The Bonus Army Camp Destroyed: Use of Tear Gas
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The Bonus Army Camp Destroyed: Use of Tear Gas
Use of tear gas bombs by United States troops against war veterans in the clearnance of the Bonus Army encampment at Washington. The troops, wearing tin helmets and gas masks, with their bayonets fixed, approach gassed and coughing black veterans as they are forced to leave an occupied area. Date: July 1932
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Media ID 14117378
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
1932 Bayonets Bombs Bonus Coughing Destroyed Encampment Fight Fixed Gassed Helmets Masks Protest Riot Tear Veterans Washington Weapons
The Bonus Army Camp Destroyed - Use of Tear Gas, July 1932
EDITORS COMMENTS
is a powerful and poignant image that captures the raw emotion and chaos of a pivotal moment in American history. The photograph depicts the aftermath of the clearing of the Bonus Army encampment in Washington D.C., an event that came to be known as the "Battle of Anacostia Flats." In the foreground, United States troops, clad in tin helmets and gas masks, advance towards a group of gassed and coughing veterans. Their bayonets are fixed, adding to the sense of tension and violence in the scene. The veterans, many of whom are black, are seen huddled together, some covering their faces with their hands or clothing, as they are forced to leave their occupied area. The Bonus Army was a group of World War I veterans who had assembled in Washington D.C. in May 1932, demanding early payment of their bonus certificates. They had set up an encampment near the Capitol Building, and their numbers grew to over 15,000 by the time of the clearing operation. President Hoover, fearing a potential riot, ordered the military to disperse the encampment using force. The use of tear gas bombs marked the beginning of the end for the Bonus Army. The veterans, many of whom were suffering from respiratory problems due to the gas, were eventually driven out of the area, and the encampment was destroyed. The incident highlighted the plight of the veterans and the economic hardships faced by many Americans during the Great Depression. This photograph is a stark reminder of a dark chapter in American history, and serves as a testament to the courage and determination of those who fought for their rights and the sacrifices they made in the name of justice. The image is a valuable historical document, and its haunting depiction of the human cost of conflict continues to resonate with audiences today.
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