They were placed into a war that from the start was impossible to win due to many circumstances and situations starting with the rules of war. The rules of war had a major negative affect on our troops in Vietnam, which created more struggle and confusion then there already was. The frustration level was at an all time high with American troops and they started to get very irritable. A lot of soldiers lost their minds because the war took its toll mentally. Someone was bound to snap and that was exactly what happened at My Lai.
One British soldier wrote of how “despite the flag-waving that greeted us [Britain's returning troops] many felt nothing but hatred for the leaders and those back home who'd sent us to die.” Both novels, “Regeneration” by Pat Barker and “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Marie Remarque discuss how the brutalities and horrors experienced at war have left the men who fought in it feeling alienated and ostracised from civilian life. It is as though the war has somehow consumed their whole beings leaving them forever tainted by the corruption of war and separated from the society that forced them to make this personal sacrifice.
He hated himself. He had loved Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead, and this was something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war” (103). Cross was ashamed; he is a leader and was not there for his soldiers. Now he has the burden for a soldier that died at his hands. The last personality trait that First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross demonstrates is bravery.
What Challenges were faced by Australian veterans and their families after the Vietnam War and why? I would like to start by referring to source c, Allan Handley felt guilty for killing people, He says this guilt will probably stay around for the rest of his life. Allan also states that the troops and him were not accepted when they returned home, which is alienation from the public. Source A & B suffer from Post Traumatic stress disorder and it impacts their everyday life. Vietnam War caused a lot of different things including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
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.
Now Iraq war veterans are not being welcomed home like Vietnam veterans but are not appreciated by a good amount of Americans. Instead of being thanked many Americans instantly go into their own political thoughts. Active duty soldiers are being threatened by the cut back of some benefits they deserve as well as no increase in pay. There are many similarities and differences between the treatment of our returning heroes from the past Vietnam War and the current Iraq War. The Vietnam War was also known by a number of different names, such as the Second Indochina War, the Vietnam Conflict, or the American War.
When his soldier Ted Lavender died all he could do was cry and blame himself for his death, “He felt shame. He hated himself.... this was something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of war.” (O’Brien, The Things They Carried 42) but he didn’t let that very heart-wrenching emotion of feeling responsible for someone’s death cloud his judgment or cause him to take his job lightly. Towards the end of the story he stepped up, over-coming the guilt he felt after the death of Ted Lavender. Learning from his mistakes and changing the way he lead his platoon “He would not tolerate laxity. He would show strength, distancing himself.” (O’Brien, The Things They Carried 100) He showed courage while seeing the bigger picture telling himself “that his obligation was not to be loved but to lead.” (O’Brien, The Things They Carried 101) Masculinity is very apparent in this platoon.
Also the state of the country during World War One left a lot to be desired and created a lot of dissatisfaction amongst the Russian people. Tsar Nicholas II was responsible for the fall of the Romanov dynasty, but to a notable extent, as there were other factors more significant to account for the collapse of the Romanovs. It’s reasonable if one states that Nicholas II was responsible for stardom’s collapse. Many criticized the Tsar as a Monarch whose capacity for hard work and commitment wasn’t matched by outstanding intelligence, and had no clear vision for Russia’s future. Nicholas was not suited to his role as Tsar, and would rather spend his time with his family.
The emotion a soldier experiences cannot be understood by anyone except those in war. This emotion is unique to each individual, as we all have different outlooks on life, death and war. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’s experience of the death of Lavender undoubtedly illustrates the effect war eventually makes on a soldier. Due to his mistake, Cross “felt shame. He hated himself.
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