Military Veterans in the United States - Essay Example

Military Experience

Military veterans played a significant role in influencing the history of the United States. Through their long service and experience in war, they effectively participated in military conflicts through armed combat. Through their sacrifices, military veterans are treated with special treatment by the public. The veteran day is one of the special programs created by the government to show their appreciation to military veterans. Despite the long-standing traditions, ceremonies, and holidays, many individuals just know the veterans who participated in the war but do not recognize the experiences the military veterans faced in the field. During World War I, the United States army got created to influence participation in 'the great war.' The war veterans' assessment of the narrations brings to light the different experiences the veterans faced through war.

World War I

World War I emerged in 1914, and the United States had created a policy not to engage in the war. During this period, Benjamin Muse, who lived in America, notes that the American participation in World War I got influenced by the state’s desire to protect its citizens from attack after the German submarine warfare. The American president, Woodrow Wilson, was not ready to engage in war. Mobilization and creation of the military forces got conducted through recruiting stations. Brian Neumann, a historian in the Army's Center of the Military History, notes that the recruitment centers had forced military service programs for men between 21 and 30 years. The rich, however, got a chance to buy substitution to avoid going into war. Americans, especially the immigrants, hated the idea of the forced national services.

The American military arrival improved the French military's military power due to their physical strength, equipment, and commitment since they had faced war before. The United States military had to train under the French commanders. US marine Melvin Kruewitch notes that the military served a day of technical training and a day on the hardest physical labor. He notes that the military got used to lifting tons of iron and steel, making oyster-shell roads by hand, and unloading the barges. Despite the hard training, American machine gunner Leon Diament notes that the French provided them with Hotchkiss guns instead of American machine guns thy expected. These commotions were part of the disagreements the Americans had with the French.

According to the family stories established by our ancestors during World War I, the American soldiers' unfamiliarity with the dangers of front-line service affected their combat. Many American soldiers lost their lives during the war. The Americans wore tin helmets that never stopped the bullets from killing them. Through experience, the soldiers became wiser. Earl Davison worked with the United States Artillery, notes that the Americans were eager to fight and win the war. The Americans fought against the Germans by applying various strategies. These strategies included taking positions in the edge of trees to counter-attack the Germans. The actions of the American soldiers greatly influenced the success of the war. Despite the nationality differences and disagreements between the French and the Americans, they actively fought along each other to influence success. The Americans created connections with the French no only through the war field but also through other amenities. They shared their cigarettes with the British.

Despite the success gained on the war front, the experience faced by the soldiers was traumatic. Harvey Maness served with the US Army on the Western Front and reflected the experiences he faced. According to Maness, the war was hell and useless. He considers himself fortunate to get out of the war alive. Maness notes that many American soldiers went in the war with the idea that the war gets to end other wars. The soldiers knew they had to perform their duties as soldiers despite the units' reduction as they lost soldiers.

War of Independence

The independence war occurred between the British and the American soldiers. The British soldiers fought to ensure they sustained their colonies' control while the American soldiers fought to attain their political independence. The war was fought between 1775 and 1783 and led to 13 American states gaining their independence. The revolutionary war had the highest number of casualties than all the other American wars. The soldiers who participated in the revolution reflected on some of the experiences. A British soldier argues that the Americans' revolutionary war got won because they had more strategies and dedication than the British soldiers. The British soldiers got trained in Britain and fought in America. These changes in the environment affected their fighting efficiency. The British had limited supplies of food and war equipment, which affected their concentration on the war. During the revolutionary war, many civilians were forced through the states to provide men who would become continental soldiers for America. The American soldiers had more advantages due to the environment and purpose. American soldiers had better strategies to fight. The American soldiers got to master the guerilla warfare tactics and applied them against the British. While the British easily gave up on the war, the Americans got motivated by their desire to protect their lives and lifestyle.

• The Civil War

The civil war occurred between the United States of America and the confederate state of America in 1861. The soldiers who participated in the war had different reasons to participate. Most of the soldiers participated in ending slavery. During the war, many soldiers experienced difficulties since they lacked food supply. One of the soldiers who volunteered to support the United States of America notes that the soldiers were trained in a big military school. He adds that they faced difficulties trying to survive as they ate through hunting and picking of fruits. Diseases also affected soldiers who frequently died. The United States of America soldiers had less power but more troops than the united state of America soldiers. They recorded more casualties on the battlefield than their rivals. The soldiers conducted a surprise attack on the Confederate soldiers to reduce the casualties on their side. For instance, the soldiers attacked Dalton, Georgia, to capture the city after the confederate withdrew their troops.

• Native American Wars

Native American Wars include the conflicts between the colonial and the Native Americans, including the Indians and other tribes. The wars occurred due to reasons such as trade expansion. The American settlers went into war with the Indians due to their differences and desire to control the resources. American soldiers that participated in these wars had different experiences. An American settler soldier named David A. Heholt II notes that their participation in the war with the Native Americans brought more problems to the nation. The American settlers carried with them diseases that affected the Native Americans greatly due to their weak antibodies. The soldier notes that the war was unnecessary, and the settlers could have created other strategies to expand their trade operations.

According to Heholt II, the soldiers should have used more peaceful negotiations would improve their relations with the Indians. The treaties the settles had signed did not allow war as a result of creating trade strategies. The soldier adds, The fact that we could go out and kill the bison that the Indians used to provide for their families yet we punish the Indians because they are hunting farm animals to survive, I see that as being a hypocrite.’ The letters addressed to the commander by the Heholt II shows that some soldiers challenged the strategies developed by their leaders. Soldiers participated not only in war but also in advocating the best strategies and treaties that would influence peace.

Innovations and Technology in War

The efficiency and the result of war depend on the strategies that are utilized to fight. The American Revolution, Guns were highly utilized as the form of weapons. The colonials effectively controlled the supply of weapons and powder to ensure they maintained power. Some of the major strategies invented to fight included the open field war and guerilla warfare tactics. During the American Revolution, victory got influenced by the effective application of guerilla warfare tactics. The military got influenced by their ability to communicate strategies effectively.

The world war got influenced by the innovations that got developed by the countries. World War I innovations included boats, ships, submarine vessels, and more powerful guns. The warfare also included deadly weapons such as tanks, machine guns, and poisonous gas. The tanks were introduced by the British and enabled the military to close the different lands and trenches. The innovation of trench warfare enabled the military to hide in trenches while using machine guns. The machine guns rapid-fire properties enabled the military to achieve the highest casualties. Rival focused on silencing the machine guns at war since it acted asa barrier to their operations. Chemical weapons allowed the military to use poisonous gas on the battlefield to achieve the highest casualties.

Role of the Military when the nation was not at war

When the nation is not at war, the military role includes improving its skills and capability. The military ensures that the soldiers train and practice battle strategies as a preparation for the next combat. The practice includes the introduction of new strategies and weapons that would influence their success. The military also ensures that their equipment and weapons are maintained ready. The military also recruited and trained more soldiers to replace those that got killed or injured in war. The soldiers ensured they were in the best form in terms of skills, weapons, and numbers. The military also created support services during these periods that enabled them to respond fast to war. These support strategies included support organization that moved supply to long distances within the effective duration.

In conclusion, as individuals celebrate the veteran’s day they

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Many American soldiers lost their lives during the war. The Americans wore tin helmets that never stopped the bullets from killing them. Through experience, the soldiers became wiser. Earl Davison worked with the United States Artillery, notes that the Americans were eager to fight and win the war. The Americans fought against the Germans by applying various strategies. These strategies included taking positions in the edge of trees to counter-attack the Germans. The actions of the American soldiers greatly influenced the success of the war. Despite the nationality differences and disagreements between the French and the Americans, they actively fought along each other to influence success. The Americans created connections with the French no only through the war field but also through other amenities. They shared their cigarettes with the British.

Despite the success gained on the war front, the experience faced by the soldiers was traumatic. Harvey Maness served with the US Army on the Western Front and reflected the experiences he faced. According to Maness, the war was hell and useless. He considers himself fortunate to get out of the war alive. Maness notes that many American soldiers went in the war with the idea that the war gets to end other wars. The soldiers knew they had to perform their duties as soldiers despite the units' reduction as they lost soldiers.

War of Independence

The independence war occurred between the British and the American soldiers. The British soldiers fought to ensure they sustained their colonies' control while the American soldiers fought to attain their political independence. The war was fought between 1775 and 1783 and led to 13 American states gaining their independence. The revolutionary war had the highest number of casualties than all the other American wars. The soldiers who participated in the revolution reflected on some of the experiences. A British soldier argues that the Americans' revolutionary war got won because they had more strategies and dedication than the British soldiers. The British soldiers got trained in Britain and fought in America. These changes in the environment affected their fighting efficiency. The British had limited supplies of food and war equipment, which affected their concentration on the war. During the revolutionary war, many civilians were forced through the states to provide men who would become continental soldiers for America. The American soldiers had more advantages due to the environment and purpose. American soldiers had better strategies to fight. The American soldiers got to master the guerilla warfare tactics and applied them against the British. While the British easily gave up on the war, the Americans got motivated by their desire to protect their lives and lifestyle.

• The Civil War

The civil war occurred between the United States of America and the confederate state of America in 1861. The soldiers who participated in the war had different reasons to participate. Most of the soldiers participated in ending slavery. During the war, many soldiers experienced difficulties since they lacked food supply. One of the soldiers who volunteered to support the United States of America notes that the soldiers were trained in a big military school. He adds that they faced difficulties trying to survive as they ate through hunting and picking of fruits. Diseases also affected soldiers who frequently died. The United States of America soldiers had less power but more troops than the united state of America soldiers. They recorded more casualties on the battlefield than their rivals. The soldiers conducted a surprise attack on the Confederate soldiers to reduce the casualties on their side. For instance, the soldiers attacked Dalton, Georgia, to capture the city after the confederate withdrew their troops.

• Native American Wars

Native American Wars include the conflicts between the colonial and the Native Americans, including the Indians and other tribes. Read More