Reply #20: Can't be compared from the outside.

[TahitiNut]

There are just too may differences in the geopolitical and strategic considerations to even come close to listing them. While Viet Nam was wrong-headed and ultimately catastrophic, it wasn't a blatant crime against peace like the invasion and occupation of Iraq, imho. While we actually had an enemy state we fought against, we were prohibited from invading and defeating it. There were so many levels of such insanity, it's almost beyond ken.

The inner experience of those who lived and fought in a combat zone, however, while unique for each person, is probably common in all wars.

With one exception.

For most of us in the Army, we got sent to Viet Nam alone, had to find and build a support group, and then got sent home alone. I don't think there's any way to describe how that feels. It was, as far as I know, the only war were the troops where treated that way as a matter of course. Anyone who'd trivialize this or ignore this really doesn't have an opinion worth considering, imho.