As I read the Lecture on Vietnam and a few stories from some of the veterans, I noticed a different aspect of things during and after the war. The Government was primarily concerned with policy and stopping the spread of communism, while the soldiers were more focused on their own personal matters, since many of them were no older than nineteen and quite a large percentage were on drugs. Resentment was high among soldiers because they were generally among the lower classes of America, since the rich could afford to be in college and avoid being drafted. The draft seemed too many as a sort of punishment for not being wealthy. While in Vietnam, many of the soldiers became quite wrapped up in their duties. None of the soldiers knew why they were there, but they took their weapons and did as they were told because they could do nothing else but just that.
One account I read was written by a medic who had to deal with soldiers at a base who needed injections for diseases. He wrote about how awful it was to give the injections day in and day out. He was primarily concerned with his own feelings rather than the war conflict, but then again, he wasn’t out in the thick of it. One can imagine that sitting in a hospital on an army base day after day sticking syringes in people’s arms can lead to a lot of boredom, and again, this medic didn’t really feel he had a purpose. He was performing a task, no questions asked.
Another entry by a soldier was written after he came back home. He stated that after reading a newspaper that he didn't believe that the paper reflected the same attitude of the war that he had brought home. He said that perhaps the paper held a truer vision of the war, but he was still entitled to his opinion.
Several other accounts and general knowledge I hold about soldiers during the war differ with what the lecture said. While it is true that most of these guys had no desire to be fighting in Vietnam, it seems they made the most of their time their. They bonded with their platoons. They were just kids, and were forced to grow up quickly while they were there. However, upon their return home, they were received coldly, most chillingly by themselves once they had regained their civilian senses. One of the entries was by a man reflecting upon his guilt for not stopping the cold-blooded shooting of an innocent Vietnamese man. It seems that all these years later, many of the veterans harbor a lot of resentment towards themselves for their actions and towards the government for putting them in such a horrible situation. I think the US government has tried to offer thanks to the veterans for their sacrifices, but it will always be too little, too late. So many young men were robbed of their youth, their future, and their lives for any medal to make up for.