Michael D. Gambone, a history professor and author of 'The New Praetorians', dives deep into the complexities of American veterans in society. He discusses the reintegration challenges that modern veterans face and the generational differences in their experiences. Gambone also examines the evolution of veteran educational benefits, highlighting exploitation by for-profit schools. The roles of women veterans and their unique challenges are explored, alongside the portrayal of veterans in popular culture, revealing a rich narrative that reshapes our understanding of their identity.
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Gambone's Military-To-Academic Journey
Michael Gambone's military experience shaped his research on veterans deeply.
His time in Iraq and teaching veterans brought unique insights and a bridge for understanding military-civilian gaps.
insights INSIGHT
Veterans as a Distinct Tribe
Modern veterans form a distinct tribe or subculture, separate from mainstream society.
The term 'New Praetorians' highlights their unique agency and societal role as both exemplars and perceived threats.
insights INSIGHT
Volunteer Force Shapes Veterans' Experience
Post-9/11 veterans differ from previous generations due to volunteer enlistment.
Extended tours increase separation from society and compound physical and mental tolls.
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The New Praetorians, American Veterans, Society, and Service from Vietnam to the Forever War
The New Praetorians, American Veterans, Society, and Service from Vietnam to the Forever War
Michael D. Gambone
How White Men Won the Culture Wars
How White Men Won the Culture Wars
Joe Darda
First Blood
David Morrell
First Blood is a novel by David Morrell that tells the story of John Rambo, a troubled Vietnam veteran who becomes embroiled in a violent confrontation with Sheriff Wilfred Teasle in rural Kentucky. The novel delves into themes of post-traumatic stress disorder, masculinity, and the consequences of war, offering a complex portrayal of both characters as they engage in a relentless pursuit through the wilderness.
Tribe
On Homecoming and Belonging
Sebastian Junger
In 'Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging', Sebastian Junger delves into the human desire for community and belonging. Drawing from history, psychology, and anthropology, Junger examines why many individuals, including combat veterans, often feel a stronger sense of belonging in tribal or wartime environments than in modern society. He argues that the lack of community in affluent societies can lead to feelings of isolation and depression, while disasters and wars can paradoxically bring people together and foster a sense of unity. The book challenges the notion that modern society is superior to tribal societies, highlighting the benefits of egalitarianism and community found in the latter. Junger also discusses how the absence of these communal bonds can affect veterans returning from war and suggests that societal changes could help reintegrate them and improve overall societal well-being.
Contemporary veterans belong to an exclusive American group. Celebrated by most of the country, they are nevertheless often poorly understood by the same people who applaud their service. Following the introduction of an all-volunteer force after the war in Vietnam, only a tiny fraction of Americans now join the armed services, making the contemporary soldier, and the veteran by extension, increasingly less representative of mainstream society. Veterans have come to comprise their own distinct tribe--modern praetorians, permanently set apart from society by what they have seen and experienced. In an engrossing narrative that considers the military, economic, political, and social developments affecting military service after Vietnam, Michael D. Gambone investigates how successive generations have intentionally shaped their identity as veterans. The New Praetorians: American Veterans, Society, and Service from Vietnam to the Forever War(University of Massachusetts Press, 2021) also highlights the impact of their homecoming, the range of educational opportunities open to veterans, the health care challenges they face, and the unique experiences of minority and women veterans. This groundbreaking study illustrates an important and often neglected group that is key to our understanding of American social history and civil-military affairs.
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