What was it like for American soldiers returning home from Vietnam?
Jul 31, 2013 · After 14 days on the hospital ship, during which he received his Purple Heart, Jimerson was evacuated and found himself at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, in an open ward full of wounded men. Months of treatment and therapy followed, and doctors made him his first glass eye.
How did some US soldiers survive a head injury in Vietnam?
Jan 06, 2006 · Teams of more than 90 visit Vietnam four or five times each year for monthlong operations. They do investigations, archival research, an oral history program and remains recovery operations.
What happened to the remains of US soldiers killed in Vietnam?
Dec 15, 2011 · The federal government’s attempt to scale back entitlements to soldiers did not last long. World War II erupted, and Congress passed the G.I. Bill, which Linker says “had a lot of perks and benefits” in addition to rehabilitation. “For most of the 20th century, veterans have enjoyed healthcare benefits that no [other] citizens have had ...
Did the Vietnam War cause mental breakdowns in soldiers?
In 1971, as the Vietnam War was heading into its sixteenth year, congressmen Robert Steele from Connecticut and Morgan Murphy from Illinois made a discovery that stunned the American public. While visiting the troops, they had learned that over 15 percent of U.S. soldiers stationed there were heroin addicts.
What did soldiers do after the Vietnam War?
Many Vietnam veterans built successful lives after they returned home from the war. They finished their educations, established good careers, and had families. But many other veterans had a tough time readjusting to life in the United States after they completed their military service.
Why were soldiers treated poorly after Vietnam?
0:005:01How WWII and Vietnam Veterans Were Treated Differently | HistoryYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipVeterans of both World War two and the Vietnam War risked their lives for their country. But the wayMoreVeterans of both World War two and the Vietnam War risked their lives for their country. But the way they were treated by both the US government and their fellow citizens. Could not have been more
How many Vietnam veterans were addicted to drugs?
Almost half of all enlisted men in the Army serving in Vietnam had tried one of two opioids — heroin or opium — and 20% had become addicted while there. All had been in the country for one year, so their exposure to the drug-rich environment was essentially the same.Jul 19, 2021
Did any American soldiers stay in Vietnam after the war?
The last US ground troops left Vietnam in March 1973, after which the peace talks once again broke down. Fighting resumed and South Vietnam eventually surrendered to the forces of North Vietnam in April 1975. Approximately 2,700,000 American men and women served in Vietnam.
How many black soldiers served in Vietnam?
A total of 300,000 African-Americans served in Vietnam.
Why was Vietnam so traumatic?
Unlike veterans who fought in previous conflicts, the Vietnam veterans were never welcomed home, so many of them suffered from significant social isolation. Jim's PTSD was a result of his military experience in conflict and social isolation which created a vicious circle.Nov 25, 2017
What did soldiers smoke in Vietnam?
According to a 1971 report by the Department of Defense, 51 percent of the armed forces had smoked marijuana, 31 percent had used psychedelics, such as LSD, mescaline and psilocybin mushrooms, and an additional 28 percent had taken hard drugs, such as cocaine and heroin.Aug 29, 2018
What are they smoking in Platoon?
Special packs of Marlboro cigarettes were made for the movie on the insistence of Oliver Stone, who wanted the cherry-red color on the pack to more closely match those made during the late 1960s. With this movie, Oliver Stone became the first Vietnam veteran to direct a major motion picture about the Vietnam War.
What was fragging in the Vietnam War?
“Fragging is a macabre ritual of Vietnam in which American enlisted men attempt to murder their superiors. The word comes from the nickname for hand grenades, a weapon popular with enlisted men because the evidence is destroyed with the consummation of the crime.
Were any POWs rescued in Vietnam?
No POW ever escaped from Hanoi. More than 80 percent of POWs held in North Vietnam were aircrew personnel of the U.S. Air Force (332 POWs), Navy (149 POWs), and Marine Corps (28 POWs). POWs held in North Vietnam were used for propaganda, psychological warfare, and negotiating purposes.Mar 11, 2022
How many soldiers were bitten by snakes in Vietnam?
The United States Archives and other sources suggest that between 25 and 50 American soldiers a year were bitten by snakes during the war in Vietnam. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness.Mar 9, 2021
Who was on the last chopper out of Vietnam?
At 7:53 AM, April 30th, 1975 the last helicopter took its wings, carrying Major Kean and 10 Marine Security Guards. This helicopter landed on USS Okinawa at 8:30 AM.Sep 8, 2021
What company is Jimerson in?
Jimerson spends much of his time encouraging fellow paratroopers to attend reunions of his outfit, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 501st Infant ry, 101st Airborne Division. “We try to do what we can to help veterans, especially the wounded,” Jimerson said in a July 3 telephone interview.
What rifle did Jimerson use?
Jimerson fought with an M16 rifle from atop a small hill while his company evacuated a wounded point man and regrouped under heavy fire. Next they established a perimeter, getting the wounded together for extraction. That’s when a Viet Cong mortar round exploded nearby.
What happened to Bradley Jimerson?
Bradley Jimerson became one of those Americans. Shrapnel from an exploding Viet Cong mortar shell destroyed Jimerson’s left eye and penetrated his brain . Jimerson, 65, calls Steamburg, N.Y., home, but he and his wife, Catherine, or “Cat,” spend most of the year traveling the country in their recreational vehicle.
Where did Bradley Jimerson train?
After infantry and airborne training, Jimerson went to Fort Campbell, Ky., to join the 101st Airborne Division Screaming Eagles, where he trained to become a machine gunner in Vietnam. Bradley Jimerson arrived in Vietnam aboard a U.S. Air Force C-141 Starlifter as part of Operation Eagle Thrust. Eagle Thrust was the transport ...
What was the name of the helicopter that picked up an injured member of the 101st Airborne Division?
It was like someone was taking a picture with a flash.”. A UH-1D Huey medevac helicopter takes off to pick up an injured member of the 101st Airborne Division, near the demilitarized zone, South Vietnam, Oct. 16, 1969. Bradley Jimerson’s life was saved thanks to a timely UH-1 Huey “dustoff.”.
Why did the Eagle Thrust transport a screaming eagle?
Eagle Thrust was the transport of around 10,000 Screaming Eagles to Vietnam to reinforce U.S. troop strength during the Tet Offensive. Photo courtesy of the Robert F. Dorr Collection. “In mid-December 1967, they issued us new jungle fatigues and told us to mail our personal stuff home.
How was Bradley Jimerson's life saved?
Bradley Jimerson’s life was saved thanks to a timely UH-1 Huey “dustoff.”. National Archives photo. The horror of a battlefield wound was instant and overwhelming. “It was like my brain and body were short-circuited,” said Jimerson.
What was the drug used in the Vietnam War?
Speed was a popular drug for American soldiers in the Vietnam War as well. The American military issued 225 million tablets of dextroamphetamine between 1966 and 1969. 1 Dextroamphetamine was twice as strong as the Benzedrine tablets given during World War II. These so-called “Pep Pills” were given out like candy with no attention paid to dosing or frequency. 11
How many soldiers were addicted to morphine?
Soldiers left the war hooked on morphine and continued to use it at home, where it was readily available. An estimated 400,000 soldiers returned home addicted to morphine. For this reason, morphine addiction was known then as “Soldier’s Disease.” 2,3,4,5,6.
What was the most popular drug in WW2?
Amphetamines were the most popular drugs used in World War II. In fact, soldiers accounted for the largest number of amphetamine users between 1939 and 1945. 1. The Nazis started the trend. Their drug of choice was Pervitin, an early version of crystal meth in a pill form that they patented in 1937.
How long could German soldiers march without stopping?
With the help of Pervitin, German soldiers could march for days on end without stopping, going without sleep for up to 50 hours. 1,7. Pervitin had many adverse effects, however. These included dizziness, sweating, depression, hallucinations, and addiction.
What is the history of drug use in warfare?
Drug use in warfare may be as old as war itself. Use of intoxicants during combat spans centuries, from Homer’s written accounts of soldiers drinking wine in ancient times to Siberians consuming mushrooms to use of amphetamines in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. 1.
What was the first war with documented instances of drug addiction?
Civil War. The American Civil War is the first American war with documented instances of drug addiction. Morphine was the drug of this war. It was considered a wonder drug and given as a painkiller, anesthetic, and sometimes as a diarrhea cure .
Why do soldiers use drugs?
A soldier may use drugs during war for a variety of reasons. These include: Performance enhancement. Soldiers commonly use stimulants to stay awake and remain alert despite fatigue. 1. Treating injuries and pain. Morphine and other opiates were used to help treat pain and injuries from the battlefield. 2.
How many soldiers in Vietnam were addicted to heroin?
soldiers stationed there were heroin addicts. Follow up research revealed that 35 percent of service members in Vietnam had tried heroin and as many as 20 percent were addicted—the problem was even worse than they had initially thought.
Why did the Vietnam studies run counter to many of our cultural beliefs about bad habits?
The Vietnam studies ran counter to many of our cultural beliefs about bad habits because it challenged the conventional association of unhealthy behavior as a moral weakness. If you’re overweight, a smoker, or an addict, you’ve been told your entire life that it is because you lack self-control—maybe even that you’re a bad person. The idea that a little bit of discipline would solve all our problems is deeply embedded in our culture.
What did Robins find?
Instead, Robins revealed that addictions could spontaneously dissolve if there was a radical change in the environment.
How many mortuaries were there in Vietnam?
There were two mortuaries in Vietnam. One was in Da Nang; the other was near Saigon at Tan Son Nhut, where Gary Redlinski, 64, and Glen Fruendt, 67, worked together.
Who was at the Saigon mortuary?
Gary Redlinski (left) was at an Army mortuary near Saigon from May 1968 to July 1970. Glen Fruendt was there from September 1967 to September 1968. The two spoke at StoryCorps in St. Louis; the insignia on their shirts read, "Dignity, Reverence, Respect.". "You'd look for body marks, scars, tattoos," Redlinski says.
Who was the first person to receive the dead from the field?
Jerald Collman, 64, was a collection-point officer whose team was the first to receive the dead from the field. In 1970, he and his men sent fallen personnel to a mortuary, where they were prepared to be shipped back home.
Ronald Ridenhour Reveals Horrifying Details
The horrific incident gained international attention when an American soldier, named Ronald Ridenhour, wrote a letter about the atrocities that were committed by American soldiers against Vietnamese civilians. He then sent this letter to President Richard Nixon of America.
The Arrival of American Soldiers in My Lai
In the December of 1967, America sent Charlie Company, a part of the Americal Division’s 11th Infantry Brigade, to aid South Vietnam against North Vietnam, during the Vietnam war.
Orders to Destroy the Entire Village
The Charlie company strictly adhered to the notification they had received earlier. They believed that My Lai was infested with the VC army. The commanders of Charlie Company advised their militia to destroy the whole village, including men, women and children. They were told to show mercy to none.
Children and Old Men Killed, Women Raped
The shooting at My Lai was ruthless; men, women and children were all shot down. A few soldiers baulked at the orders of Lieutenant Calley. However, they still followed his commands.
The My Lai Massacre Comes to an End
Hugh Thompson was a warrant officer, who was sent on a reconnaissance mission to supervise the situation of Charlie company in My Lai. The officer went to My Lai on an Army helicopter. What he saw in My Lai, left him shocked. There were heaps of dead bodies, and the shooting still carried on.
The Failed Cover-Up of the Deadly Massacre
The commander was aware that the details of the My Lai massacre could lead to criticism from the world. Therefore, every soldier was commanded to keep the information to himself. By the end of the My Lai massacre, 504 people had been killed.
Justice Was Not Served
Fourteen soldiers were charged with premeditated murder, as a result of Ridenhour’s interview. Lieutenant Calley was one of the fourteen men charged for mass murder in My Lai. All the officers were tried and acquitted except Lieutenant Calley.
Why were sedatives prescribed in Vietnam?
In addition to those amphetamines, which were used to boost endurance on long missions, sedatives were prescribed to help relieve anxiety and prevent mental breakdowns. It seemingly worked. In Vietnam, the rate of mental breakdowns in soldiers was 1 percent, a massive reduction from the Second World War (10 percent).
What drugs did the Vietnam War use?
What drugs did soldiers use in the Vietnam War? According to a 1971 report by the Department of Defense, 51 percent of the armed forces had smoked marijuana, 31 percent had used psychedelics, such as LSD , mescaline and psilocybin mushrooms, and an additional 28 percent had taken hard drugs, such as cocaine and heroin.
What was the war on drugs that Nixon fought?
In contrast, President Nixon’s war on drugs enjoyed broad bipartisan appeal, and public officials from both the left and the right were quick to blame marijuana and heroin for American failures abroad.
What percentage of soldiers were heroin users in 1973?
According to a Pentagon study, by 1973 up to 20 percent of soldiers were habitual heroin users. Noting the negative consequences of stifling marijuana use, one army commanding officer was quoted saying, “If it would get them to give up the hard stuff, I would buy all the marijuana and hashish in the Delta as a present.”.
Who said you don't have a drug problem in Vietnam?
From heroin to amphetamines to marijuana, drugs were so commonplace among the troops that, in 1970, liaison to the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Egil Krogh told President Richard Nixon “you don’t have a drug problem in Vietnam; you have a condition. Problems are things we can get right on and solve.”.
Why did military commanders prescribe pills?
Military commanders also heavily prescribed pills to help improve soldiers' performance. Substance abuse in the Vietnam War wasn’t just limited to the marijuana and heroin enlistees could buy on the black market. Military commanders also heavily prescribed pills to help improve soldiers' performance. Armed servicemen of the Vietnam War used drugs ...
What age was the average Vietnam soldier?
You could step on a trip wire and unknowingly kill both yourself and many of your friends. The average age of a soldier in Vietnam was 18. 18.
What is triage in military?
Triage = dividing the wounded into three tiers. Applies to battles and mass-casualty civilian emergencies. Tier one included all who could be treated at a forward aid station and returned to his unit. Tier two included those who might be saved, if stabilized and evacuated to a field hospital in time.
What factors affect the return to combat?
As in any combat in any war or battle returning to the combat depends upon several factors, such as the severity of the wounds, where the wounded are treated or evacuated to, and also the actions of the enemy.
What does the million dollar part mean?
The million dollar part was just a slang meaning that the person having suffered a permanent disability was eligible for a computed payment determined by the percentage of disability for life. If you lived long enough perhaps you could collect that much.
Did Benavides get zipped into a body bag?
Medical personnel declared him “dead” and he was zipped into a body bag. When a friend forced a doctor at gun point to look again, Benavides ,unable to move or speak, spit in the startled doctors face. Yes, sometimes you could go back to duty. What a man - he didn't catch any footballs, but a REAL hero, he was.
Did a Marine leave Vietnam early?
So he needed no help from a corpsman and of course never visited a hospital. Two “serious” wounds, usually 48 hours or more in the hospital gave you a free trip home. As a Marine it was important that if you left Vietnam early you did it in an honorable way. This was one of those ways.
Reasons For Drug Use
- A soldier may use drugs during war for a variety of reasons. These include:8, 10 1. Performance enhancement. Soldiers commonly use stimulants to stay awake and remain alert despite fatigue. 2. Treating injuries and pain. Morphine and other opiates were used to help treat pain and injuries from the battlefield. 3. Anesthesia for surgery. Morphine wa...
Civil War
- The American Civil War is the first American war with documented instances of drug addiction. Morphine was the drug of this war. One of the Union officers supposedly made his command members drink opium daily as a preventative for dysentery.10 Soldiers left the war addicted to morphine and continued to use it at home, where it was readily available. An estimated 400,000 …
World War I
- During World War, the government provided cigarettes to soldiers to help ease boredom and reduce stress.11Prior to the war, less than 0.5% of American people regularly consumed cigarettes. By the war’s end, approximately 14 million cigarettes were distributed daily. According to Lukasz Kamienski, a political science professor at the Institute of American Studies and Polis…
World War II
- Amphetamines were the most popular drugs used in World War II. In fact, soldiers accounted for the largest number of amphetamine users between 1939 and 1945.2 The Nazis started the trend. Their drug of choice was Pervitin, an early version of crystal meth in a pill form that they patented in 1937.9 The drug was marketed for military use to foster confidence, boost physical energy, en…
Vietnam
- Speed was a popular drug for American soldiers in the Vietnam War as well. The American military issued 225 million tablets of dextroamphetamine between 1966 and 1969.15 Dextroamphetamine was twice as strong as the Benzedrine tablets given during World War II. These so-called “Pep Pills” were given out like candy with no attention paid to dosing or frequen…
Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
- The misuse of alcohol and drugs in warfare is still a problem among America’s military today. In fact, alcohol use is more prevalent among military men and women than among civilians.8Almost half of the active-duty members reported binge drinking in a 2008 survey, an increase of 35% in a decade. Research indicates that binge drinking rates are even higher among those exposed to hi…
Veterans and Substance Use
- Many veterans return home from war only to struggle with post-deployment alcohol use disorder, drug addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental illnesses. Compared to civilians, veterans are more likely to use alcohol.8 In one study reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1 in 4 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan reported symptoms of a mental illne…