How were the Vietnam veterans treated on return?

How were the Vietnam veterans treated on return?

Rather than being greeted with anger and hostility, however, most Vietnam veterans received very little reaction when they returned home. They mainly noticed that people seemed uncomfortable around them and did not appear interested in hearing about their wartime experiences.

How did the Vietnam War affect veterans?

Although most veterans were not permanently damaged by the war, some 15 to 25 percent of Vietnam veterans (between 500,000 and 700,000) suffered from a stress-related impairment known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychological disease brought on by acute combat experience.

How many Vietnam veterans fell to PTSD after the war?

Incidence of PTSD in Vietnam Veterans At the time of the study (middle- to late-1980s), among Vietnam veterans, approximately 15\% of men and 9\% of women were found to currently have PTSD.

Was the Vietnam War a bad war?

More than two decades of violent conflict had inflicted a devastating toll on Vietnam’s population: After years of warfare, an estimated 2 million Vietnamese were killed, while 3 million were wounded and another 12 million became refugees.

Why do Vietnam veterans feel anger and resentment against the antiwar protesters?

Probably the biggest reason many Vietnam veterans felt anger and resentment toward the antiwar protesters was that they came from different social classes. The majority of men who served in Vietnam came from poor or working-class backgrounds.

What did Vietnam veterans do when they came back?

They came back to find the United States torn apart by debate over the Vietnam War. There were no victory parades or welcome-home rallies. 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.

How long did it take for America to honor Vietnam Veterans?

In 1982 Vietnam veterans march down Constitution Avenue toward the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which would be dedicated later that day. The Gulf War saw a shift in attitudes. It would take nearly 20 years after the end of the war for America to get right with its Vietnam veterans.

Why are there no ‘Welcome Home’ Parades for Vietnam vets?

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.