The first story I read was about World War II, and how many people do not understand how big of an impact it made on America. After the war, many individuals' lives were changed drastically because there were limited amounts of job offers, job losses, loss of money, and people who were benefitting from the New Deal suffered because it was stopped, and the focus of America was changed to winning the war rather than helping people in need. Not only were individuals' lives changed, but America was changed as a whole. After the war, Americans started to expect more, and to live better lives because America became the most powerful industrial and military power in the world after winning a great war. World War II also influenced many Americans to believe that going to war was a good thing because of how great the outcome of World War II was. Many people today do not understand that America is the way it is today because of World War II, and it is very upsetting to people who risked their lives while fighting for their nation. "It appears that the disremembrance of World War II is as disturbingly profound as the forgettery of the Great Depression: World War II, an event that changed the psyche as well as the face of the U.S. and of the world." (161) Although many soldiers fought in a war and risked their lives, they are not regretful at all for doing so because they had experiences that they have never had before, and they felt like good people because they were protecting their nation. This article relates to rationing, which was when people had to cut back on many things, such as food, and drinks because the soldiers needed more of those things in order to win the war. People had to change their way of living and give up many of their things to help the soldiers win the war. This story also connects to the tragedy of 9/11 because America was greatly impacted by it, and many changes were made. After 9/11 occurred, Americans' lives have been affected because people have lost many of their loved ones. This tragedy connects to World War II because America was changed after the war, and many people lost their loved ones.
The second story I read was written by a Robert Rasmus, a rifleman during war. He talks about his experience during the war, and how it has changed him as a person. Robert trained with his group, but had to be switched to another one because he got sick. His original group ended up fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, and many were killed. Robert grew up in an isolated household, so going to war and seeing people being killed right in front of him was not something he could easily adjust to. He and his new group were sent to Germany, and at first it seemed as if he forgot the reason why he was there because he was so intrigued by the architecture. The members of Robert's group were all very young, and they fought very mild battles while other soldiers participated in the more dangerous ones. Although Robert and his group had easier duties than many other groups, they all witnessed what war was really like and it changed them as people.
"World War Two was utterly different. It has affected me in many ways ever since. I think my judgement of people is more circumspect...In a shore period of time, I had the most tremendous experiences of all of life: of fear, orf jubilance, of misery, of hope, of comradeship, and of the endless excitement, the theatrics of it. I honestly feel grateful for having been a witness to an event as monumental as anything in history, and in a very small way, a participant." (189) Although Robert did not play a huge role in the war, he was still happy to witness it because it made him a better person after going out of his comfort zone. This story relates to the Selective Service Act, an act that drafted men to be soldiers in the army, and Rasmus was selected to fight in the war. Robert Rasmus's story also relates to the soldiers who are coming back from Afghanistan because they have become different people after what they saw during the war, just like Robert Rasmus did when he came back from World War II.
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