Re: the difference between the two wars. I think a lot of it is how radically world views had changed during the two times. For starters many in the WWII Generation were already acquainted w/hardship from the depression and the babyboomer generation (on average) seems to have had a more privledged upbringing.
I heard a story on NPR a few months ago by a military psychologist who stated that when Veterans returned from a popular war they generally readjusted to peacetime life better than Vets of unpopular wars. I actually think this theory holds a lot of weight. The reception from WWII was supportive (almost everyone was involved in the war in some capacity) and the vets were given affirmation for the good they had done rather than being asked to dwell on the "evil" required from combat.
The vets in the Viet Nam War had a totally different experience returning to a country that was either apathetic or hostile to them. In my own family (lots of military) there were relatives who were called "babykillers" when people heard that they were in Viet Nam. These stories were highlighted by more subtle forms of distain and disapproval. But all in all, I think they add up.
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Date: 2005-06-02 10:51 pm (UTC)I heard a story on NPR a few months ago by a military psychologist who stated that when Veterans returned from a popular war they generally readjusted to peacetime life better than Vets of unpopular wars. I actually think this theory holds a lot of weight. The reception from WWII was supportive (almost everyone was involved in the war in some capacity) and the vets were given affirmation for the good they had done rather than being asked to dwell on the "evil" required from combat.
The vets in the Viet Nam War had a totally different experience returning to a country that was either apathetic or hostile to them. In my own family (lots of military) there were relatives who were called "babykillers" when people heard that they were in Viet Nam. These stories were highlighted by more subtle forms of distain and disapproval. But all in all, I think they add up.