ABSTRACT
During the Vietnam War, the military significantly improved its ability to save the lives of its wounded soldiers. Keeping more alive meant more returned home severely wounded. Tens of thousands experienced the hard trip home. Many Vietnam veterans returned home and tried to forget the war and regain some semblance of a normal life, although many battled guilt over leaving their comrades behind. Others, however, returned and began new battles. Many turned to alcohol and drugs, losing jobs and families, and well into the twenty-first century homeless shelters and other community aid programs continued seeing a disproportionate number of Vietnam veterans in relation to their overall numbers. The soldiers who fought returned home to an often-ungrateful country, causing isolation and resentment. Some responded by battling for many causes related to their service including health benefits. Others expended significant energy challenging the negative stereotypes that evolved out of their service.
