonstrated at just the right time the 00:33:38.809 --> 00:33:42.359 visibility of higher education and the importance 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:47.619 of higher education to make your way in American 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:53.339 society. So the ripple effect of the GI Bill 00:33:53.339 --> 00:33:57.740 was felt for years and decades to come, not only 00:33:57.740 --> 00:34:02.059 on the individual lives of these GIs, but on 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:05.299 people who are not GIs and on American society 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:09.090 in general. It's an extraordinary story. It truly 00:34:09.090 --> 00:34:11.190 is, and as you were talking about, you know, 00:34:11.250 --> 00:34:14.929 you teach at Cornell. In fact, right after the 00:34:14.929 --> 00:34:17.090 passage of the GI Bill, I think it was Governor 00:34:17.090 --> 00:34:19.969 Dewey didn't think that New York had enough colleges 00:34:19.969 --> 00:34:22.489 and universities to provide room for their veterans 00:34:22.489 --> 00:34:24.809 because they had such a large population of veterans 00:34:24.809 --> 00:34:29.010 at the time that it kind of was the inspiration 00:34:29.010 --> 00:34:31.809 for the New York public university system, wasn't 00:34:31.809 --> 00:34:38.070 it? He initially pressed for uh... some new colleges 00:34:38.070 --> 00:34:41.469 but to be found just to to uh... accommodate 00:34:41.469 --> 00:34:45.949 all the g i who wanted to come and that initiative 00:34:45.949 --> 00:34:51.550 is the origin of the public university system 00:34:51.550 --> 00:34:57.110 all of that are followed so again the expansion 00:34:57.110 --> 00:35:01.030 in higher education is uh... related in some 00:35:01.030 --> 00:35:05.059 significant ways to the g i bill itself By the 00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:09.360 way, Dale, there was a period of the late 1940s 00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:14.199 where just about 50 % of all of the students 00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:16.960 in institutions of American higher education 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:21.980 were GIs. That's pretty amazing. That's fantastic. 00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:24.219 I mean, just the opportunity to go to school, 00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:27.280 I think, for a lot of these men and women was 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:29.550 something that they never dreamed of. That's 00:35:29.550 --> 00:35:32.570 right. And a lot of people said, well, they're 00:35:32.570 --> 00:35:34.929 not going to do very well. They're going to need 00:35:34.929 --> 00:35:38.690 special assistance. Quite the contrary. These 00:35:38.690 --> 00:35:41.929 GIs were very serious students. They were very 00:35:41.929 --> 00:35:47.949 successful students. And ultimately, they were 00:35:47.949 --> 00:35:52.150 among hundreds of thousands of Americans who 00:35:52.150 --> 00:35:57.079 became teachers and engineers and doctors. and 00:35:57.079 --> 00:36:02.440 so as america moved from an industrial society 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:07.000 to a post -industrial society these gis provided 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:10.920 the human capital for that transition right and 00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:13.380 i'm trying to find a quote i can't find it in 00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:16.139 here right off the top of my head is i forget 00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:19.940 who was it said that it uh... you know not intellectualized 00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:22.980 but it made us become so much more aware of aware 00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:25.889 of how much more knowledge is out there And that's 00:36:25.889 --> 00:36:27.550 right. And I think you're referring to Peter 00:36:27.550 --> 00:36:32.690 Drucker, the famous management guru. And Peter 00:36:32.690 --> 00:36:38.010 Drucker asserted that the GI Bill, because it 00:36:38.010 --> 00:36:40.989 provided the human capital for a knowledge society, 00:36:41.630 --> 00:36:43.789 was the most important piece of legislation in 00:36:43.789 --> 00:36:47.780 American history. No, I want to just look at 00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:49.780 some of the numbers here that we got in one of 00:36:49.780 --> 00:36:52.079 your press releases, and it talks as a result 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:54.159 of the GI Bill, the number of professionals in 00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:57.579 the U .S. skyrocketed. 450 ,000 new engineers, 00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:01.059 180 ,000 new doctors, dentists and nurses, 360 00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:06.300 ,000 teachers, 150 ,000 scientists, 243 ,000 00:37:06.300 --> 00:37:12.840 astronauts, 107 ,000 lawyers, oh well. 36 ,000 00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:15.179 clergymen who were able to join the workforce 00:37:15.179 --> 00:37:17.760 because of the GI Bill. Some of the people that 00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:19.980 have benefited that names that our audience might 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:23.039 recognize, Harry Belafonte, Charles Bronson, 00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:27.400 Johnny Cash, Bill Cosby, Senator Dole, Senator 00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:31.510 Graham, Gene Hackman, Joseph Heller. And the 00:37:31.510 --> 00:37:35.530 list just goes on and on and on, including Chief 00:37:35.530 --> 00:37:39.130 Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist. All 00:37:39.130 --> 00:37:41.710 of these people benefited from the GI Bill. And 00:37:41.710 --> 00:37:44.289 it's not just the college part of the GI Bill 00:37:44.289 --> 00:37:46.510 that people benefited from. I wanted you to go 00:37:46.510 --> 00:37:49.030 into the non -traditional, I guess you could 00:37:49.030 --> 00:37:50.409 say, trade type of schools at the end of the 00:37:50.409 --> 00:37:52.170 world. Yeah, it was called sub -college training. 00:37:52.289 --> 00:37:55.889 Right. And there were millions of people who... 00:37:55.880 --> 00:37:59.079 who used the sub -college training and you know 00:37:59.079 --> 00:38:01.320 some of it obviously was a little bit frivolous 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:05.260 you could go to bartending school but for many 00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:09.659 people having the opportunity to be to get some 00:38:09.659 --> 00:38:14.280 training to be a hairdresser uh... to get some 00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:16.320 training to be remember the day when there was 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:18.719 such a thing as a television repairman all you 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:21.900 have a guy with a two box that's right uh... 00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:24.719 uh... of those kinds of professions uh... uh... 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:28.079 people all wanted uh... to become uh... airline 00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:31.880 pilot and uh... did some training of for that 00:38:31.880 --> 00:38:36.480 some of it was just uh... uh... enrichment uh... 00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:40.699 of their uh... lives so other college training 00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:44.460 too provided an opportunity for a vocational 00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:50.639 and avocational training, and many, many GIs 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:54.500 found out extraordinarily important. Remember, 00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:58.579 at this time, you had many GIs who were not high 00:38:58.579 --> 00:39:01.699 school graduates, and so having the opportunity 00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:03.840 to do subcollege training was very important 00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:06.760 to them. I was talking to a friend of mine, I 00:39:06.760 --> 00:39:08.840 teach part time at a local community college, 00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:13.320 and she was talking about the GED program that 00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:16.820 was started up during World War II also. Yes, 00:39:16.860 --> 00:39:22.159 and again, as you know, opportunities for people 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:26.119 in non -traditional ways to be able to graduate 00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:30.539 from high school are another significant part 00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:34.889 of our educational system now. Again, it's just 00:39:34.889 --> 00:39:36.849 fascinating, and then I'm looking through the 00:39:36.849 --> 00:39:38.869 pictures inside of this book, and I'm encouraging 00:39:38.869 --> 00:39:41.610 people out there. The book is entitled, The GI 00:39:41.610 --> 00:39:43.429 Bill, A New Deal for Veterans, and I'm talking 00:39:43.429 --> 00:39:46.730 with one of the authors, Glenn Altshuler, and 00:39:46.730 --> 00:39:48.489 give us a call. Tell us what you did with your 00:39:48.489 --> 00:39:53.449 GI Bill at 877 -573 -7825. We talked about the 00:39:53.449 --> 00:39:57.210 educational benefits of the GI Bill. What about 00:39:57.210 --> 00:39:59.949 the housing benefits? The housing benefit was 00:39:59.949 --> 00:40:03.159 also very important. because there was a government 00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:11.280 guarantee of loans to purchase housing at a low 00:40:11.280 --> 00:40:13.940 interest rate. I think it's at four percent. 00:40:14.139 --> 00:40:19.780 Four percent. Many GIs were first -time homebuyers. 00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:23.840 Young men, some instances, young women, about 00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:26.980 two percent of the armed forces at that time 00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:31.039 were women starting a family. And as many of 00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:33.320 your listeners will remember, this is a period 00:40:33.320 --> 00:40:36.380 of suburbanization. This is a period where people 00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:39.639 are buying their first homes. And I've talked 00:40:39.639 --> 00:40:42.440 to many, many GIs who said, that's how I did 00:40:42.440 --> 00:40:47.900 it. Hearing about and knowing that this government 00:40:47.900 --> 00:40:50.800 guarantee would be available allowed me to do 00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:53.489 it. made it possible for me to do it. We're going 00:40:53.489 --> 00:40:56.710 to continue talking with Glenn about the GI Bill, 00:40:57.010 --> 00:40:58.769 not only the one from World War II, but the most 00:40:58.769 --> 00:41:01.449 recent post -911 GI Bill when we come back after 00:41:01.449 --> 00:41:05.190 this next break. We're talking about the GI Bill, 00:41:05.309 --> 00:41:08.550 education, home ownership, lots of things. Give 00:41:08.550 --> 00:41:10.869 us a call. You're listening to Veterans Radio. 00:41:11.050 --> 00:41:13.670 We'll be right back after these short messages. 00:41:14.090 --> 00:41:16.369 We're back on Veterans Radio. We're talking about 00:41:16.369 --> 00:41:19.670 the GI Bill that was passed in 1944. And when 00:41:19.670 --> 00:41:21.349 Johnny came marching home, not only could he 00:41:21.349 --> 00:41:24.329 go to college, he could go to a trade school, 00:41:24.369 --> 00:41:26.710 and he could also buy homes. And we're talking 00:41:26.710 --> 00:41:29.050 with the author of the GI Bill, A New Deal for 00:41:29.050 --> 00:41:32.929 Veterans, Glenn Alschuler. And I want you to 00:41:32.929 --> 00:41:38.809 give us a call at 877 -573 -7825. And we actually, 00:41:38.889 --> 00:41:40.469 Glenn, we want to hold on for a second. We do 00:41:40.469 --> 00:41:43.150 have a call on the line. We've got Bob from Westland. 00:41:43.269 --> 00:41:46.289 Bob, welcome to Veterans Radio. Hi, Bob. Hi. 00:41:46.449 --> 00:41:50.949 How you doing? Good. Yes, I used the GI Bill, 00:41:51.070 --> 00:41:54.969 went to Henry Ford Community College for seven 00:41:54.969 --> 00:41:57.969 and a half years for an associate's degree in 00:41:57.969 --> 00:42:00.440 heating and cooling. before the government actually 00:42:00.440 --> 00:42:03.639 told me i had to leave and then i turned around 00:42:03.639 --> 00:42:07.920 and use the g i built uh... by my first house 00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:13.920 and i a by doing this uh... laid off uh... about 00:42:13.920 --> 00:42:16.599 six years ago and use my heating and cooling 00:42:16.599 --> 00:42:19.860 stuff to get my new job uh... what more did you 00:42:19.860 --> 00:42:24.099 serve in uh... u .s. navy i'm retired after twenty 00:42:24.099 --> 00:42:28.710 one years i was active duty in reserves That's 00:42:28.710 --> 00:42:31.949 great. Well, you see, it works, folks. It works. 00:42:32.210 --> 00:42:34.710 I went to school on the GI Bill. I bought my 00:42:34.710 --> 00:42:37.769 first home on the GI Bill. Bob also bought his 00:42:37.769 --> 00:42:40.449 first home on the GI Bill. We all utilize the 00:42:40.449 --> 00:42:42.210 benefits. It was such a great way for us to get 00:42:42.210 --> 00:42:46.349 our lives back after serving however long we 00:42:46.349 --> 00:42:48.369 were in the service. It was a great program. 00:42:48.369 --> 00:42:51.369 And I might say here, Dale, to you and to Bob 00:42:51.369 --> 00:42:57.400 as well, that the provisions uh... changed with 00:42:57.400 --> 00:43:00.820 each war with the korean war of vietnam war and 00:43:00.820 --> 00:43:02.599 then in eighteen nineteen eighty five with the 00:43:02.599 --> 00:43:06.500 montgomery bill uh... and uh... uh... full tuition 00:43:06.500 --> 00:43:11.099 wasn't covered by those pieces of legislation 00:43:11.099 --> 00:43:14.199 they were less generous than of the g i bill 00:43:14.199 --> 00:43:16.980 of nineteen forty four but as both of you can 00:43:16.980 --> 00:43:19.639 testify uh... they were nonetheless meaningful 00:43:19.639 --> 00:43:22.789 to uh... to many veterans They were it was it 00:43:22.789 --> 00:43:25.070 was a great opportunity. I mean, I was able to 00:43:25.070 --> 00:43:27.690 go to sounds like Bob I went to a community college 00:43:27.690 --> 00:43:30.190 for a year and then transferred to the University 00:43:30.190 --> 00:43:32.929 of Michigan and my allowance was enough to for 00:43:32.929 --> 00:43:36.269 me to pay all my tuition Had to dip into savings 00:43:36.269 --> 00:43:38.110 for books and things but I was able to pay the 00:43:38.110 --> 00:43:41.829 tuition. Yeah And that's everything when I went 00:43:41.829 --> 00:43:45.449 there for seven and a half years That's true 00:43:45.449 --> 00:43:47.250 thing. Thank you very much Bob for calling it 00:43:47.250 --> 00:43:49.030 was great talking to you and thanks for listening 00:43:49.030 --> 00:43:51.730 to veterans radio Thank you. Bye -bye. All right. 00:43:51.949 --> 00:43:53.690 You mentioned, I was looking through your book, 00:43:53.909 --> 00:43:55.590 Glenn, here and I was looking at the pictures 00:43:55.590 --> 00:43:59.550 and not only was it the educational system, but 00:43:59.550 --> 00:44:01.829 it brought up new economies. I'm looking at your 00:44:01.829 --> 00:44:04.469 Vetsville or Vetsburg that was built up around 00:44:04.469 --> 00:44:09.530 Cornell, but also Levittown for the people on 00:44:09.530 --> 00:44:13.909 the East Coast. Yeah, Levittown is again part 00:44:13.909 --> 00:44:18.800 of this phenomenon of suburbanization. inexpensive 00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:23.719 houses in the suburbs. Many of the people who 00:44:23.719 --> 00:44:26.880 bought their first homes in Levittown did it 00:44:26.880 --> 00:44:32.239 on VA mortgages, no doubt about it. I just think 00:44:32.239 --> 00:44:37.599 it is amazing. Let's kind of move forward. Were 00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:39.579 there any other things about the GI Bill that 00:44:39.579 --> 00:44:42.679 we should know about? Oh, the unemployment. The 00:44:42.679 --> 00:44:45.980 unemployment was very important. Originally, 00:44:46.260 --> 00:44:49.340 I think the The framers of the GI Bill thought 00:44:49.340 --> 00:44:52.300 it would be the most important provision, and 00:44:52.300 --> 00:44:57.400 indeed several million GIs used it for one period 00:44:57.400 --> 00:45:01.860 of time. It was up to 52 weeks of unemployment 00:45:01.860 --> 00:45:07.320 benefits at $20 a week. And for many GIs, it 00:45:07.320 --> 00:45:12.300 was the transition from a demobilization to getting 00:45:12.300 --> 00:45:17.309 that first job. It turned out happily that we 00:45:17.309 --> 00:45:21.710 didn't go into a recession after world war two 00:45:21.710 --> 00:45:26.110 and jobs were plentiful and so it was used perhaps 00:45:26.110 --> 00:45:29.789 less than people feared but for g i think meant 00:45:29.789 --> 00:45:33.050 a push on a what we now call a safety net right 00:45:33.050 --> 00:45:35.369 so that while are they were looking for those 00:45:35.369 --> 00:45:40.070 jobs uh... are they uh... were able to pay the 00:45:40.070 --> 00:45:44.510 bill and i'd like to hear dale as well that uh... 00:45:46.570 --> 00:45:53.409 have paid back in increased taxes many, many 00:45:53.409 --> 00:45:55.969 times over the amount of money that they got 00:45:55.969 --> 00:45:57.829 from Uncle Sam, whether they were using their 00:45:57.829 --> 00:46:01.469 higher education benefit or 5220 or any of these 00:46:01.469 --> 00:46:04.969 other benefits. This is an example of a government 00:46:04.969 --> 00:46:07.530 program that is not only the gift that keeps 00:46:07.530 --> 00:46:12.190 on giving, but one in which the government gets 00:46:12.190 --> 00:46:14.989 back. That's a pretty extraordinary piece of 00:46:14.989 --> 00:46:17.860 legislation. That certainly is. And we were talking 00:46:17.860 --> 00:46:22.460 earlier about how the GI Bill has evolved over 00:46:22.460 --> 00:46:27.480 time. And each conflict had its own version or 00:46:27.480 --> 00:46:29.420 change to it, as you mentioned. Some of the benefits 00:46:29.420 --> 00:46:33.480 were a little bit lower. I've got a call for 00:46:33.480 --> 00:46:35.139 you again. I've got a call here. I've got John 00:46:35.139 --> 00:46:37.260 from Bay City. Thanks for calling Veterans Radio. 00:46:37.300 --> 00:46:40.079 You have a comment? Hi, John. Good morning, brothers. 00:46:40.739 --> 00:46:46.449 I served from 1966 to 1970. I was a member of 00:46:46.449 --> 00:46:49.110 the 14th Armored Cavalry, and our mission was 00:46:49.110 --> 00:46:51.730 to patrol the East German border at the folder 00:46:51.730 --> 00:46:56.690 gap. And I must say, man, that the benefits brought 00:46:56.690 --> 00:47:00.750 forth to those that have served, the impact that 00:47:00.750 --> 00:47:04.449 it had on my life was awesome. I went to college, 00:47:05.010 --> 00:47:07.969 night school, business school. Then I went to 00:47:07.969 --> 00:47:11.909 Wilmington College. So it afforded me my advertising 00:47:11.909 --> 00:47:16.420 career in the newspaper. We could never do too 00:47:16.420 --> 00:47:18.960 much for the men and women that serve this great 00:47:18.960 --> 00:47:22.760 country. So I appreciate the efforts of this 00:47:22.760 --> 00:47:26.179 station. Because when we came home, regardless 00:47:26.179 --> 00:47:28.440 of what part of the world we were in, the reception 00:47:28.440 --> 00:47:32.619 we got was not the reception we deserved. But 00:47:32.619 --> 00:47:36.780 we don't live in that past. We thank God for... 00:47:36.800 --> 00:47:40.159 this country and the opportunity to serve. Thank 00:47:40.159 --> 00:47:41.699 you. That's very much. Thank you, John. Yes, 00:47:41.780 --> 00:47:43.699 we all do keep moving forward and we always make 00:47:43.699 --> 00:47:45.920 sure that we protect each other's back. Thanks, 00:47:46.059 --> 00:47:48.360 John, for calling. We'll be talking again. Thank 00:47:48.360 --> 00:47:51.619 you very much. Bye -bye. Bye -bye. Let's talk 00:47:51.619 --> 00:47:54.480 a little bit about the, as we move forward, as 00:47:54.480 --> 00:47:56.039 I said, about the different benefits out there. 00:47:56.079 --> 00:47:58.579 I want to talk right now about the newest GI 00:47:58.579 --> 00:48:03.079 bill, the post -9 -9 -11 bill. Can you tell us 00:48:03.079 --> 00:48:05.389 a little bit about that? Yes, this was passed 00:48:05.389 --> 00:48:10.150 in 2008. It tends to be associated with the name 00:48:10.150 --> 00:48:14.670 of Senator James Webb from Virginia, but it too 00:48:14.670 --> 00:48:19.349 had bipartisan support. It's more generous in 00:48:19.349 --> 00:48:24.389 its provisions than were the bills for Korean 00:48:24.389 --> 00:48:27.730 War veterans and Vietnam War veterans, not quite 00:48:27.730 --> 00:48:32.389 as generous as the World War II, the iconic World 00:48:32.389 --> 00:48:37.059 War II bill. But it provides a tuition up to 00:48:37.059 --> 00:48:41.219 the most expensive public university in the state 00:48:41.219 --> 00:48:44.519 of a veteran. Or if that veteran wants to go 00:48:44.519 --> 00:48:48.440 to a private institution, he or she can apply 00:48:48.440 --> 00:48:51.679 that amount of money allocated to the public 00:48:51.679 --> 00:48:55.059 institution to the private institution and make 00:48:55.059 --> 00:48:58.920 up the difference. There is also a housing stipend. 00:48:59.599 --> 00:49:02.860 There's a stipend for books. And there's a stipend 00:49:02.860 --> 00:49:08.420 for tutors. Wow. And there is, Dale, a new and 00:49:08.420 --> 00:49:13.579 very imaginative provision. For those service 00:49:13.579 --> 00:49:17.900 personnel who've served for six years and who 00:49:17.900 --> 00:49:22.000 re -up for another four years, the benefit, the 00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:25.239 higher education benefit, can be transferred 00:49:25.239 --> 00:49:29.130 to a spouse or children. That's the first time 00:49:29.130 --> 00:49:31.750 in American history that that that's happened 00:49:31.750 --> 00:49:34.510 even in World War two where the provisions were 00:49:34.510 --> 00:49:38.590 so generous War widows came to Congress and said 00:49:38.590 --> 00:49:41.030 look our husbands died How about transferring 00:49:41.030 --> 00:49:43.989 the higher education provision to us and Congress 00:49:43.989 --> 00:49:48.869 said no? Mm -hmm in 2008 Congress had said yes 00:49:48.869 --> 00:49:52.269 to those who serve six years and sign up for 00:49:52.269 --> 00:49:54.579 another four Well, I also know that, and I'm 00:49:54.579 --> 00:49:56.340 encouraging everybody out there that's interested 00:49:56.340 --> 00:50:00.579 in this, you can go to the VA website, VA .gov, 00:50:00.659 --> 00:50:03.719 and you can look under the new GI Bill, and there's 00:50:03.719 --> 00:50:06.760 a program in there that, and I wrote it down 00:50:06.760 --> 00:50:09.699 here, some of the Yellow Ribbon Program, and 00:50:09.699 --> 00:50:12.719 there are many schools across the country that 00:50:12.719 --> 00:50:17.559 will make up the difference. Yes. between what 00:50:17.559 --> 00:50:20.900 you are allocated for the highest public university 00:50:20.900 --> 00:50:22.960 in your state, if you go to a private school, 00:50:23.119 --> 00:50:24.539 many of them will make up the difference. And 00:50:24.539 --> 00:50:26.059 there's a whole list of schools in there for 00:50:26.059 --> 00:50:30.079 you. That is indeed the case. And other institutions 00:50:30.079 --> 00:50:33.800 will work with veterans. And so it's worth your 00:50:33.800 --> 00:50:38.679 while to contact an institution. If you're able 00:50:38.679 --> 00:50:42.019 to be admitted to that institution, there's at 00:50:42.019 --> 00:50:44.099 least a reasonable chance that They're going 00:50:44.099 --> 00:50:48.320 to work with you to make sure that money is not 00:50:48.320 --> 00:50:51.300 the barrier. Boy, I just think it's great. I've 00:50:51.300 --> 00:50:54.800 had the privilege of having many Iraq and Afghanistan 00:50:54.800 --> 00:50:56.760 veterans in my classes, and I know it's even 00:50:56.760 --> 00:50:59.400 going to grow bigger. Glenn, we're running up 00:50:59.400 --> 00:51:01.519 to the end of the hour, and it's been a great 00:51:01.519 --> 00:51:03.440 conversation. I want to thank you so very much 00:51:03.440 --> 00:51:06.880 for being on Veterans Radio. This is Glenn Altshuler, 00:51:06.940 --> 00:51:08.739 who was one of the authors of the GI Bill, A 00:51:08.739 --> 00:51:11.219 New Deal for Veterans. And where can they get 00:51:11.219 --> 00:51:15.530 their book? uh... you can you can get it on Amazon 00:51:15.530 --> 00:51:19.289 uh... it's uh... uh... the G .I. bill a new deal 00:51:19.289 --> 00:51:21.449 for veterans you can get it from Oxford University 00:51:21.449 --> 00:51:23.550 Press you can get it from your local bookstore 00:51:23.550 --> 00:51:29.289 this was a great honor as well as a joy to write 00:51:29.289 --> 00:51:31.630 this book and I think veterans will really enjoy 00:51:31.630 --> 00:51:33.429 it I think they will too and Glenn thank you 00:51:33.429 --> 00:51:35.449 so very much for doing that and for being on 00:51:35.449 --> 00:51:37.550 veterans radio and I gotta get you back on a 00:51:37.550 --> 00:51:39.889 program to talk about rock and roll I'd be delighted 00:51:39.889 --> 00:51:42.829 to do it Dale thanks very much Pleasure to talk 00:51:42.829 --> 00:51:45.269 to you. Thank you. We'll talk to you again. All 00:51:45.269 --> 00:51:47.550 right, another show. We're almost out of time. 00:51:47.949 --> 00:51:49.610 Make sure to tune in next week. We're going to 00:51:49.610 --> 00:51:51.250 be talking with some people from the Military 00:51:51.250 --> 00:51:54.030 Writers Society of America and a great story 00:51:54.030 --> 00:51:56.650 of a World War II veteran. Until then, you are 00:51:56.650 --> 00:52:11.329 dismissed. The opinions or views expressed in 00:52:11.329 --> 00:52:13.929 this program are not necessarily a Veterans Radio 00:52:13.929 --> 00:52:16.809 or the station. Veterans Radio is a production 00:52:16.809 --> 00:52:19.250 of Veterans Radio LLC.