Mental Effects of the War on our Soldiers

                                                            By: Nico Vergara

   Families didn't like their relatives going out into war because they thought the Vietnam War was stupid and pointless. They thought that their loved ones were going and risking their lives for no apparent or very good reason. Because of this everybody was very scared, but mostly mad. Many soldiers that came back from that war would get shell shock because they were witnessing their best friends getting blown up or shot at right in front of their eyes. Many soldiers would have flashbacks to the war, partially because of shell shock. Some would become deaf because of all the bombs around them, many would have drugs abuse or become alcoholics. 

          You would think when the soldiers made it home from Vietnam they would be applauded, praised, and loved because they served our country and every single one of them out there are taking care of us and making sure nothing happens to us and while their doing that huge favor to us, their risking their lives all at the same time. Instead of giving love and support to them, they got spit at, cursed at, and they got treated like 2nd class citizens.

Shell shocked U.S. troop

         Life was pretty rough for soldiers, they either had to sleep on the ground or self-made bunkers. Usually they would eat cold food straight out of a can because it was the quickest and most convenient thing to eat. Most of the soldiers were from the age of 18-24, so very young and loved to play the guitar and listen to 60's rock. They knew how important they were to our country but in the end they just wanted to get back to "the real world."