I noticed that a lot of media and publications talk about Vietnam War veterans suffering from PTSD and other psychological/mental health issues.
What was so devastating in this specific war comparing to other wars (i.e. WW1 and WW2) that caused so many vets’ trauma?
Or is it a matter of fact that during previous wars mental health care was less developed?
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It was partly due to what they had to do.
You hear stories about how soldiers were MADE to kill Vietnamese non-combatants: elderly, women and children.
They were forced to burn villages to prevent the Vietcong from advancing.
Add to this the fact that the terrain was unlike anything America has ever fought in, so much so that we tried to chemically burn entire regions with Agent Orange. A compound that will later cause a devastating impact on our returning troops’ health. A compound whose terrible effects are still causing birth defects to this day.
So you have the biggest clusterfuck:
1. First battle the US committed to that was essentially a stalemate: we could not advance, they couldn’t make us leave. But this stalemate is between a first world country and, what we thought, a bunch of jungle savages. It was a humiliation at a time when the “Sleeping Giant”had awoken. When our allies were watching us closely.
2. Hippie movement with “Make Love Not War” that shamed the military and held nationwide demonstrations against the war.
3. Forced execution of children and women by soldiers who didn’t want to.
4. The government using deadly chemicals indiscriminately. They would pepper an area while the troops were still there.
No morale, horrible atrocities, welcomed home by being called murderers. WWII veterans came home to parades and honor. Vietnam veterans came home to images of burning Vietnamese.
Do you remember the most famous image?
A little girl shrieking, her body covered in napalm, on fire. Behind her stands an America soldier.
That image became a summary of the Vietnam war.
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