Brutal Battles of Vietnam: America's Deadliest Days, 1965-1972 is VFW's contribution to the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. This 480-page book covering some 100 military actions is an outgrowth of VFW's award-winning magazine series called Vietnam's Deadliest Battles. Running over seven years, its excellence was recognized with 13 national magazine awards. Genuinely a one-of-a-kind work, it provides the most comprehensive battle history of the war yet published in a single volume. Brimming with compelling stories, the book focuses exclusively on the perspective of the fighting man. Virtually all of the deadliest engagements are covered concisely. The high drama of the battlefield is felt through fast-paced personal accounts, some 700 pictures, battle maps and war statistics.
This book tells the story of The Veterans of Future Wars (VFW), a student movement that attracted widespread support in a short few months in 1936. Despite its short life, it was a successful movement that attracted wide support and caused serious discussion about the role of the federal government in providing bonuses to veterans. It focused American attention on the bonus issue, which had been a political issue for many years.
The present volume, first published in 1962, consists of two distinguished speeches given by the General of the U.S. Army, Douglas MacArthur. The first address took place on April 19, 1951 and was held before a joint meeting of the two houses of United States Congress—the House of Representatives and the Senate—and took place in the Hall of the House of Representatives. This meeting followed on just one week from MacArthur’s removal from command by President Harry S. Truman. The second address was held on May 12, 1921 and was given to The Members of the Association of Graduates, U.S.M.A., The Corps of Cadets, and Distinguished Guests. It was given on the occasion of MacArthur’s acceptance of the Sylvanus Thayer Award for outstanding service to the nation, which had gone to Eisenhower the year before. The event was held at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
This is the story of the genesis of the VFW, and its steday growth. It is the story of dedication to the welfare of those who served overseas and a chronicle of civic presence thoughout the nation.
An official, up-to-date government manual that covers everything from VA life insurance to survivor benefits. Veterans of the United States armed forces may be eligible for a broad range of benefits and services provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). If you’re looking for information on these benefits and services, look no further than the newest edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors. The VA operates the nation’s largest health-care system, with more than 1,700 care sites available across the country. These sites include hospitals, community clinics, readjustment counseling centers, and more. In this book, those who have honorably served in the active military, naval, or air service will learn about the services offered at these sites, basic eligibility for health care, and more. Helpful topics described in depth throughout these pages for veterans, their dependents, and their survivors include: Vocational rehabilitation and employment VA pensions Home loan guaranty Burial and memorial benefits Transition assistance Dependents and survivors health care and benefits Military medals and records And more
The period between World Wars I and II was a time of turbulent political change, with suffragists, labor radicals, demagogues, and other voices clamoring to be heard. One group of activists that has yet to be closely examined by historians is World War I veterans. Mining the papers of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion (AL), Stephen R. Ortiz reveals that veterans actively organized in the years following the war to claim state benefits (such as pensions and bonuses), and strove to articulate a role for themselves as a distinct political bloc during the New Deal era. Beyond the Bonus March and GI Bill is unique in its treatment of World War I veterans as significant political actors during the interwar period. Ortiz’s study reinterprets the political origins of the "Second" New Deal and Roosevelt’s electoral triumph of 1936, adding depth not only to our understanding of these events and the political climate surrounding them, but to common perceptions of veterans and their organizations. In describing veteran politics and the competitive dynamics between the AL and the VFW, Ortiz details the rise of organized veterans as a powerful interest group in modern American politics.
Uncommon Valor from Dwight Jon Zimmerman and John D. Gresham presents a fascinating look at six of our bravest soldiers and the highest military decoration awarded in this country. Since the Vietnam War ended in 1973, the Medal of Honor, our nation's highest award for valor, has been presented to only eight men for their actions "above and beyond the call of duty." Six of the eight were young men who had fought in the current war in Iraq, Afghanistan, or both. All of these medals were awarded posthumously, as all had made the choice to give their lives so that their comrades might live. Uncommon Valor answers the searing question of who these six young soldiers were, and dramatically details how they found themselves in life-or-death situations, and why they responded as they did. For the first time, this book also provides a comprehensive history of the Medal of Honor itself—one marred by controversies, scandals, and theft. Using an extraordinary range of sources, including interviews with family members and friends, teammates and superiors in the military, personal letters, blogs posted within hours of events, personal and official videos and newly declassified documents, Uncommon Valor is a compelling and important work that recounts incredible acts of heroism and lays bare the ultimate sacrifice of our bravest soldiers.
Short history book on the life of James Ballentine who was killed in action in France in World War I, and the formation of Ballentine Post 246 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars which bears his name.