What does America Owe People Who Fight for their Country?

That is the name of the article I wrote for the "Streetwise newspaper" in Chicago for Veterans' Day. It was from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran. Following is the article.

WHAT DOES AMERICA OWE PEOPLE WHO FIGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY? FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A VIETNAM VETERAN

Thomas R. Jones

I am a Vietnam Veteran. I am a survivor. I made it home. Vietnam veterans’ families, their friends, and even the government that sent us to war, did not know what to do with us when we came back home. So we took our medals and our memories, and retreated into ourselves. We didn’t talk, and we didn’t join groups nor were we asked to join. We were heroes lost in our own country. Some said we were psychologically devastated, bitter, homeless, drug-addicted people. There was no public or institutional support for us. Our veterans’ benefits were dramatically less than those enjoyed by veterans in previous wars, like World War II.

Vietnam veterans suffered from a variety of psychological problems and experienced life-adjustment troubles, such as marital problems and work difficulties. Their depression, anxiety, alcohol and violence contributed to these difficulties. Any one of these problems would overwhelm a person, but Vietnam veterans tended to have multiple problems simultaneously which produced posttraumatic stress disorder.

In previous wars combat veterans had shell shock or suffered from combat fatigue. For the Vietnam combat veteran it was more than just the combat, it was what happened after they came home. It took me a long time to be able to walk down the street at home and not search building roofs for snipers that could take a shot at me.

I served as Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affair from 1980 to 1987 and I know that during that time only a small number of Vietnam veterans actually sought treatment from mental health providers. I counseled many combat veterans. They talked to me because I had been in combat, I was a Corpsman (“Doc” to them), and had a Purple Heart for wounds I received in battle. In my book, “Lost Survivor”, I write about surviving the brutal and violent Vietnam War. Then realizing what you gave up to survive, you needed to live when you come home.


Now America is in another war. Many feel there are similarities to the Vietnam War. As in the jungles of Vietnam there are no front lines in the cities of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is difficult to know who the enemy is until after they attack. Women and children are used as weapons of war. The war is unpopular with a majority of Americans. And we are not sure what winning the war means.

Today we understand the soldiers are serving our country. They are not the target of people’s strong negative feelings about the war. I think there are several reasons. The Iraq war is being fought by a large number of National Guard units. Many young men and women are from the same community, attended the same high schools, played on sport teams together, went to the same churches, and participated with each other in community and social affairs. Their families know each other. Family and friends hold fundraisers to help their kids get body armor and helmets. Parades are held to welcome them home and community-wide funerals are held for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The young men and women joining the military to defend this country are the children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans who know the effects of war.

What does America owe people who fight for their country? All levels of government, federal, state, and local, should make sure veterans receive the maximum benefits promised. All veterans, their spouses and children (dependents) are owed the benefits of any and all services needed to assist them to regain the life they lost due to the veterans’ service to the country. Government should not disgrace them by instituting bureaucratic barriers that make it harder for them to receive their benefits. In spite of government’s watered down response to its veterans, amazingly, it has been reported that 91% of combat veterans would serve again, if called upon.

Everyone should realize that veterans have been fighting wars in countries whose cultures are very different than ours. They had to survive terrible, brutal, and violent events. To survive the pressure of “adapt or die,” change was forced on them.

War veterans need help to come home. Understand that there are reasons that cause them to be changed which many veterans may not be able to talk about. It takes time and patience. After experiencing combat violence, family, old and new friends, co-workers, strangers, business, medical providers, and especially our government, all play critical roles in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.