Question
Rules for discharging disabled veterans, 1919
INTRODUCTION
When World War I ended in 1918 more than 4.6 million men returned to the United States from war. The American people and the US government were unprepared to reintegrate and care for the men who returned with physical injuries and psychological damage that would affect veterans for the rest of their lives.
According to the Library of Congress, 224,000 soldiers returned home with a permanent physical or mental disability. Of the injured, 4,400 were amputees. Almost 100,000 soldiers had been removed from combat due to psychological injuries and 40,000 of them were subsequently discharged.1 With no government agency dedicated to veteran’s affairs at the time, responsibilities for veterans were scattered between several agencies. On January 29, 1919, “Rules for the Discharge of Disabled US Soldiers” were published in the Official US Bulletin, issued by the US War Department and the Office of the Surgeon General.
Despite the nation’s good intentions, disabled veterans were overwhelmed with confusing paperwork to fill out. Many WWI veterans faced unemployment, poor housing conditions, and inadequate medical care. As a result, veterans and other Americans founded organizations like the Disabled American Veterans of the World War and the American Legion to support and fight for the rights of disabled veterans. Their efforts led Congress to establish the US Veterans Bureau in 1921, which was a precursor to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
EXCERPTS
[“]It is the policy of the War Department to retain, so far as practicable under military control, for the purpose of medical and surgical treatment (a) officers and soldiers suffering from acute diseases or acute exacerbations of chronic diseases or unhealed lesions; (b) officers and soldiers suffering from communicable diseases or who are ‘carriers,’ whose discharge would be a danger to the civil community; (c) officers and soldiers suffering from disabilities incurred in the line of duty which are correctible within their terms of service or enlistment; (d) officers and soldiers suffering from chronic or permanent disabilities incurred in the line of duty, which are susceptible of improvement by measures for mental or physical reconstruction designed to fit them for return to their homes, for the resumption of their former vocations, or, with their consent, for the industrial opportunities or the training courses provided by the Federal Board for Vocational Education.
“In the accomplishment of this policy, it is the intention to restore officers and soldiers, who are held in service as provided above, to health and function as fully as possible, considering the nature of their disabilities, the limitations of the military service, and other provisions which the Government has made for the care of the permanently disabled.
Constructed Response Question
[Extended Response]
Shell shock–now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)–was not an unfamiliar result or side effect of war. The sheer numbers of men suffering from it during and after the war was staggering. Hypothesize if the government effectively address this issue? Support your claim with evidence from the source(s).
INTRODUCTION
When World War I ended in 1918 more than 4.6 million men returned to the United States from war. The American people and the US government were unprepared to reintegrate and care for the men who returned with physical injuries and psychological damage that would affect veterans for the rest of their lives.
According to the Library of Congress, 224,000 soldiers returned home with a permanent physical or mental disability. Of the injured, 4,400 were amputees. Almost 100,000 soldiers had been removed from combat due to psychological injuries and 40,000 of them were subsequently discharged.1 With no government agency dedicated to veteran’s affairs at the time, responsibilities for veterans were scattered between several agencies. On January 29, 1919, “Rules for the Discharge of Disabled US Soldiers” were published in the Official US Bulletin, issued by the US War Department and the Office of the Surgeon General.
Despite the nation’s good intentions, disabled veterans were overwhelmed with confusing paperwork to fill out. Many WWI veterans faced unemployment, poor housing conditions, and inadequate medical care. As a result, veterans and other Americans founded organizations like the Disabled American Veterans of the World War and the American Legion to support and fight for the rights of disabled veterans. Their efforts led Congress to establish the US Veterans Bureau in 1921, which was a precursor to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
EXCERPTS
[“]It is the policy of the War Department to retain, so far as practicable under military control, for the purpose of medical and surgical treatment (a) officers and soldiers suffering from acute diseases or acute exacerbations of chronic diseases or unhealed lesions; (b) officers and soldiers suffering from communicable diseases or who are ‘carriers,’ whose discharge would be a danger to the civil community; (c) officers and soldiers suffering from disabilities incurred in the line of duty which are correctible within their terms of service or enlistment; (d) officers and soldiers suffering from chronic or permanent disabilities incurred in the line of duty, which are susceptible of improvement by measures for mental or physical reconstruction designed to fit them for return to their homes, for the resumption of their former vocations, or, with their consent, for the industrial opportunities or the training courses provided by the Federal Board for Vocational Education.
“In the accomplishment of this policy, it is the intention to restore officers and soldiers, who are held in service as provided above, to health and function as fully as possible, considering the nature of their disabilities, the limitations of the military service, and other provisions which the Government has made for the care of the permanently disabled.
Constructed Response Question
[Extended Response]
Shell shock–now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)–was not an unfamiliar result or side effect of war. The sheer numbers of men suffering from it during and after the war was staggering. Hypothesize if the government effectively address this issue? Support your claim with evidence from the source(s).
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In evaluating whether the government effectively addressed the issue of shell shock, now recognized as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it is evident that initial efforts were woefully inadequate. The excerpt from the “Rules for the Discharge of Disabled US Soldiers” published in 1919 indicates a lack of comprehensive policies specifically aimed at addressing the psychological trauma experienced by returning soldiers. While the document outlines a policy intent to retain soldiers for medical treatment, it largely focuses on physical ailments and disabilities rather than the psychological ramifications of warfare. This oversight reflects a broader societal failure to recognize and address mental health issues related to combat trauma during that time period.
Firstly, the statistics highlighted by the Library of Congress reveal the staggering scope of psychological injuries, with almost 100,000 soldiers being removed from combat due to psychological conditions, and 40,000 subsequently discharged. Despite these numbers, the policies described do not explicitly mention support or treatment for those suffering from what we now understand to be PTSD. The focus remained predominantly on physical rehabilitation and the correction of "correctible" disabilities, disregarding the complexities of mental health which can be equally debilitating.
Furthermore, the policies seem to lack a proactive approach towards mental health recovery. The excerpt mentions measures for “mental or physical reconstruction” but fails to provide specific guidelines or resources dedicated to these efforts. This vague reference suggests a piecemeal approach to rehabilitation rather than a systemic solution that acknowledges the multifaceted nature of recovery needed for veterans suffering from psychological trauma.
Moreover, the fact that many veterans faced unemployment, poor housing conditions, and inadequate medical care underscores the shortcomings of government support systems at the time. Organizations such as the Disabled American Veterans of the World War and the American Legion emerged to fill the gaps left by the government, advocating for the rights and needs of disabled veterans, particularly those struggling with mental health issues. The subsequent creation of the US Veterans Bureau in 1921 shows a recognition of these deficiencies, but it came too late to address the immediate crisis that many veterans faced in the aftermath of World War I.
In conclusion, while there were intentions to support soldiers suffering from various disabilities, the government's initial response to shell shock and, by extension, PTSD, lacked the specificity, resources, and recognition of mental health issues that were necessary for effective treatment and support. The evidence suggests that rather than addressing the needs of returning soldiers, especially those suffering from psychological trauma, the government was predominantly focused on physical injuries, resulting in inadequate care for a significant portion of veterans during this critical period.
Firstly, the statistics highlighted by the Library of Congress reveal the staggering scope of psychological injuries, with almost 100,000 soldiers being removed from combat due to psychological conditions, and 40,000 subsequently discharged. Despite these numbers, the policies described do not explicitly mention support or treatment for those suffering from what we now understand to be PTSD. The focus remained predominantly on physical rehabilitation and the correction of "correctible" disabilities, disregarding the complexities of mental health which can be equally debilitating.
Furthermore, the policies seem to lack a proactive approach towards mental health recovery. The excerpt mentions measures for “mental or physical reconstruction” but fails to provide specific guidelines or resources dedicated to these efforts. This vague reference suggests a piecemeal approach to rehabilitation rather than a systemic solution that acknowledges the multifaceted nature of recovery needed for veterans suffering from psychological trauma.
Moreover, the fact that many veterans faced unemployment, poor housing conditions, and inadequate medical care underscores the shortcomings of government support systems at the time. Organizations such as the Disabled American Veterans of the World War and the American Legion emerged to fill the gaps left by the government, advocating for the rights and needs of disabled veterans, particularly those struggling with mental health issues. The subsequent creation of the US Veterans Bureau in 1921 shows a recognition of these deficiencies, but it came too late to address the immediate crisis that many veterans faced in the aftermath of World War I.
In conclusion, while there were intentions to support soldiers suffering from various disabilities, the government's initial response to shell shock and, by extension, PTSD, lacked the specificity, resources, and recognition of mental health issues that were necessary for effective treatment and support. The evidence suggests that rather than addressing the needs of returning soldiers, especially those suffering from psychological trauma, the government was predominantly focused on physical injuries, resulting in inadequate care for a significant portion of veterans during this critical period.