Internet Left Four Generations of Veterans Forgotten About

There are five generations of war veterans alive in this country today.

In 2011, there were six.

Last American WWI Veteran
Feb 28, 2011
Frank Buckles was repeatedly rejected by military recruiters and got into uniform at 16 after lying about his age. He would later become the last surviving U.S. veteran of World War I. (Feb. 28)

When we think about veterans in this country, far too many forget there are a lot more of the other 4 generations.

Take a look at the publication from the Department of Veterans Affairs on pre-Internet veterans.

These are their numbers up to 1991 as of May 2015

Living War Veteran 16,962,000
Living Veterans (Periods of War and Peace) 23,234,000

WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War veterans still alive but as far as the press is concerned, the only ones worthy of reporting on are Post Internet veterans.

War on Terror, Afghanistan and Iraq

War on Terror 2001–present 294,043,000

When you look at these numbers maybe you can explain to all the other veterans why they no longer matter. After all, when you consider all the donations going to the Post-Internet generation, all the hearings and bills passed by congress and all the news reports focused on them, it shows the other four generations of veterans have been forgotten about.

They experienced all the same wounds. They waited longer for those wounds to be treated by the VA for decades while most citizens have been deluded into thinking all the issues War on Terror veterans go through are new.

The other generations are the majority of the veterans living on the streets.

23% of homeless population are veterans
33% of male homeless population are veterans
47% Vietnam Era
17% post-Vietnam
15% pre-Vietnam
67% served three or more years
33% stationed in war zone
25% have used VA Homeless Services
85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans
89% received Honorable Discharge
79% reside in central cities
16% reside in suburban areas
5% reside in rural areas
76% experience alcohol, drug, or mental health problems
46% white males compared to 34% non-veterans
46% age 45 or older compared to 20% non-veterans

They are the majority of veterans within the VA claim backlog. They are the majority of veterans committing suicide. They are the minority of news reports.

While the veterans organizations fighting for their care began generations ago, those same organizations are struggling to find financial support while billions a year are donated to others with huge Internet PR exposures.

Until all veterans from all generations are treated equally we will continue to see one generation being more important than all others. If veterans continue to be the project of a few instead of the priority of a grateful nation, then they will never received what they deserve. All of them deserved better from all of us.