ONLY 600,000 VETS AVAILABLE FOR BATTLE SERVICE BY 1925
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 11, 1923, the Associated Press reports "men who shared with (General John J.) Pershing the great adventure in France are passing off the stage as America's defenders."
According to "official charts...their place already is being taken by the younger brothers of the A.E.F.* "Tomorrow," the A.P. continues, "it will be their sons who stand ready to fight..."
By January 1, 1920, 3 million doughboys** had been discharged from the army and by 1925 only 600,000 veterans will be available for "battle service." That number will drop to 423,000 by 1930.
*A.E.F. (American Expeditionary Forces) a formation of the United States Army in Western France during WWI established on July 5 1917 under command of General Pershing. AEF HQ at Chaumont, France. Total # of soldiers in 1918, 2,057,675.
**doughboys is a popular term for American infantrymen in WWI. The origin of the term is unknown but among the possibilities are because of their fondness for doughnuts served by the Red Cross and the shape of their uniform buttons.
SOURCE
"Great U.S. Army of '20 Fades; Soon Sons Must Defend Flag," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., February 11, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
