The most obvious effects of the Vietnam War were the astounding death toll. Estimations say there were about two million Vietnamese civilians, as well as approximately 1.3 million Vietnamese soldiers and around 58 thousand U.S. troops were killed. The massive bombings that occurred severely scarred the landscape. Aside from concern for remaining U.S. prisoners of war (POWs) still in Vietnam, Americans became less and less concerned with events within the country. Nonetheless, the war had lasting effects.
Many young men were drafted to fight for a cause they didn’t understand, and upon returning, rather than giving returning veterans of the war welcoming parades, Americans seemed to shun, if not disparage, the 2 million-plus Americans who went to Vietnam, the 1.6 million who served in combat, the 300,000 physically wounded, the many more who bore psychological scars, the 2,387 listed as
"missing in action," and the more than 58,000 who died. Today many Vietnam veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and disabling injuries.
Not until after the 1982 dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., did American culture acknowledge their sacrifice and suffering, and concede that most had been good soldiers in a bad war.
Many young men were drafted to fight for a cause they didn’t understand, and upon returning, rather than giving returning veterans of the war welcoming parades, Americans seemed to shun, if not disparage, the 2 million-plus Americans who went to Vietnam, the 1.6 million who served in combat, the 300,000 physically wounded, the many more who bore psychological scars, the 2,387 listed as
"missing in action," and the more than 58,000 who died. Today many Vietnam veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and disabling injuries.
Not until after the 1982 dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., did American culture acknowledge their sacrifice and suffering, and concede that most had been good soldiers in a bad war.