In my work to use the experiences of veterans in a positive way, I've had many repsonses. American veterans are primarily grateful to help. So many veterans came home and used their military serice as motivation to help others as teachers, coaches, counselors, police officers, fireman and medical professionals. It's rewarding to see so much positive come out of our experiences.
There are instances also of the negative side of war. It doesn't take a lot of work in this area to find that the cost of war can be uncovered for generations. A veterans experience will effect as many as three or four generations. It's pretty obvious that the veterans are deeply effected, but so are parents, children and I've often seen grandchildren effected. What few people really understand is that war has a very real impact on a long line of peope in veterans' families. The effects of war do not end when the historians place the beginning and ending dates on it. It has it's own life in many ways.
There are times when you see the damaging, negative side of a warrior's experience. As Think About the Children communicates the story of its work to teachers, veterans and others it is not uncommon to hear the comment, "I'll support Vietnamese kids when every one of our veterans is taken of." When I talk to veterans about the temendous therapeutic value of a trip back to Viet Nam I often hear, "I spent my time in hell. I have no desire to go back."
Recently, my wife has expressed some concern over a few high school classmates who served in Viet Nam. My wife herself graduated from high school in 1968 and immediately went into a 36 month registered nurse program with no time off in the summer. She graduated in 1971 and did not personally experience the potential horror the war could bring to families. She was focused on her own education. Now her 40th high school reunion is set for this summer. One of her classmates has organized a Yahoo Group and over 100 of her classmates are reconnecting, many for the first time in those 40 years. Last night she mentioned to me how sad the postings were of the many guys who served in Viet Nam. Those Viet Nam Veterans in her high school class had some tough experiences. She sees so much pain and some very damaged lives in the postings of her high school classmates who served in Viet Nam.
My wife only knows Viet Nam from our recent trips over the last three years. Those experiences are all positive, so positive we asked our son to go with us last December. The Vietnamese have mostly put the war, the war they call the "War of Liberation" which lasted from the French occupation until the defeat of the Americans in 1975, behind them. A trip there finds so many friendly, happy faces to welcome Americans.
It's interesting to compare the two societies. Americans served 10,000 miles from home. They often came home to people who couldn't understand their military combat service. This was often challenging for the veterans who saw the horrible waste of life on both sides. Vietnamese served on their own soil. There country's economy couldn't have been worse at the end of the war. They really didn't have the option to worry about their war exeriences. They had to find food, work and survive in very difficult circumstances. Things like PTSD, Agent Orange poisoning and other issues in the USA were placed on the back burner in Viet Nam as the immediate needs to survive were a serious daily challenge. Consequently, its difficult to find a personal side of the war in Viet Nam unlike the USA where it seems to always come up in presidential elections and comparisons to Iraq.
One war, two countries with two very different legacies. It's interesting to see and maybe a trip to Viet Nam for our veterans can offer a different perspective and relief from memories that are so powerful. Thich Nhat Hanh says, "In order to deal with War we have to touch the peace inside us first." Many find that peace inside themselves right back in the place where they were part of a difficult war.
