The War Of The Vietnam War

There have been many diagnoses of PTSD in American soldiers. As Mark Thomas said in a magazine article, “The National Academy of Sciences have report estimated that up to 20% of 2.6 million US men and women who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq may have it (PTSD)”(Thomas). This quote expresses that nearly 520,000 US families have been affected by this disorder. It also shows that PTSD has become a large enough issue that more and more people and

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder statistics are exceedingly difficult to gauge among veterans. According to the following source, “it is possible to have undiagnosed PTSD for 30 years and not realize it” (Veterans and PTSD). Symptoms may not be diagnosed anywhere from 1 year after service to a lifetime. Also, it must be taken into account that after retiring many veterans may lose touch and not receive treatment for symptoms or further affiliate with the military. In the 1980s, regarding PTSD in Vietnam veterans, it was found that 15%-30% of veterans reported having PTSD; however, in 2003 a new study found that four out of five reported symptoms.

The freedoms Americans enjoy come at a price; brave military men and women often foot the bill. Many men and women pay with their lives; others relive the sights, sounds, and terror of combat in the form of PTSD. Several causes and risk factors contribute to the development of PTSD. Combat-related PTSD appears slightly different than traditional PTSD. History tells of times when soldiers diagnosed with PTSD were viewed as “weak.” Resources have not always been available to struggling soldiers. The adverse symptoms of PTSD on soldiers and their families can be crippling.

Post traumatic stress disorder is characterized by a history of exposure to a traumatic event. The majority of veterans suffer with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after fighting in war(s). As stated by Galbicsek, “Almost 30 percent of Vietnam veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD at some point in their lives. Between 11 and 20 percent of those who fought in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom suffer from PTSD (Carol, “Galbicsek”). More than a quarter of veterans after fighting for these wars experience PTSD.

The Vietnam War started in 1945, resulting in almost 60,000 American deaths and nearly two million Vietnamese deaths, according to Mintze. Years after combat countless Vietnam veterans suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder in every aspect of their lives (Price). Posttraumatic stress disorder is an illness that can happen to anyone who has gone through a horrifying experience. It has been documented in all forms of literature and films the brutality of the war and the side effects it came with. The history of Vietnam is quite long and winding and leaves one to question its purpose (Mintze).

The members of military who are exposed to war or combat are high risk groups developing PTSD. PTSD truly became a factor of public attention because of war veterans. Up to 18% of war veterans are affected by PTSD [27].

When Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is mentioned or thought of, often the thought that enters the mind is military veterans who have witnessed, experienced and even suffered the tragic or violent events of war. It is true military experience can trigger PTSD and PTSD was brought to the attention of the medical profession by war veterans. According to the National Center for PTSD between 11 – 20% of those who served in Iraqi, 12% of those who served in Desert Storm and the numbers have been adjust to 30% of those who served in Vietnam have been diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime. The National Center for PTSD goes on to list another cause of PTSD in the

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, affects many of our nation’s veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimated that in the Vietnam War, almost thirty-one percent of its veterans, when they came back to the United States, developed PTSD. In recent history, eleven percent of veterans from the Afghanistan War and twenty percent of veterans from the Iraqi War have developed PTSD after arriving back in the states. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, though brought into the light recently by veterans, is still widely unknown, mainly in what the symptoms are, diagnosis, and treatments.

Compared to the average citizen, combat Veterans are diagnosed with PTSD at an elevated rate. Combat Veterans are four times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD compared to the general population. With most Veterans being subjected to multiple deployments and increased traumatic events the number of combat Veterans has increased compared to past historical eras of war. More Veterans are returning from deployments and are trying to re-acclimate themselves within society but are drastically overwhelmed with the process and ill prepared to identify PTSD symptoms for what they are.

The Vietnam War was one of the most intense, stressful and exhilarating wars to fight due to the factors of fear and not knowing the surrounding environment. Vietnam’s land is a jungle filled with natural dangers. Monsoons were common on the Vietnam land, which made harsh wet and hot fighting conditions. Animals such as snakes and scorpions made it dangerous to wander blindly in the jungle. On top of all the natural dangers and conditions of the land, the communist enemy known as the Vietcong were known for their use of booby traps such as bear traps, wooden stakes applied to dangerous designs, and use of poison. American soldiers found these factors made it hard to fight a war and found it even harder to fight when the U.S Army couldn’t discriminate the enemy from civilians. The Vietcong and South Vietnamese were the same people with different views, so this made war hard to fight when it is nearly impossible to identify the enemy. The use of guerrilla warfare made it difficult to beat the enemy in a foreign jungle terrain. The Vietcong having the upper hand in almost every aspect of the war made warfare conditions very stressful for American soldiers. Most of the American soldiers were already experiencing anxiety and stress due

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects about 7.7 million Americans. Dr. Rothbaum in the article PTSD: A Growing Epidemic, states that of those 7.7 million Americans, about 31 percent of military men and women are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (2009). Thousands of men and women in the military may have been shot at or they may have witnessed death. This is the reason why members of the military are at high risked for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (Rothbaum, 2009). Like most people affected with PTSD, members of the military develop PTSD from an ordeal involving physical harm or the threat of physical harm.

Approximately 30% of men and 27% of women had PTSD at some point in their life following Vietnam.” In examining the mental health condition of Persian Gulf War veterans have found, “… rates of PTSD stemming from the war range anywhere from almost 9% to approximately 24%. “In Iraq Afghan War “After deployment, approximately 12.5% had PTSD, a rate greater than that found among these soldiers before deployment”.

The Vietnam War was a war divided. The United States was equally against and for it, creating a hostile environment for returning veterans. While many Americans were treating the Vietnam soldiers with contempt, they may have been unaware of the mental battle that 11% of Vietnam veterans were fighting (“PTSD: A Historical Perspective”). While soldiers were in Vietnam, they experienced many horrifying situations that contributed to their post-traumatic stress disorder. One-third of the American army that served in Vietnam was drafted, which occasionally created a hostile environment. While in Vietnam, warfare was very different than previous wars fought. Soldiers were often isolated and fought in the jungle. There were many occasions where a soldier would not even know where the enemy was (Badalucco). The Vietnam War was the war that eventually brought a name to the mental disorder that many soldiers and everyday people have fought for years.

One group of people at risk for developing PTSD are those who have experienced military combat. Although it is difficult to provide a definitive number of veterans with current PTSD, the following data provide some insight into prevalence rates. Hoge et al. (2004) assessed Army combat troops for PTSD one month prior to deployment and four months postdeployment. Marine Corps combat troops were also assessed for PTSD, however, this group was only assessed for PTSD after deployment. Their data estimated prevalence of PTSD for the Army study group before deployment to Iraq to be at 9% and after deployment to Iraq at 18%. The researchers also provided data for Afghanistan post deployment rates of PTSD for the Army group to be at 11.5%. Additionally,

In 2004 Operation Iraqi Freedom became the deadliest American military conflict since the Vietnam War. Military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and Vietnam have brought heightened awareness of military related PTSD, as well as the relationship and family problems that accompany the disorder. Studies have shown that 11% - 20% of Veterans that served in Iraq and 6% - 11% of veterans that were deployed to Afghanistan have suffered from PTSD. Veterans of operation Desert Storm suffer at a rate of about 10% and Vietnam veteran estimates have been as high as 30% – 50%.