Although the American people were bitterly divided over the Vietnam War, everyone seemed greatly concerned over the welfare of the POWs. While I knew that Australia had sent troops to Vietnam, I had no idea that their returning combat veterans were treated as shamefully as they were here in the U.S. (Intel, Australia Set to Commemorate Wars End, April 2022). Pretty sure I flew home on Pan Am. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The posters message was that American soldiers were killing babies in Vietnam and therefore the war was immoral. The US 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 an important role. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. War veterans and those still in the service often suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, depression, and thoughts of suicide. In December 1972 they became the last Australian troops to come home, with their unit having seen continuous service in South Vietnam for ten and a half years. However, the Vietnam War became increasingly unpopular over time in both countries, and servicemen reported being shunned and mistreated by others after they returned home. Difficulties readjusting to American society Many Vietnam veterans built successful lives after they returned home from the war. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? "To many veterans," Appy writes, "all protest seemed like yet another class privilege enjoyed by wealthier peers, and even moderate objections to the war, if made by draft-immune college students, were often read as personal attacks. What Major Is Kent State University Known For? 774 Words4 Pages. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps, Coming Home: Vietnam Veterans in American Society. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) Vietnam War veterans joined each other for the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event. His war is here at home. ", Some Vietnam veterans became active in the antiwar movement when they returned to the United States. American victories in Vietnam were overshadowed by disagreements in support for the war at home. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Aside from the United States and Australia, another country whose Vietnam veterans experienced widespread mistreatment upon returning home was New Zealand. "It's not his war. The Gulf War saw a shift in attitudes. New York: Free Press, 1974. There was one group of Vietnam veterans who received a warm greeting from fellow Americans upon returning homethose who had been held captive as prisoners of war (POWs). However, British intelligence advisers are said to have provided assistance to troops in Vietnam in the form of covert operations. Alarmingly, 40 percent of medical discharges during the war were for psychiatric conditions. Many of the VA hospitals where they received treatment were dirty, understaffed, and unable to provide what veterans needed. Be that as it may, we lost about 58,000 men and about 250,000 were wounded in a lost cause. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. One of the common herbicides used in Vietnam was called Agent Orange, after the orange stripe on the drums used to transport the chemical. how were vietnam veterans treated when they returned home Beginning in 1964, the NVA held American POWs in several prison camps in North Vietnam.
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