Vietnam Veterans and Readjustment
| Vietnam Veterans and Readjustment | Was it our fault? | | | [Pick the date] |
Although programs could have been better in supporting returning veterans, ultimately the same issues would have arisen. |
In popular culture, Vietnam veterans are often portrayed as isolated and neglected in a society that took out its hatred for the war on the veterans returning home. In actuality, the stressors of war caused the problems many Vietnam veterans faced more than the societal reception that they received, as they were given opportunities to readjust. Though Vietnam veterans desired more benefits and received a somewhat lukewarm reception, it was combat and not society that caused them so many problems readjusting. The mixed reception and subpar programs could have exacerbated the problem, but likely the same issues would have occurred with readjustment, as they have in other wars. Vietnam War-era movies often portray the brutality that soldiers faced out in the jungles of Southeast Asia. The psychological trauma inflicted by the war on its soldiers is a common theme in these war movies. Such films as Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, and Born on the Fourth of July portray the popular vision of the horror-struck disturbed veteran. In Born on the Fourth of July, a veteran returns home to poor conditions at VA hospitals and little support for veterans who were traumatized. As the story is an autobiography, at least some veterans truly did experience problems with care back home following the end of the war like the veteran who the film tells the story of. The extent of the readjustment issues can be partially tied to a system that failed to benefit them upon their return home. This issue laid partially with the issue of the war in society. The Vietnam War was extremely unpopular by the end of the fighting, and one soldier recounted the mixed reception veterans got from the general populace. In the article “Having Been to War”, Martin Napersteck
Although programs could have been better in supporting returning veterans, ultimately the same issues would have arisen. |
In popular culture, Vietnam veterans are often portrayed as isolated and neglected in a society that took out its hatred for the war on the veterans returning home. In actuality, the stressors of war caused the problems many Vietnam veterans faced more than the societal reception that they received, as they were given opportunities to readjust. Though Vietnam veterans desired more benefits and received a somewhat lukewarm reception, it was combat and not society that caused them so many problems readjusting. The mixed reception and subpar programs could have exacerbated the problem, but likely the same issues would have occurred with readjustment, as they have in other wars. Vietnam War-era movies often portray the brutality that soldiers faced out in the jungles of Southeast Asia. The psychological trauma inflicted by the war on its soldiers is a common theme in these war movies. Such films as Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, and Born on the Fourth of July portray the popular vision of the horror-struck disturbed veteran. In Born on the Fourth of July, a veteran returns home to poor conditions at VA hospitals and little support for veterans who were traumatized. As the story is an autobiography, at least some veterans truly did experience problems with care back home following the end of the war like the veteran who the film tells the story of. The extent of the readjustment issues can be partially tied to a system that failed to benefit them upon their return home. This issue laid partially with the issue of the war in society. The Vietnam War was extremely unpopular by the end of the fighting, and one soldier recounted the mixed reception veterans got from the general populace. In the article “Having Been to War”, Martin Napersteck