Have Vietnam Vets who stayed on active duty coped with things better than those who got out straight out of Nam?

1SG Billye Jackson — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 09:41:53 -0400

I know that I had a better time Copping with Memories while I was on Active Duty then I did during my Brake in Service. When I was on my Brake in Service I was having a Hard time with Dreams and Life in General This was after 6 Years on Active Duty, when I went back on AD, they were a lot Less and time between Longer (which my Wife was Glad of). I am of the Belief that my Day to Day being with Brothers who had been There, Helped me.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 12 at 2019 11:22 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 11:22:34 -0400

This is a results will vary situation. For me, 'Nam certainly had its rough spots in getting hurt and losing friends. However, the long AD and Reserve career after had some worse incidents which put much of that into the background. You don't need a specific period to terrorize you, just specific incidents whenever and wherever they occur.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Mar 12 at 2019 11:31 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 11:31:52 -0400

1SG Billye Jackson No doubt the contact was a factor.You were less alienated from everyone.Civilians had no idea and couldn't relate.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2019 11:48 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 11:48:03 -0400

1SG Billye Jackson I served for two years after I returned from Vietnam. As mentioned by SSgt Terry P., being with fellow brothers helped. For most of us, we will have various things to deal with for the rest of our lives.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Mar 12 at 2019 9:10 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 21:10:59 -0400

I don't have any objective evidence, but I have long believed that remaining on active duty was a real advantage. We'd all been through the experience and the same losses. Of course the real world wasn't that inviting at the time.
My opinion seems to be somewhat endorsed by the VA since one of their treatments for PTS is the talking groups, actually segregated by conflict, where the stated objective is to talk out your your problems with peers with similiar backgrounds.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 13 at 2019 10:37 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 10:37:50 -0400

You had a community that understood you while active, not being thrown out where you were alien to the world- that helps tons.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Mar 13 at 2019 12:22 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 12:22:24 -0400

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Mar 14 at 2019 9:24 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 21:24:20 -0400

For me I served 3 years and ETS and went to college. I tried to hold a part time job and go to school at the same time. It didn't work out. I quit school and worked different jobs, never satisfied. I went back in and retired after 20 years. I had no PTSD problems while active. The dreams and the job hopping started all over again soon upon retirement plus I could not find a decent job at the time, just construction. A friend of mine from Vietnam looked me up and told me I had PTSD. I didn't believe it at first and went to a counselor that confirmed it after more than a dozen jobs in a year. I tried the VA which was bull shit. I talked with another close friend that was a Vietnam Veteran and told me to work; Work till you drop dead. It will help and for me it does. The best years of my retirement life was working in Iraq for 5 years. Now I work 2 security jobs part time. The dreams never go away but the frustration with people does not bother me. Man was born to work and a Soldier never fades away, he battles the pain that resulted from his service and drives on. I am a Soldier for Life.