Life — October 31, 1918 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "When Our Lads Come Home" This page presents two related illustrations about soldiers returning from World War I. The article discusses the anticipated homecoming of two million American troops sent to Europe, expressing uncertainty about reintegration timelines and the soldiers' changed character after years of warfare and military discipline. The top cartoon shows a dog greeting a returning soldier at a doorway, captioned "Hurrah! A letter for us!" The bottom illustration depicts two women (likely wives or mothers) discussing the soldiers' return. The satire addresses anxiety about how war-hardened veterans—now trained in obedience, leadership, and having witnessed death—would readjust to civilian life and whether they'd accept civilian authority or struggle with displacement and changed perspectives after their transformative wartime experiences.