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 war typically you’re fighting other men, in uniform, in a battlefield. Yes things get messy sometimes. Sometimes civilians die. It’s war
In Vietnam, there was no way to tell friend from foe. (Hence why perfidy is a war crime) and they struggled because every village they entered could have Vietcong. Every person they saw could be VC. Every child could be holding a grenade.
That’s a lot of mental toll. All it takes is watching 5 of your friends get blown up by a grenade dropped by a child looking for candy, and suddenly you start to A) stay away from kids or B) shoot them when they get too close.
Now imagine you shot a kid. They got to close. You watched 5 of your friends die to this exact circumstance. They didn’t have a grenade. They just heard the American soldiers had candy. How do you think that affects a man?
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