[Wisconsin Magazine of History World War II Veterans at the University of Wisconsin KEITH W. OLSON Some British Reflections on Turner and the Frontier JIM POTTER The War Department's Defense of ROTC, 1920-1940 RONALD SCHAFFER Confidential Dispatch to the British Foreign Office Edited by THOMAS E. HACHEY The Atomic Bomb As History MARTIN J. SHERWIN Published by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin / Vol. 53, No. 2 / Winter, 1969-1970 THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN RICHARD A. EHNEY, Acting Director Officers THOMAS H. BARLAND, President GEORGE BANTA, JR., Honorary Vice-President JOHN C. GEILFUSS, First Vice-President E. E. HOMSTAD, Treasurer CLIFFORD D. SWANSON, Second Vice-President RICHARD A. ERNEY, Acting Secretary Board of Curators Ex-Officio WARREN P. KNOWLES, Governor of the State HAROLD W. CLEMENS, State Treasurer ROBERT C. ZIMMERMAN, Secretary of State FRED H. HARRINGTON, President of the University MRS. GEORGE SWART, President of the Women's Auxiliary Term Expires, 1970 THOMAS H. BARLAND MRS. EDWARD C. JONES HOWARD W. MEAD DONALD C. SLIGHTER Eau Claire Fort Atkinson Madison Milwaukee JIM DAN HILL MRS. RAYMOND J. KOLTES FREDERICK I. OLSON DR. LOUIS C. SMITH Middleton Madison Wauwatosa Lancaster E. E. HOMSTAD CHARLES R. MCCALLUM F. HARWOOD ORBISON ROBERT S. ZIGMAN Black River Falls Hubertus Appleton Milwaukee Term Expires, 1971 ROGER E. AXTELL KENNETH W. HAAGENSEN MOWRY SMITH MILO K. SWANTON Janesville Oconomowoc Neenah Madison MRS. HENRY BALDWIN ROBERT B. L. MURPHY MRS. WM. H. L. SMYTHE CEDRIC A. VIG Wisconsin Rapids Madison Milwaukee Rhinelander HORACE M. BENSTEAD FREDERIC E. RISSEB WILLIAM F. STARK CLARK WILKINSON Racine Madison Nashotah Baraboo Term Expires, 1972 E. DAvro CRONON MRS. ROBERT E. FRIEND MRS. HOWARD T. GREENE WAYNE J. HOOD Madison Hartland Genesee Depot • La Crosse SCOTT M. CUTLIP ROBERT A. GEHRKE BEN GUTHRIE J. WARD RECTOR Madison Ripon Lac du Flambeau Milwaukee W. NORMAN FITZGERALD JOHN C. GEILFUSS MRS. R. L. HARTZELL CLIFFORD D. SWANSON Milwaukee Milwaukee GRANTSBURG Stevens Point Honorary Honorary Life Members WILLIAM ASHBY MCCLOY, New London, Connecticut PRESTON E. MCNALL, Clearwater, Florida MRS. LITTA BASCOM, Berkeley, California JOHN C. JACQUES, Madison DOROTHY L. PARK, Madison BENTON H. WILCOX, Madison Fellows VERNON CARSTENSEN MERLE CURTI ALICE E. SMITH The Women's Auxiliary Officers MRS. GEORGE SWART, Fort Atkinson, President MISS MARIE BARKMAN, Sheboygan, Vice-President Miss RUTH DAVIS, Madison, Secretary MRS. RICHARD G. ZIMMERMAN, Sheboygan, Treasurer MRS. EDWARD H. RIKKERS, Madison, Ex-Officio VOLUME 53, NUMBER 2 / WINTER, 1969-1970 isconsin of History WILLIAM CONVERSE HAYCOOD, Editor WILLIAM C. MARTEN, Associate Editor World War II Veterans at the University of Wisconsin 83 KEITH W. OLSON Some British Reflections on Turner and the Frontier 98 JIM POTTER The War Department's Defense of ROTC, 1920-1940 108 RONALD SCHAFFER Confidential Dispatch to the British Foreign Office: A Journalist's Analysis of American Politics in 1920 121 Edited by THOMAS E. HACHEY The Atomic Bomb As History: An Essay Review 128 MARTIN J. SHERWIN 135 Book Reviews 157 Accessions Contributors 159 Published Quarterly by The State Historical Society of Wisconsin THE WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY is published by contributors. Second-class postage paid at Madison, quarterly by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Wis. Copyright © 1970 by the State Historical Society of 816 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. Distributed Wisconsin. Paid for in part by the Maria L. and Simeon to members as part of their dues (Annual membership, Mills Editorial Fund and by the George B. Burrows Fund. $7.50; Family membership, $10; Contributing, $25; Busi­ Wisconsin newspapers may reprint any article appearing in ness and Professional, $50; Sustaining, $100 or more an­ the WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY providing the nually; Patron, $500 or more annually). Single numbers, story carries the following credit line: Reprinted from the $1.75. Microfilmed copies available through University State Historical Society's Wisconsin Magazine of History Microfilms, 313 North First Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan. for [insert the season and year which appear on the Maga­ Communications should be addressed to the editor. The zine]. Society does not assume responsibility for statements made Tents pitched on the campus and accompanied by appropriate signs called Madisonians attention to the desperate need for more housing for veterans. 82 WORLD WAR II VETERANS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN By KEITH W. OLSON "17 ROM 1946 to 1950 students who were dent that Congress would provide financial •*- veterans of World War II dominated the assistance to veterans who wished to return to University of Wisconsin. During these years school, the faculty Steering Committee on the majority of male students were veterans, Post-War University Problems recommended and for the first three years of this period veter­ that the University create a separate commit­ ans constituted the majority of all students. tee to deal with special educational problems Older and more experienced than any previous of veterans. In making its recommendation, college generation, veterans earned higher the Steering Committee suggested two guide­ grades than nonveteran students, shattered en­ lines for the University to follow in its treat­ rollment records, intensified traditional admin­ ment of veterans: "The general policy of the istrative problems, and created a colorful social University should be to absorb the war vet­ and intellectual chapter in the University's erans into the general student body as far as history. possible and to organize separate courses and Early in World War II the faculty formally provide special services only as the desirabil­ expressed its awareness that veterans would ity for these is clearly evident," and the Uni­ enroll at the University after their military versity "should permit a maximum of flexi­ service ended, and because of their experience, bility in such matters as entrance require­ veterans deserved special treatment. At their ments, attainment examinations and substitu­ meeting of February 9, 1942, the faculty ap­ tion of courses or the earning of credit by ex­ proved a motion which granted ten elective amination, but without any lowering of the college credits to former enlisted men, and standards of quality."^ The faculty, adminis­ fifteen credits to former officers, who had tration, and Regents accepted the committee's served in the military for more than three guidelines, which established the basis for Uni­ months.^ Two years later, when it was evi- versity treatment of veterans and which proved wise and successful. The Committee on Veteran Education, appointed by President Clarence A. Dykstra, served as a co-ordinating agency to ADTHOR'S NOTE: The author acknowledges that carry out the policy recommendations of the the research reported in this article was performed pursuant to a contract with the United States Depart­ faculty Steering Committee in matters of ad­ ment of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of mission, organization of special courses and Education, under the provisions of the Co-operative services, academic placement, counseling, and Research Program. ^ In December, 1945, the faculty eliminated the dif­ instruction of veterans. ferential between war credits granted enlisted men and officers. Thereafter both groups received fifteen credits. War credits did not apply to Graduate, Law, or Medical schools, and applied to engineering and " The University of Wisconsin Press Bulletin, Feb­ pharmacy students only by special permission. Daily ruary 23, 1944, box 3, file 5/11, University of Wiscon­ Cardinal, November 6, December 1, 4, 1945. sin Archives. 83 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY WINTER, 1969-1970 The special consideration and assistance cial nonacademic services. Initially the Office veterans received divided into two categories, of Personnel Council cared for veteran records, education and service. In March, 1944, the counseled veterans, and maintained liaison faculty approved a long list of preferential edu­ with state agencies concerned with veterans, cational treatment. For example, if a veteran but as the number of veterans returning to had fewer than the sixteen high school units campus increased, the University established, required for admission, he could substitute in the autumn of 1945, the Office of Veteran four of the fifteen special war credits for each Affairs (OVA) and the Veterans Business Of­ unit he lacked, and if this were still insufficient fice (VBO). The OVA counseled University he could apply on a war-veteran basis and be veterans as to their rights and privileges under admitted upon providing satisfactory evidence state and federal law and assisted them in ap­ (oral or perhaps a written qualifying examina­ plication to, changes in, and problems of their tion) that he was capable of doing college educational program. This office, which in 1946 work. Veterans could apply toward a degree employed the time of one and one-half men, certain college-level work completed in service also conducted liaison duties with the United schools and in military training programs. States Veterans Administration (regional of­ Veterans were exempt from the military science fice, local office, hospital, guidance center), the and physical education courses which were Governor's Educational Advisement Commit­ compulsory for other students. The faculty tee, and the Wisconsin Department of Veteran stipulated that