Final answer:
The narrator distinguishes combat veterans from those with office jobs in war, noting combat veterans often carry deeper psychological trauma from direct exposure to danger and loss. The G.I. Bill provided substantial assistance to veterans, though not all were able to equally benefit from these opportunities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference the narrator sees in veterans who 'really fought' and those who had office jobs is significant. Veterans who experienced combat are often described as having a more profound understanding of the horrors and reality of war, having lived through intense and life-threatening situations.
In contrast, those with office jobs during the war might not physically bear the scars of combat or exhibit the same level of psychological trauma commonly seen in combat veterans.
The difference likely exists due to the direct exposure to the violence, fear, and loss that combat entails, which can leave indelible marks on an individual's psyche and character.
During World War II, soldiers who 'really fought' in the trenches or in battlefields were directly confronted with the deadly seriousness of war, which was far removed from the accounts that glorified war as a rite of passage.
This could lead to a more subdued or realistic view of war among combat veterans, in contrast to those who served in non-combat roles and were not exposed to the same level of danger or horror.
Many combat veterans chose silence over sharing their traumatic experiences, while those without frontline experiences may have had a more sanitized view of the war, reflective of the popular but fictionalized narratives of the time.
In terms of the aftermath of the war, the G.I. Bill played a significant role in providing government assistance to veterans, allowing them to make use of educational opportunities, housing loans, and other benefits that facilitated their re-integration into civilian life.
However, not all veterans were able to take advantage of these opportunities, with disparities existing due to a variety of factors, such as social class, race, and the degree to which an individual was affected by their wartime experiences.