History Main / DadTheVeteran

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks': During World War II, Mr. Conklin (Harriet's father) served as a army major at Camp Barbrick, Ohio. Conklin occasionally mentions having been "a major in the last war" ("Hobby Show", a SoundToScreenAdaptation of "The Workhorse"). In TheMovie GrandFinale, Mr. Conklin gets into trouble for trying to run Madison High School like a military base.

* ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver'': Ward Cleaver is a veteran of World War II. In "Beaver's Hero", Beaver brags that his father was a big hero in the war. It turns out Ward Cleaver served in the Seabees, an important job but he wasn't really in combat.

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Often this is pulled in situations where a younger (almost always male) character needs to be browbeaten or intimidated -- TwerpSweating is a common example. Whether the dad was merely a Marine, or the equivalent of [[VideoGame/MetalGear FOXHOUND]], at some point, they'll bring it up in a not-so-casual way when they need to remind the younger character that they aren't as soft and yielding as they seem to be.

Often this is pulled in situations where a younger (almost always male) character needs to be browbeaten or intimidated. Whether the dad was merely a Marine, or the equivalent of [[VideoGame/MetalGear FOXHOUND]], at some point, they'll bring it up in a not-so-casual way when they need to remind the younger character that they aren't as soft and yielding as they seem to be.

* ''Film/TheIsland1980'': While at the gun range, Maynard mentions to proprietor that he was in Korea and that you never forget those skills. Presumably this explains how he knows how to operate a Browning .50 caliber machine gun later in the film.

-->'''Greaser Punk:''' "Who the hell are you, old man?"
-->'''Hub [=McCann=]:''' "I'm [=Hub McCann=]. I've fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and tanks. I've seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I've won and lost a dozen fortunes, killed ''many'' men, and loved only ''one'' woman with a passion a '''''flea''''' like you could never begin to understand. That's who I am. NOW, GO HOME, BOY!"

* The male Sole Survivor from ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' is a veteran of the Sino-American war, who is married to a lawyer with a year-old son named Shaun. Then the bombs start falling.

* Mr Krabs from ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' is a former navy veteran and the father of a teenage Whale daughter. While he was a cook, he's not ashamed of it and often tells his employees about Naval life.

** And in the SpinOff, ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', Leroy Jethro Gibbs was a Marine sniper and fought in the invasion of Panama and the FirstGulfWar. And ''his'' father flew a P-51 in WWII.

Quite often, especially in shows set in TheFifties and TheSixties, the father figure will be a veteran. Whether he's a StandardFiftiesFather or otherwise, he's capable of being a real hardcase in the right circumstances. Yes, even the Dads who appear to be nothing but creampuff [[PapaWolf can be tough guys when they need to be]], and he bases it all on his years of military service.

* Howard Cunningham from ''Series/HappyDays'' is a perfect example of a kindly, wise StandardFiftiesFather. But when he needed to be, he could remind his children (and he even reminded the Fonz at one point) that he'd been in the army during "the war" (it is assumed he's talking about UsefulNotes/WorldWarII), and could still throw down if he needed to. It was later revealed that he had been a file clerk or a cook, depending on which episode you're watching.

* On ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'', Frank tries to come across as this, back when he still thought he was Dennis and Dee's dad, mentioning the time he spent in Vietnam, where "a lot of good men died". Dee points out that Frank went to Vietnam as a civilian, in TheNineties, to open a sweat shop.