The recent death of Senator Daniel K. Inouye, a celebrated World
War II veteran, coincided in many ways with the waning influence
of veterans in American politics. There are now only three World
War II veterans in Congress: Senator Frank Lautenberg of New
Jersey, Representative Ralph Hall of Texas and Representative
John D. Dingell of Michigan. Over all, the number of veterans
joining Congress has perpetuated a four-decade-long slide. But
military veterans still have significant political clout. Former
Senator John Kerry, a Vietnam veteran, was recently confirmed as
secretary of state, and former Senator Chuck Hagel, also a
Vietnam veteran, has been nominated for defense secretary. If
Mr. Hagel is confirmed, President Obama’s cabinet will have
three Vietnam veterans (the third being Eric Shinseki, secretary
of the Department of Veteran Affairs.) Although the overall
number of veterans in Congress has decreased, the election of
Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is on the rise. Of the 89 military
veterans in the Ho