The Bonus Army: Veterans Awards Essay Example

later, Attorney General Mitchell ordered the evacuation of the veterans from all government property. As expected, the Washington police met with firm resistance, shots were fired and two marchers were innocently killed. President Hoover ordered the army to clear out the veterans; nothing more, nothing less. Infantry and cavalry supported by six tanks were dispatched with Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur in command. Major Dwight D. Eisenhower served as his liaison with Washington police and Major George Patton led the cavalry. In theory, the marchers wouldn’t have a chance.

By nightfall the BEF had retreated across the Anacostia River where Hoover ordered MacArthur to stop. Obviously ignoring the command, the general proudly led his infantry to the main camp. At this point, MacArthur knowingly disobeyed Hoover’s orders to simply, “clear out” the marchers. (King) By early morning the 10,000 plus inhabitants were routed and the camp was engulfed by the non-reversible, lethally damaging flames. Two babies fell were lost and nearby hospitals became overwhelmed with such an extravagant number of casualties. Eisenhower later wrote, "The whole scene was pitiful. The veterans were ragged, ill-fed, and felt themselves badly abused. To suddenly see the whole encampment going up in flames just added to the pity." (King)

The public reaction was mixed. Many were sympathetic to the veterans, but also felt that order had to be maintained. The sight of men massed around the Capital to influence legislation did not bode well with the majority Americans. However, many thought that the Government acted with undue force. (Pbs) The press was decided critical and newspaper and newsreel images of flames in the nation's capital and

bloodied veterans were featured like movie stars in People Magazine. President Hoover didn’t order an attack on the major encampment at Anacostia. (King)

The resulting attack, however, was just another product in lowering the general public’s view of President Hoover. Hoover did not censure MacArthur for exceeding his orders. In 1936, Wright Patman reintroduced the cash-now bonus act, which then became law. (Daniels) Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri, a combat veteran of World War I himself, defied his president in supporting the bonus. In June 1936, the first veterans began cashing checks that averaged about $580 per man. (Pbs) Ultimately, nearly $2 billion was distributed to 3 million World War I veterans. Mission complete, problem solved.