The Silent Generation

35 million
Born 1926 to 1945
Formative years: 1940 to 1955
Age in 2009: 64 to 83

The Silent Generation was shaped by the hardship of the Great Depression, the shared sacrifice of total war during World War II and the struggle against international communism. Most members of this generation were too young to fight in the front lines of WWII, but they recycled scrap and collected gas rations on the home front — and many of them served in Korea. The Silents absorbed the wartime virtues of patriotism, self sacrifice and a communitarian spirit. They also were indoctrinated in a command-and-control style of management that made them respectful of hierarchy and authority.