WWI Doughboys and the 1920s: What Happened Next

The guns fell silent on November 11, 1918. But for millions of American “Doughboys” — the nickname given to U.S. infantrymen in World War I — the story didn’t end there. They returned home changed, stepping into a country that barely resembled the one they’d left. As the 1920s roared into life, veterans tried to rejoin a world moving faster than ever before.

Some blended in. Others struggled. A few stood out. And their second lives often left behind records that are waiting for you to discover.

A Nation Changed — And So Were They

More than 4 million Americans served in World War I. For many, it was their first time out of their home state — or even off the farm. They’d traveled across the ocean, faced trench warfare, poison gas, and artillery fire. And when they came back, they weren’t the same boys who left.

Yet the country was changing, too.

The 1920s were a dizzying decade of economic growth, jazz clubs, Prohibition, rapid industrialization, and social change. The war was supposed to make the world “safe for democracy,” but many veterans felt disoriented, disconnected, or forgotten.

Some marched straight back into daily life. Others found a new sense of purpose — or unrest — in the cultural shifts ahead.

The Bonus That Never Came

One of the first clues to a veteran’s postwar frustration comes in the fight for compensation. Congress offered a $60 bonus check upon discharge — hardly generous for months or years of service. Over time, agitation grew for more substantial benefits.

In 1924, the World War Adjusted Compensation Act passed, granting every WWI veteran a certificate promising payment in 1945. It was too little, too late — especially as the Great Depression approached. Many veterans joined what became known as the Bonus Army in 1932, marching on Washington to demand early payment.

If your ancestor was a WWI vet who struggled financially or who seemed politically active in the 1930s, the Bonus March may be a missing puzzle piece in their story.

What Records Can Tell You

For genealogists, the 1920s are rich with records — and WWI veterans often left strong trails if you know where to look.

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