[Little Bill]

Don't take this wrong but I don't understand PTSD. I grew up in an old industrial city and ALL my pals, about 50, served in Vietnam, mainly as grunts.

All came back and after a period of adjustment got jobs, got married, and retired to Florida.

I did two tours in Vietnam and saw two cases of people flipping out. Both were long service types who served in Korea. The worst was a fellow Squad Leader who during TET ,when we were getting hit with rockets and mortars all day and all night, wrapped himself up in flack jackets retreated into a bunker and refused to come out.

Aside from that I never saw a case of PTSD after I got out just adjustment difficulties that went away in a few months.

[oh8eleven]

but I don't understand PTSD
I think it's safe to say most combat vets suffer PTSD to some degree, but like your friends, the vast majority deal with it and get on with their lives.
But then there are those who see themselves as "victims," who claim PTSD is the root of their problems despite the fact the vast majority of them never saw combat.
In other words - the "gravy train" has arrived and they want in.

[DUMBGRUNT]

It is my opinion that we were helped along by the old ones from WWII and Korea, they were everywhere.

The CEO of the company I worked for was a WWII Navy officer of some distinction, I never knew it until years later from his obituary. He was the Big guy, I Was not sure if he knew my name!
Years later the old guys said that he “took care of me”!

Today in church they ask for the vets to stand, not that many. The said about 12% of Americans, the minister was career Army.

I believe we had an ‘invisible’ safety net.

[5th MEB]

When I got out I spent about 9 or 10 months mining and panning gold from the Canadian boarder to southern California.
Didn’t find enough gold to pay for bacon and beans; but got a lot of peace and quiet, got enough down time to get my head straight.
Hit So. Cal. and decided it was time to go out and get a real job, bank account was getting pretty low.
Went back to work, got married, had kids, got kids through college, now I am just a retired dumb old farmer.
Life is good, but you have to work for it.