Although the veterans had extensive training that prepared them for the war, no amount of training could ever prepare them for the emotional consequences that followed the war, including adjustment back into society. Majority of veterans suffered traumatic stress, often having flashbacks, and nightmares of killing people, seeing their fellow soldiers die, the loss of lives, and the pain and
Millions of people are involved in armed conflicts in the world today. Many of these conflicts occur in highly populated, poorer nations, which contain unique biodiversity. War destroys homes and infrastructures, while creating social problems and the displacement of people. Still, people are losing their friends, families, lovers. I know I do not feel loneliness like those people who send their families or lovers to war and lose their kids; I know I do not have the right to say it is just a war; I know that I have no right to feel
He and his fellow soldiers encounter many physical and mental problems while transitioning back from combat into our environment. Our soldiers have not been receiving the medical attention they deserve and need to cure PTSD. Due to the lack of knowledge that care is available to members serving, the numbers of military related suicides are rising. Through care groups, self-seeking advancements and psychological analysis studies soldiers can overcome PTSD or avoid it completely. PTSD is medically defined as an anxiety disorder that can occur after going through a traumatic event.
It often came down to hand to hand contact and quick thinking. This war scared almost all the soldiers for life, the ones who lived through it all at least. The total number of US casualties in the Vietnam War was 58,220. The ones who did live didn’t get a welcome home either. When the Vietnam Veterans returned back home they were treated worse than some of the terrorists now a days.
They seemed so sincere until one week all of them soldiers began to either ignore us or flash cruel glares in our direction for no apparent reason. We didn’t understand why the friendly, uniformed men treated us like we had massive, contagious burns all over our bodies. My grandma provided clarity to the situation when by explaining how the North Vietnamese troops attacked the South during what was known as the “Tet attacks.” I questioned why the Vietnamese people would want to miss out on the New Year festivities like the booming fireworks, the mouth-watering candy, and spending time with their families. I, too, inquired my grandma of the reasoning for fighting during Tet. She briefly explained that the surprise attack on the South was a strategy used by the North to catch them off guard.
The physical and emotional toll of war, of blood, of killing, of fallen soldiers, are too difficult to put into words. Tim O’Brien’s, The Thing They Carried, effectively exemplifies these tolls and the devastating consequences of them. The collection of short stories show that we must appear composed in war, in times of emotional distress, and through these unexpressed emotions, a story emerges. The lines between “happening-truth” and “story-truth” become blurred as the soldier incorporates both the seen and the unseen parts of experience. The emotion a soldier experiences cannot be understood by anyone except those in war.
In the book War O’Byrne suffers from the Kornegal valley every day. He can barely function or do his day to day routines. Similarly in “Hurt Locker” William has trouble liking to do anything but war the only place where he can function is during war. During the My Lai Lieutenant Calley’s thought process was in terms of war. Thus the natural state of society is war.
Even though, many men were drafted and did not have a choice about whether to serve their country or not, they were still treated with disrespect and unkindness when they came home. Vietnam vets began getting sick and dying after returning home. “Agent Orange” was discovered to be the possible cause of the illness and death; doubt grew toward the government and leaders once again. Echoes of what happened during the years of the Vietnam War still echo today, but maybe that is a good thing. The American people have learned to question the actions of its leaders and lend a voice to those who are in need.
The Vietnam War suffered in casualties opposed to debt in the Iraq War but both wars had and still have an extreme pull on the economy and left many in a struggle financially. As for all the veterans that survived the Vietnam War, they were left distraught with severe trauma that many could not get past. Some problems include; anxiety, depression, panic, rage, irritability, shame, guilt, and many more (Vietnam). These veterans suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that left families, friends, and even doctors at a loss of how to cope with these men. More than two
He is the only soldier that seems to be frightened of battle and he seeks companions that have the same beliefs. When Fleming encounters a real battle, he runs from his first battle and spent time isolated. He encountered injured soldiers, and felt isolated because he was not harmed. Although no one questioned the unharmed soldier, Fleming felt guilty and felt that he betrayed his fellow soldiers. Until Fleming returns to battle with is fellow soldiers, he feels isolated.