The New Praetorians: American Veterans, Society, and Service from Vietnam to the Forever War

Description

Contemporary veterans belong to an exclusive American group. Celebrated by most of the country, they are nevertheless often poorly understood by the same people who applaud their service. Following the introduction of an all-volunteer force after the war in Vietnam, only a tiny fraction of Americans now join the armed services, making the contemporary soldier, and the veteran by extension, increasingly less representative of mainstream society. Veterans have come to comprise their own distinct tribe―modern praetorians, permanently set apart from society by what they have seen and experienced. In an engrossing narrative that considers the military, economic, political, and social developments affecting military service after Vietnam, Michael D. Gambone investigates how successive generations have intentionally shaped their identity as veterans. The New Praetorians also highlights the impact of their homecoming, the range of educational opportunities open to veterans, the health care challenges they face, and the unique experiences of minority and women veterans. This groundbreaking study illustrates an important and often neglected group that is key to our understanding of American social history and civil-military affairs. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter One: A Brief History of the American Veteran to the Vietnam War Chapter Two: Joining Up Chapter Three: The Nature of the Beast Chapter Four: Coming Home Chapter Five: Healing New Wounds Chapter Six: The Economics of the Veteran Chapter Seven: Lost on Campus: Veterans and a College Education Chapter Eight: The Veteran in Politics Chapter Nine: The Women Praetorians Chapter Ten: The Veteran in Popular Culture Conclusions Notes Index Back Cover