Surviving the Sixties, but barely

9/9/2009

Here’s an interesting piece in today’s New York Times about remnants of the Vietnam War and how they still affect vets:

The most authoritative study conducted on the disorder and Vietnam veterans, in 1988, the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study, estimated that at the time, 500,000 of the 3.14 million Americans who served in Vietnam had P.T.S.D., and a total of 1 million had experienced it at some point.

Even as Vietnam veterans now enter their 60s and begin to die off, the number seeking P.T.S.D. treatment is growing — up 11.6 percent from 2003 to 2005, the latest figures available. “We have new Viet vets coming in every week,” said David Bressem, who runs the Vet Center clinic here and is Mr. Van Cott’s therapist.

On so many fronts, the country still pays for the Vietnam War.

For the full story, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/fashion/06generationb.html?_r=1&hpw

3 Comments

Kathleen Scott link

9/9/2009 02:28:15 pm

I went to college with and later worked with Viet Nam veterans. Almost all were affected in some way. There wasn't much recognition of mental strain during that decade and I'm not surprised to hear that some Viet Nam vets are still coming to grips.

Violence, sudden death, maiming, loss--those will unhinge almost anyone.
But some guys seemed able to move on and leave it behind. Part of the secret was accepting the past and moving toward a different future. Part of it was family support. And probably part of it was sheer stubbornness.

Darlene

9/10/2009 05:59:46 am

Darlene link

9/10/2009 06:03:35 am

My son had a draft number during the Viet Nam war and enlisted in the special services of the Navy. He was a musician and was in the band. I have always been so grateful that he didn't have to go fight in that terrible conflict. Any war is hell and recovering from the trauma is almost impossible for some. I saw it in the WWII vets and they called it combat fatigue then.