Jeff Simmons
Active member
I've been doing some interesting research on the so-called "Bonus Expeditionary Force," a mass of WWI veterans (often accompanied by their families) who marched on Washington, D.C. early in the Great Depression to demand payment of a "bonus" that was promised by the federal government to compensate veterans for wages they missed while serving overseas. Some 45,000 men, women and children built a massive shanty town on the Anacostia flats, within sight of the capitol, and refused to leave until they got their money.
There were, obviously, problems. First, when the "bonus" law was passed after WWI, it promised payment in 1945, but the "BEF" pleaded that they needed the money immediately to survive (it averaged about $700 per soldier). Second, President Hoover adamantly opposed early payment.
The House of Representatives took up the issue, and passed a measure to pay the bonus at that time. The Senate, on the other hand, refused to pass the law. Then, claiming the mass of men and their families were communists, Hoover ordered that the marchers be driven out of Anacostia. Carrying out his orders were Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his two subordinates, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and Gen. George Patton. They amassed the largest formation of troops in the nation's capital since the Civil War. Patton led a cavalry charge through the encampment first. It was followed with an attack using tanks, infantry and poison gas. Then the military burned the entire encampment to the ground. In the process, many men, women and children were wounded. Several infants died from being gassed.
As horrible as this may seem, most Americans know nothing about the bonus march. I've told this story to a lot of people, but none have ever heard it before. I am currently working on more detailed research and jotting down ideas. I think it would be good material for a novel.
Please share any knowledge or comments you may have on this subject.
There were, obviously, problems. First, when the "bonus" law was passed after WWI, it promised payment in 1945, but the "BEF" pleaded that they needed the money immediately to survive (it averaged about $700 per soldier). Second, President Hoover adamantly opposed early payment.
The House of Representatives took up the issue, and passed a measure to pay the bonus at that time. The Senate, on the other hand, refused to pass the law. Then, claiming the mass of men and their families were communists, Hoover ordered that the marchers be driven out of Anacostia. Carrying out his orders were Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his two subordinates, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and Gen. George Patton. They amassed the largest formation of troops in the nation's capital since the Civil War. Patton led a cavalry charge through the encampment first. It was followed with an attack using tanks, infantry and poison gas. Then the military burned the entire encampment to the ground. In the process, many men, women and children were wounded. Several infants died from being gassed.
As horrible as this may seem, most Americans know nothing about the bonus march. I've told this story to a lot of people, but none have ever heard it before. I am currently working on more detailed research and jotting down ideas. I think it would be good material for a novel.
Please share any knowledge or comments you may have on this subject.
