Coming Home: The Veteran Experience in the 20th Century

For a description of this program, see Study Guide for Part 1.

Part 2

Discussion Questions

1. Service in World War II entitled soldiers to the GI Bill of Rights. What was the GI Bill of Rights? How did it influence some of the trends of the 1950s such as the baby boom, suburbanization and economic prosperity?

2. Discuss the homecoming experiences of World War II veterans.

3. Why were World War II veterans so unique? How did this reflect the attitudes of the country about World War II?

4. Discuss the contributions of American women in World War II.

5. Discuss some of the discrimination African-American and women veterans faced.

6. How were Cold War conflicts different from other US wars

7. Korea is often referred to as “the war that never was.” Why?

8. What is an “ideological war?” Discuss some examples

9. Why did the Vietnam War divide American society?

10. How did the response of the American people to Vietnam veterans reflect the divisions within the society about the war?

11. Why Vietnam veterans throw their medals back at the US government?

Extended Activities

1. Interview a veteran about his or her war experiences. How did it shape their lives? What was their homecoming like?

2. Create a victory poster for World War II.

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Air Dates

• May 21, 2002