Ptd In Vietnam

Regardless of whether one refers to the United States' military involvement in Vietnam as a "war," or if one prefers to use the more commonly-used, (albeit, more historically accurate) term: "Military Conflict," the effects caused by this historical tragedy remains obvious to anyone who has ever bypassed a homeless veteran on the street begging for spare change. Likewise, one only needs to pass by the endless lines that trail out from amongst the front doors of the emergency room at the Long Beach Veteran's Hospital to realize the profound devastation and its relative effects the war had on the United States.

With regards to our military veterans, our treatment towards these brave men and women continues to permeate more profusely than
ever before; our “welcome home” celebration consists of non-other than a mere lack of gratitude and appreciation that is beyond the point of well-deserving. Besides the obvious physical effects of participating in the Vietnam War, most of the films portrayed how exposure to the War left lasting psychological effects in most of the soldiers.
Many factors during the Vietnam War to af soldiers' thoughts, emotions, and minds. For example, they felt they could not trust any of the Vietnamese Americans, causing a mass sense of hysteria and, of course: prejudice. They
constantly feared death and were deeply traumatized as they saw their comrades being shredded to pieces by bullets and mines. They were also frustrated and confused, not knowing exactly where they were going or how America was going to win the War. In the end, they all realized that their blood, sweat, and tears accomplished nothing; we lost the War.As scientists continue to study the effects that war has made upon its veterans; namely, on our recent war in Iraq and on “terrorism," one doesn't need a science or medical degree to see the similarities they both have to our conflict that took place in Vietnam only decades ago.

Vietnam veterans were the first to fight in an American war that could not be recollected with pride.
But with great bravery comes a cost, a numerous amount of Vietnam veterans were seen to have struggled with PTSD,also known as post traumatic stress disorder. This is a mental health condition caused by seeing or experiencing a traumatic event. Throwing a young adult into a situation where they constantly have the fear of dying would have an effect no matter what. This condition is so effective that veterans have committed suicide and reason for divorce.
Many veterans were profoundly affected by the Vietnam war. Their memories and flashbacks would feel so real that they felt as though they were reliving it. PTSD continuously afflicts Vietnam veterans decades after the war. Drugs and alcohol played a major role in the lives of the American soldiers during the Vietnam war. Evidently when the war ended the drugs and alcohol were still impacted in their daily
lives.

The media portrayed the soldiers and veterans as these brave men who suffered through a traumatic war. Even though others read descriptions on newspapers they didn't go threw and understand the sacrifices a veteran makes from the norm of life. “ Consequently, much of their opinions and beliefs about war and American soldiers were shaped by how the media viewed the war. “ Photographers were very influential in forming, changing, and molding public opinion. Some photographers were interested in showing the suffering and anguish of the soldier, whereas others wanted to emphasize the dignity, strength, and fearlessness of the American soldier. Those at home had no experience of how the soldier lived or what he had to deal with during the war. These stereotypes are formed, directed, and censored for military and political reasons and designed to build up morale at home or show that there was actual positive trajectory for the outcome of the of the war. As Shirley Dicks discussed in her collection of interviews she conducted with several Vietnam veterans, entitled, From Vietnam to Hell: Interviews with Victims of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in 1990. For example, says that when the soldier returned home, he was “[...]confused and annoyed to have seen that my family and friends did not understand what I had experienced and how I have changed”(210-211).” (Figley1). The little amount of information people learned about the war was nothing compared to the actual experience itself. Media made a less real and more stable depiction of what the war veterans went through.

Society reacted to everything that has effected war veterans as if it was their fault. While the Government ignored them they didn't have many officials to turn to with this serious matter. This caused Vietnam veterans to be mentally and physically damaged .