Louis Zamperini could not talk about it. It terrified him at night and he was always angry because of it. Everyone thought that it was so good and noble. It was World War II, the “good” war. Louie Zamperini’s PTSD was an example of how misunderstood veterans were by society after World War II. However, over time, society has learned to understand soldiers’ experiences. In World War II, the success of the American military created a positive attitude towards soldiers that did not account for their struggles. One example is the fame that the 101st Airborne Division Easy Company gained through films such as the Band of Brother series. Their glorification in Band of Brothers shows how World War II soldiers were seen as great heroes and victors and not completely understood for the struggles they experienced. Another example is the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder experienced by Louie Zamperini. He “had nightmares about strangling his former captors and began drinking heavily, trying to forget his experiences” (Unbroken 263).
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Professor Figueroa explains that the media’s “appalling images enabled the public to see war, as they never had before.” This showed the average American at home the horrors of war and took a step towards understanding what veterans experience. However, the media truly worked against the veteran of the Vietnam War. “Many media sources were against the U.S. role in Vietnam and held a critical attitude toward the war. The images they captured effected [sic] everyone who viewed them” (Figueroa). The press portrayed the Vietnam war in a very negative light and this carried over into how the soldiers in the war were perceived. In a way, they were on the opposite of the World War II veterans. However, neither group’s hardships were understood by society. The Vietnam era did not perceive veterans correctly but did precede a new way of viewing
Professor Figueroa explains that the media’s “appalling images enabled the public to see war, as they never had before.” This showed the average American at home the horrors of war and took a step towards understanding what veterans experience. However, the media truly worked against the veteran of the Vietnam War. “Many media sources were against the U.S. role in Vietnam and held a critical attitude toward the war. The images they captured effected [sic] everyone who viewed them” (Figueroa). The press portrayed the Vietnam war in a very negative light and this carried over into how the soldiers in the war were perceived. In a way, they were on the opposite of the World War II veterans. However, neither group’s hardships were understood by society. The Vietnam era did not perceive veterans correctly but did precede a new way of viewing