William Hushka
Title
William Hushka
Description
William Hushka, an immigrant from Lithuania, was a World War I US Army veteran who joined the 1932 Bonus Marchers in their campaign to secure early payment of veterans' pensions from the government. Along with fellow veteran and marcher Eric Carlson, Hushka was shot and killed by police as they were trying to evict the Bonus Marchers from their encampment in Washington. He was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery less than a week after being shot.
Creator
Source
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. View original photograph.
Coverage
First Name
William
Last Name
Hushka
Birth Date
1895
Birthplace
Lithuania
Death Date
07/28/1932
Biographical Text
Hushka was born in Lithuania and moved to the United States at some point before World War I, settling in Missouri. When war broke out, he sold his butcher shop, leaving the money with his wife while he joined the Army. At that time became a citizen of the United States. After the war he had trouble keeping a job, and his wife divorced him.
High unemployment rates due to the Great Depression motivated World War I veterans to press for their pension payments. The Bonus March was a protest and occupation of the National Mall by nearly 43,000 demonstrators. Some camped on the Mall or nearby, while others occupied government-owned buildings near the Mall.
On July 28, 1932, Attorney General William D. Mitchell ordered the protesters be removed from the Mall. Resistance to police pressure led to an outbreak of violence. Many were injured, but Hushka was killed and Eric Carlson mortally wounded.
When the police proved unable to evict the marchers, Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur brought soldiers onto the Mall, supported by six tanks, to remove the remaining demonstrators and burn their shelters and belongings.
High unemployment rates due to the Great Depression motivated World War I veterans to press for their pension payments. The Bonus March was a protest and occupation of the National Mall by nearly 43,000 demonstrators. Some camped on the Mall or nearby, while others occupied government-owned buildings near the Mall.
On July 28, 1932, Attorney General William D. Mitchell ordered the protesters be removed from the Mall. Resistance to police pressure led to an outbreak of violence. Many were injured, but Hushka was killed and Eric Carlson mortally wounded.
When the police proved unable to evict the marchers, Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur brought soldiers onto the Mall, supported by six tanks, to remove the remaining demonstrators and burn their shelters and belongings.