Combat vets will never “fit in”. Their experiences make them different with an entirely different viewpoint on life. They have seen the elephant. The error is thinking that this makes the vet less than the non-vet. In fact he is more. He has seen and done things that would have the run of the mill citizen in a straitjacket. Shrinks only make it worse with drugs.
As a VN vet I eventually realized that non-vets will never understand. There’s no point in trying to make them understand. I don’t expect to “fit in” and frankly couldn’t care less about it. By fitting in I mean becoming another zombie who watches reality TV and cares about what his neighbor’s junky car is doing to his property values.
I’ve been blessed by being married for 40 years to a wonderful woman who put up with my frequent snark about people’s petty concerns. At one time she watched a documentary on the war and told me she had no idea how vets coped. I said that we don’t have a choice. Taking it one day at a time is sometimes the only way through.
An over seas tour will teach you what is and what isn’t important in life. There’s nothing like being woken with mortar fire and green tracers to adjust your viewpoint.
I still hate f***ing chickenshyt REMFs.
REMFs, now often referred to as POG’s (PEOPLE OTHER than GRUNTS).
My view of them changed after meeting a coworker VN Veteran. The usual about Unit, location, MOS...
He went over as an 11 Bravo, and early on was selected for a work detail, some lucky guys went to burn shite he was most fortunate to end up at the main post office!
He spent his entire tour humping mail.
He said somebody has to do it, why not me!
My first night in country a 122 hit the barracks next to mine. Guys going home.
Something about the randomness of war, luck must be a factor? And not everyone is needed at the point of the spear.
That said, we truly are a band of brothers, that shared a unique experience.
Sometimes I think, I have more in common with the NVA that shot me, than with many of my fellow citizens?
Long ago I used to go to the VA, it was my opinion that many of the guys used the VA as a social event to visit with their own kind.Fine by me, but it does load up the system.