Abstract

World War II (WWII) veterans belong to the unique cohort of the oldest old who have made tremendous contributions to society in the twentieth century. They possess a unique generational identity formed over their lifetimes, particularly through the process of life review. This qualitative study explored the identities of eighty WWII veterans as well as the values and feelings connected to those identities through semi-structured interviews. Of the eighty veterans interviewed, this study focused on the analyses of twenty-two healthy pilots and eight veterans with dementia. Among the analyzed identities were narrative identity, identity as a survivor, and identity as a veteran. Both groups demonstrated the same identities overall but expressed them differently. The pilot group produced coherent and highly detailed narratives of important events related to their time in the service. The veterans with dementia were unable to produce full narratives due to their cognitive deficits but created mini narratives through which to express their identities. They occasionally utilized communication strategies, such as repetition, to ensure the clarity of their mini narratives. The veterans demonstrated wisdom through statements of tolerance, empathy, and critical scrutiny of the war. The process of life review was crucial to the strong identity of veterans. Life review enabled veterans to reexamine their values and emotions, further shaping their identities. This process led to the development of wisdom and the inherent need to be generative. The generative desire to share their wisdom and experiences with society was exhibited through a willingness to share testimonies and participation in veteran associations, authorship of books, and speeches at events and schools.