The Nature Of War In The Vietnam War By Ed Shottenbauer

Over 58,000 American soldiers were killed in the Vietnam War, every one of those soldiers fought the same war, but for different reasons. The actions took by the United States during the Vietnam War created major controversy throughout the people of the U.S. As a navy soldier in the Vietnam War, Ed Shottenbauer told his story on what he thought about the war and how the war changed his life after coming back to the U.S. The process of becoming a soldier can be difficult and can affect one's life during and after war. The nature of war causes a change in a person due to the process of becoming drafted, leaving loved ones behind, and the realization of death.
First, as a person becomes drafted, they realize the sacrifices and effort they will
Throughout war, soldiers faced difficulties where they struggle coping with the realities of war and end up missing being back home. To deal with these difficulties, many soldiers turned to drugs and alcohol to forget about the war for a period of time. “Because marijuana, heroin, and alcohol were so abundant and inexpensive in Vietnam, veterans used them to ease the stress and sometimes to forget what they saw on the battlefield”(Hochgesang). Using drugs helped soldiers feel “free” and forget about the difficulties of war. Although not all soldiers used drugs to help cope with war, some soldiers carried an object or had a daily routine that symbolized their past lives. For example, Ed Shottenbauer used fishing as a way to deal with the realities of war. Through the use of fishing, Ed relaxed during a time of stress. “Well I didn’t carry anything in general, but I did stuff that helped me remember back home. I used to fish all the time and sometimes the guys would water ski off the side of the boat”(Shottenbauer). The use of fishing helped Ed “be normal” during a time that affected a person for a lifetime. Even though war changed a person forever, remembering the past can help someone get through tough times in