No Place Like Home
In the midst of turmoil and the feeling of inevitable demise that most wars bring, soldiers learn to create their own comfort zone. It might be through different things, but most get lost in the pages of magazines. It seemed like they would do anything to find a way to transport them back to any resemblance of a normal life, where death and destruction was something they weren’t familiar with.
Some soldiers unwillingly had to bid adieu to their lovers back in their hometown, and some were very fed up with seeing nothing but communist enemies and fellow male soldiers. During wartime, it is essential to know how to entertain oneself, or insanity might come knocking.
On The Verge Of Collapse
Wars can drain even the fittest of troops. Evident from the image above a very fatigued soldier with a facial expression that is screaming for some downtime and sleep. The war did not just induce fear, blood-soaked encounters, and life-threatening trauma, it would also drive soldiers to the point of exhaustion.
No soldier will ever get used to the excruciating level of energy that battles require. From the sleepless nights, dehydration, heat, and rough terrain to the seemingly unending movements, soldiers are sure to face unimaginable hardships.
Camaraderie In The Heart Of Chaos
As depicted in the photo above, a Marine Sergeant shows concern for an injured soldier. This photo vividly shows the anguish and destruction that the war brings, not only to civilians but also to soldiers. Photographer Larry Burrows took this photo in October 1966, in the south of Vietnam's demilitarized zone.
Jeremiah Purdie, the Sergeant who has a blood-stained bandage in the photo, was also severely injured but seemed to be unstoppable in trying to assist his wounded comrades.
Defying Violence
Everyone knows about the hippie movement of the '60s; it supported anti-war sentiments, which encouraged peaceful protests throughout the country. It was one of the most influential movements against the government after they sent the U.S. Army to the jungles of Vietnam.
Here is a photo of a soldier tattooed with the peace symbol on his right arm while reading a letter from home. The U.S. Army actively applied a compulsory draft during the Vietnam War, which resulted in many pacifists who frowned on the concept of war being sucked into a nightmarish situation.
The Intimidating Vietnamese Terrain
Vietnam is home to 430 different species of mammals and 800 different types of reptiles/amphibians. With lethal snakes, insects, massive elephants, and ruthless Indochinese tigers lurking around every corner, danger seemed to stay everywhere.
Imagine the level of resiliency the U.S. troops needed to have while they were crossing the dark waters of the Mekong Delta, as shown above. With a high chance of encountering potentially dangerous animals or, worse, fearsome guerillas, these soldiers already had one foot on the ground.