How were the Vietnam veterans treated on return?
Instead, most Vietnam veterans returned to a society that did not seem to care about them, or that seemed to view them with distrust and anger. “Men who fought in World War II or Korea might be just as haunted by what they had personally seen and done in combat,” Arnold R.
Why was it difficult for soldiers that returned from Vietnam?
26. This was difficult for soldiers that returned from Vietnam compared to WWII veterans because the war went on for many years without the American people’s support.
How WWII and Vietnam veterans were treated differently?
During World War II, more than half of all men served, and men were only excluded from service if they had health problems, either physical or mental. During the Vietnam War, less than half enlisted, and men were able to evade service by enrolling in higher education.
Why weren’t Vietnam veterans cheered and honored when they returned home?
No ‘Welcome Home’ parades for Vietnam vets. This was partly due to the logistics of the never-ending conflict. The Vietnam War lasted from 1964-1973—the longest war in American history until it was overtaken by the one in Afghanistan—and servicemen typically did one-year tours of duty.
Why are Vietnam veterans homeless?
Homelessness and brain injury The VA’s Inspector General (IG) said, “Presence of mental disorders (substance-related disorders and/or mental illness) is the strongest predictor of becoming homeless after discharge from active duty.”
Why did they call Vietnam vets baby killers?
Because they actually did kill babies. This was because of the My Lai Massacre where American soldiers attacked and killed between 347–504 unarmed Vietnamese civilians, men, women, children and babies. The North Vietnamese were outraged and started calling the American soldiers “Baby Killers.”
Did Vietnam vets kill babies?
The message of the poster was that American soldiers were killing babies in Vietnam, and therefore that the war was immoral. According to cultural historian M. It sparked a great deal of antiwar protest, including efforts by artists, the best-known of which was the And babies poster.”
How many babies were killed in Vietnam?
Vietnam’s government claimed that 400,000 people were killed or maimed as a result of after effects, and that 500,000 children were born with birth defects.
What made the Vietnam War so traumatic?
The fear of not being secure on patrol, ambushed, with no end in sight of the war ever ending, traumatized many soldier. With no chance of victory, the soldier had to question why he was even there. The amount of time spent in combat.
Why was Vietnam so deadly?
The jungles were so thick, it was nearly impossible to see your enemy. Conventional tactics were a loser for North Vietnamese forces. Americans won those battles through superior firepower and training. American victories in Vietnam were overshadowed by the divisive nature of support for the war at home.
What was bad about the Vietnam War?
According to a survey by the Veterans Administration, some 500,000 of the 3 million troops who served in Vietnam suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction were markedly higher among veterans.
Why did we fight the Vietnam War?
The U.S. entered the Vietnam War in an attempt to prevent the spread of communism, but foreign policy, economic interests, national fears, and geopolitical strategies also played major roles.
Why did the Vietnam War last so long?
It ended the way it did because for the North Vietnamese it was an existential war and they were prepared to fight for as long at it took. The US was not, and when public opinion turned against the war, our leaders called it quits. As it was, we lost some 58,000 people and had some 250,000 wounded for a lost cause.
Why didn’t the US invade North Vietnam?
The US never sent soldiers in numbers into North Vietnam because the administration was afraid that China would respond with large numbers of Chinese troops as it did in Korea.
Did the US ever invade North Vietnam?
Between 1964 and 1967, North Vietnam and the United States each poured increasing numbers of troops into the war to determine South Vietnam’s political future. U.S. commanders sought new ways to ratchet up military pressure on Hanoi.
Did McNamara support Vietnam War?
He played a major role in escalating the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. During the Kennedy administration, McNamara presided over a build-up of US soldiers in South Vietnam. After the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident, the number of US soldiers in Vietnam escalated dramatically.