Ever hear of the Bonus Army?

In 1918 World War 1 combatants were promised a cash bonus - combat compensation payable, in 1945. Most never had a problem with this, it would work sort of the way a pension would. Unfortunately, the Great depression occurred, out of work, the loss of their homes, and no way to feed their families the veterans were in dire straits. In 1932 a group of Portland OR. vets met in a railroad freight yard, waving flags and blowing bugles they formed the "Bonus Army" with the plan of going to Washington to collect their Bonus early. As the Army moved across the country (with their families) other veterans joined the march. They arrived in Washington in droves, hanging off cars, trucks,  and buses and rolled in on boxcars on the railroads. Roughly 47,000 people rolled in, Veterans with their wives and children and set up camp at Anacostia. Many people in Washington sided with the Vets even stopping by to visit with them and bring them food. On June 15th the House of Representatives passed a bill to pay the bonus. The Senate...turned it down. 

Everyone believed the Bonus Army would go home, While the ranks did lessen the Bonus Army let it be known they were there to stay.

President Hoover and his Administration began to Panic, and on July 28 the Washington DC Police were sent in to evict the Veterans. 

The evacuation went peacefully until someone threw a brick, the Police responded with force.

 Two members of the Bonus Army were shot. A Riot quickly ensued, President Hoover sent in the Army led by general MacArthur to evict the Bonus Army and burn the Camp.

The pictures and story spread across the Country, The U.S.Army attacking the Army that won the Great War. The Public was outraged and forced Washington to deal with the Veteran issue.

 It still took 4 more years, until 1936, before the Veterans received their Bonus Money.

 In response to this action and with the amount of Americans currently fighting World War 2, in 1944, Congress passed the G.I.Bill.