Differences Between Vietnam War Veterans and World War II Veterans

Key Points

Shared Experiences: Veterans from both Vietnam and World War II had similar combat experiences and mentalities.
Return Journey Differences:
- World War II Veterans:
  - Returned home by ship.
  - Journey lasted about 3 weeks to a month.
  - Traveled with fellow soldiers.
  - Had opportunities to debrief and share experiences with each other.
- Vietnam War Veterans:
  - Returned individually or with unknown soldiers.
  - Lacked a communal return experience.
  - Faced challenges reintegrating and processing experiences alone.

Isolation: Many returned without companions they fought alongside.
Lack of Understanding: People in the United States were often unaware or unable to comprehend veterans' experiences, such as killing in combat.
Emotional Impact: The lack of shared debriefing and communal support made it difficult for Vietnam veterans to process their experiences.

The transition back to civilian life was starkly different for Vietnam veterans compared to their WWII counterparts, largely due to the solitary nature of their return journey and the lack of communal understanding or support.