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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In addition to all the thoughtful things people have said about the trauma of fighting a fuzzy enemy for an unclear reason and coming home to disdain, and our advancing understanding of PTSD, the profile of people who fought in Vietnam was different.
WWII was pretty much a universal draft, fighting a war with such heavy moral weight that people volunteered in droves even before being drafted. Vietnam soldiers were people who didn’t have the resources to legally evade the draft.
So not only was the war nasty, it was fought almost entirely by people who knew that the lower classes were fighting while the upper classes were enjoying college and cushy National Guard assignments.
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