Returning Troops
By: Miranda B.
"As soon as you marched out, all you could hear from the crowd was, ‘Baby killers!' " he said. "And that made you feel rather bad because that was the farthest thing from the truth."
Usually, America always support and respect troops, but it was not the case when the soldiers returned home from Vietnam. The nation as a whole extended a cold hand to its returning Vietnam veterans. There were not victory parades, there wasn't a victory parade, and there were no brass bands. Many veterans faced hostility from Americans who were still torn and bitter about the war. As a result of American lives lost in Vietnam, there was a misunderstanding that the men who fought there did not fight with the same motivation they had before.
Although there were negative and hostile attitude of the media, the soldiers remained with their heads held high. Unlike the hero treatment given to returning soldiers, the soldiers returning from the Vietnam War were portrayed as baby killers, psychos, drug addicts, and war mongers. It was not unusual for the returning troops to be confronted at airports by protesters carrying signs with anti-war slogans. The protesters also used the signs to beat the soldiers and they even threw urine at the veterans. Soldiers were also refused service at restaurants. Several Vietnam veterans were able to successfully adjust to civilian life. On the other hand, about 15% of the 3.3 million soldiers who served had developed post-traumatic stress disorder. Other Vietnam veterans had recurring nightmares about the experiences they had in the at, while many suffered from severe headaches and memory lapses. Other veterans became highly apathetic or began abusing drugs or alcohol. Thousands of Vietnam veterans committed suicide.
Although there were negative and hostile attitude of the media, the soldiers remained with their heads held high. Unlike the hero treatment given to returning soldiers, the soldiers returning from the Vietnam War were portrayed as baby killers, psychos, drug addicts, and war mongers. It was not unusual for the returning troops to be confronted at airports by protesters carrying signs with anti-war slogans. The protesters also used the signs to beat the soldiers and they even threw urine at the veterans. Soldiers were also refused service at restaurants. Several Vietnam veterans were able to successfully adjust to civilian life. On the other hand, about 15% of the 3.3 million soldiers who served had developed post-traumatic stress disorder. Other Vietnam veterans had recurring nightmares about the experiences they had in the at, while many suffered from severe headaches and memory lapses. Other veterans became highly apathetic or began abusing drugs or alcohol. Thousands of Vietnam veterans committed suicide.