Editor,
War changes people. Contrary to popular belief, war doesn’t just challenge a soldier’s ethics and morals — it helps shape them, too. “Metal Gear Solid” script writers Hideo Kojima and Tomokazu Fukushima wrote it best about war: “It’s easy to forget what a sin is in the middle of a battlefield.” This is because war is not just a physical battle but a psychological battle fought. War changes people, and often because of that it’s said that war brings out the best and worst in people.
Most civilians are born with a sense of morals and ethics but lack the discipline needed to survive a war situation. In order to do so, civilians are exposed to a basic training program to help create that sense of discipline. This is done through physical exercise, weapon training and team retribution, as well as team compensation. All of these can be described as both mental and physical challenges that are rewarding experiences. If the civilian succeeds in this basic training program, they become a solider.
A common misconception of soldiers is that all soldiers serve in combat. This is not true. There are some that serve behind enemy lines. However, those that do serve in combat have their physical and mental abilities put to the test.
A classic example of such a test can be found in Tim O’Brien’s short story, “The Things They Carried,” which explores the effects of the Vietnam War on a young lieutenant, Jimmy Cross, and his platoon. Through this story, we see that these soldiers are struggling with courage to avoid the impact of the war. Lt. Jimmy Cross uses the hope of love, found in the letters and a pebble given to him by a love back home to survive this war. Others in his platoon use pictures or rabbit’s feet, some take tranquilizers, and some smoke pot.
By doing so this shows the reader that soldiers carry things with them in combat. It isn’t just physical things to survive a war but emotional things, too. In other words, soldiers are still human, even in a time of crisis, such as war.
Although the physical war in Vietnam ended, some of these soldiers today are fighting a mental war. This mental war is what we see that changes people and is known as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD has gained more attention thanks to other recent wars, such as Iraq. Unfortunately, not enough is being done to help our soldiers who suffer from PTSD.
As a country, we need to do more to help these soldiers who are fighting this mental war known as PTSD. A great way to start is to not only be patient and understanding, but to extend our hand and say: “Thank you for your service.” It is through this reorganization we allow our soldiers to get the attention they deserve. Many Vietnam veterans did not receive the attention that we give our Iraqi veterans from our country. For that, I am sorry. Let all of us welcome home all veterans of wars fought and show some appreciation.
Patrick Byers-Smith
Daily Lobo reader
