The Silent Generation, “The Lucky Few” were born between 1929 and 1945. The generation was ushered in on the wings of the collapse of the stockmarket and the ensuing Great Depression Era. The generation began its working life on the jubilation of the end of World War Two. Only forty milllion souls were born during that time. In the first half everyone was afraid to have children during the depression, and in the second half, all of the men were overseas fighting the axis of evil.
What happened is illustrated in the graph above (click on it for a better view). Less people were born in this generation than the generation previous and the generations following. Though is isn’t grossly apparent, the irony is that ‘The Lucky Few” enjoyed the most prosperity, the highest level of education, the widest levels of career opportunities, the least amount of war anxiety and the finest retirement.
Prosperity and Career opportunity. “The Lucky Few” had the most job opportunities and the least amount of people to fill them. Their services were sought after and their salaries and benefits were substantial.
Education. The majority of this generation was born on the farm, and left to seek a better life. More “Lucky Few” sought higher education than the generations before them, and set the standard for the generations that followed.
War anxiety. The fighting age is considered to be between 18 and 24 years of age. WWII had ended by the time the Lucky Few reached eighteen. They were ripe for the Korean War, however, at age twenty one, but it was a short war, not claiming a lot of American lives, less than 37,000, ten percent of which died from other than battle wounds.
Retirement. Because there were more jobs and careers than “Lucky Few” to fill them they were offered retirement packages, they purchased IRA’s, and FDR wanted them to have Socially Secured Golden Years.
We don’t really know anything about a generation until it has been lived. Born in 1937 and living the life of a “Lucky Few”, however, I always knew that I was living America’s Golden Age.
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