Greatest Generation

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The Greatest Generation is a term coined by journalist Tom Brokaw to describe the generation of Americans^[1] who grew up during the deprivation of the Great Depression, and then went on to fight in World War II, as well as those whose productivity within the war's home front made a decisive material contribution to the war effort. Some of those who survived the war then went on to build and rebuild United States industries in the years following the war. It follows the Lost Generation of the 1880s who fought in World War I and precedes the Silent Generation of the 1930s. On a world scale this generation is often referred to as "The Veterans". U.S. Presidents between 1945 and 1995 took part in World War II. The most famous were: Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and George H. W. Bush.

Contents 1 Tom Brokaw's book 2 Recruits 3 Famous members 4 See also 5 References 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Tom Brokaw's book

Broadcast journalist Tom Brokaw wrote in his 1998 book The Greatest Generation, "this is the greatest generation any society has produced." He argued that the men and women fought not for the fame and recognition, but because it was the right thing to do. When they came back they rebuilt America into a Superpower. The book was a great popular success.^[2] Some critics and historians found the phenomenon overblown, or simplistic.^[3][4] Others felt an implied criticism of the Baby Boom Generation, and defended that generation's social values against those of the Greatest Generation.^[5]

In their 1991 book Generations, the historians William Strauss and Neil Howe use the term "G.I. Generation" to describe those born in the United States from about 1901 through 1924.

[edit] Recruits

"Despite the fact that the US Army was willing to accept virtually anyone over five feet tall who weighed more than 105lb and who had 12 or more of his own teeth, 40 per cent of citizens failed these basic criteria."^[6][7]

"Signficantly less well trained than their opponents, three out of four American soldiers did not shoot to good effect in combat." ^[8]

[edit] Famous members

• Jimmy Carter: (b.1924), 39th President of the United States.
• Truman Capote: (1924-1984), a writer most famous for the novel In Cold Blood
• Joe Foss: (1915-2003), WWII USMC fighter ace, Governor of South Dakota, featured prominently in Brokaw's book
• John F. Kennedy: (1917-1963), 35th President of the United States
• JD Salinger: (b.1919), an author best known for the controversial 1951 novel, The Catcher in the Rye
• George H.W. Bush: (b.1924), 41st President of the United States
• Walter Cronkite: (1916-2009), reporter for CBS News from 1951 to 1997
• Joe DiMaggio: (1914-1999), famous player for the New York Yankees
• Billy Graham: (b.1918), televangelist
• Ted Williams: (1915-2002), famous baseball player for Boston Red Sox, fought in WWII and Korean War
• Richard Winters: (b.1918), WWII veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, famous for his portrayal in Band of Brothers

[edit] See also

• Military history of the United States during World War II
• United States home front during World War II
• Great Depression in the United States

[edit] References

[edit] References

• The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw (1998)
• The Great Boom 1950-2000: How a Generation of Americans Created the World's Most Prosperous Society by Robert Sobel
• Generations by Strauss and Howe (1992)

[edit] External links

• Booknotes interview with Tom Brokaw on The Greatest Generation, March 7, 1999.

Preceded by Interbellum Generation (1900-1913)

Greatest Generation (1914-1924)

Succeeded by Silent Generation (1925-1939)