Veteran Research and Essay Project

Your Veteran: George Washington

Directions for the Paper and Report:

In three pages, you will write a report of how the veteran, that was chosen for you, felt about his or her service to the country.  Please follow the general format below.

Paragraph 1:  A brief biography of the person.  Answer questions like: Where and how did they grow up? Tell about their life before they went into the service.

Paragraphs 2 and 3:  Describe and retell the individuals service to the country. Answer questions like What is one of the most memorable stories about the veteran?  What are some of the things you learned about the veteran through research?  (AT LEAST 2 paragraphs here. If it takes more that is fine)

Paragraphs 4-5: Tell about the war that your veteran fought or served in. For paragraph 4, answer the who, what, when, where and whys of the war/event.  For paragraph 5, what were the results, ramifications, significance of the war/event/or place?

Paragraph 6: Your thoughts and reflections on the veteran and their service: things like… what did you learn about the veteran that you didnt know before, what did you learn about yourself through the research of the veteran, and such like that.
Questions to think about when writing your paper.
Were they drafted or did they enlist?
Where were they living at the time?
Why did they join?
Which war(s) did they serve in (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf)?
Where exactly did they go?
What was their job/assignment?
Did they see combat?
Were there many casualties in their unit?
Were they a prisoner of war?
Were they awarded any medals or citations?
How did they get them?
How did they stay in touch with their family?
What was the food like?
Did they have plenty of supplies?
Did they feel pressure or stress?
Was there something special they did for “good luck”?
How did people entertain themselves?
Were there entertainers?
What did they do when on leave?
Where did they travel while in the service?
Do they recall the day their service ended?
What did they do in the days and weeks afterward?
Did they work or go back to school?
Was their education supported by the G.I. Bill?
Did they make any close friendships while in the service?
Did they continue any of those relationships?
Did they join a veterans organization?
What did they go on to do as a career after the war?
Did their military experience influence their thinking about war or about the military in general?
How did their service and experiences affect their life?
Is there any other interesting information you can find about the veteran?