why were the soldiers that went to Vietnam hated by the American people?

Question

why were the soldiers that went to Vietnam hated by the American people

Answer 1

They weren't hated by "the American people." It was just a small group of radical leftists. They hated everything about America and it just naturally followed that they hated the armed forces.

Answer 2

That is not true. American's didn't understand why we were in Vietnam. We did not want to see our young men/women get killed and for WHAT ?? American People support our Military personel and stand United in all they do. Do you know how the Soldiers suffered while there ? The Vietnamese people were tricky. Couldn't tell the friend from the foe. It was a dirty, un-necessary war and to be a prisoner in Vietnam was horrible. American Soldiers silently shed tears, when they came upon an American Soldier, nailed to a rubber tree. They were murdered in terrible ways. Americans did not hate our Soldiers. That is not true.

Answer 3

That's an awfully broad statement. My uncle served in Vietnam and I certainly didn't hate him nor others like him. Unlike our current operation in Iraq, any number of American young men went to Canada to avoid the draft and were seen by a sizable part of the American population (particularly the younger generation) as standing up against what was perceived as a unjust war.

I believe that a certain part of the population saw American Vietnam Veterans as "caving in" to the establishment, not having the strength of their convictions. I stress that this was only a part of the population. Other Americans understood that, just like today's Iraq soldiers, the men and women who fought in Vietnam were performing their duty under the circumstances they were given under very tough conditions.

I think that the American public has begun to better separate the soldier from the mission, particularly with today's all volunteer Army where many sign up to afford college. We have become more sophisticated in our understanding that soldiers don't get to pick their missions and that although we may not support the policies that put them in harms way, we need to support our troops.

Answer 4

I don't think they were/ are hated, they were just looked down upon. They were not like the veterans of past wars, that were able to get good jobs. They also did not take any s--t from any body, and that just petrified the vets of previous wars. The original Hippies (not war protesters) were veterans. A lot of people thought the same person that went to Viet Nam would be the same person that returned. They left as boys, and came back as men, and a lot of people expected them to be the same little boy that left. Their parents were disappointed that they did not want what they wanted, and would no longer be treated like a child. They grew their hair long. They would not be a clone of the 50's. They left listening to the Beatles, and came back listening to the Doors. Their old friends, that did not go to war and got deferments to avoid the draft, had all the jobs. Most people in Civil Service that were not veterans, were horrified at the thought that these vets might take their jobs. Many, when they applied for jobs, were only offered the low paying positions, that had little or no opportunity for advancement, and had to endure the lectures of bosses that told them how they went through the depression and pulled them self up by the boot straps to get ahead. In other words, they were not treated like they should have been. The attitude still prevails, especially with the too good to serve neo-cons that spread false rumors about the service Larry Pressler, John McCain, Max Clealand, and John Kerry.

Answer 5

The War was televised every night, beamed right into everyones living rooms. Additionally the draft was extremely unpopular witness all the draft age males fleeing out of the country to Canada etc.

Most people could not see how whatever the communists were doing so far away posed any threat to the US.

Unlike WWII etc., you never knew who the enemy was, is it that kid over there smiling as we go by thats gonna throw a grenade at us? The enemy could be practically anyone, male or female, young or old, you just never knew.

Also the war dragged on and on, the military was forbidden to invade North Vietnam (we merely bombed it) so the communists knew there were safe at least from a land invasion.

It did not help that the south Vietnamese governments we supported were incredibly corrupt themselves.

Been there, done that.

Answer 6

I am a Vietnam Veteran. I can't say we were hated by all American people. Mostly we were treated with indifference. Like many others, I quickly learned to not advertise where I had been. Then,as now, many people could not separate people in service of their country and the politicians who were responsible for the situation. Thank God it is a lot better today.

Answer 7

Boy,,,, All I see is a bunch of hogwash by a bunch of Bambie's that weren't even born when Vietnam happened. It would help if some of you spent a little more time with your dads finding out about what happened during that time.
If you care to look at HISTORY Democrats controlled the government through the first half of the Vietnam war, and it was NOT the liberals causing a bunch of horse sh!t, IT WAS A BUNCH OF SO CALLED HIPPIE CONSERVATIVES causing the problems.
Now with that out of the way,,, look at how Republicans answer questions right here on this board, it is always with hate aimed at anyone who disagreed with them. Well in the 70s it just happened to be the guy that was drafted and spent a year in NAM that felt the brunt of that same vermin that we see today.
Sorry guys , but no matter how you cut it,,,, a spade is still a spade

Answer 8

They weren't hated by the American people (although they were hated by some). Mostly they were caught in the middle of the same type of partisan political bickering that we have in this country today.

This is a big question and no 20 second answer is going to do it justice. If you want to understand it, I suggest you look into the Kent State National Guard incident and the My Lai Massacre. That research will take you for a long ride.

Answer 9

There are many reasons why the veterans of the Vietnam war were hated, my father always says it was because the news portrayed them as baby killing village burners, and I have a tendency to agree with him. Media in general has a way of spinning a pretty picture for their own agenda and ideals. People are influenced by what they see which helped mold their perception of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was a turning point in our thought, culture, and values in every aspect of American life. It influenced politics and world policy. The accuracy and facts untainted by propaganda or falsehood are hard to come by these days. Films portrayed the military as a loathsome institution which alluded that the uniformed warrior was equally loathsome.

Answer 10

John Kerry hated the troops. He proved it by coming home from the war with a couple of band aids on and accusing the military of raping killing and plundering.

Then he began his run for the white house.

I think President Bush should be the next face on Mt Rushmore, simply because he prevented a psychopath like LT Kerry the TRAITOR from becoming president.

Most americans did not hate vietnam vets. Ironically, the dems started the war,m escalated it secretly while lying about the escalation and then passed it off to a republican president who actually wound up getting us out eventually.

The vitriol that existed between the two parties is a repeat of what is happening today, except with one major exception.

President Bush isn't blowing any smoke up anyones a s s . He says what he means, and he means what he says.

The mental midgets who chastise him, especially the younger ones and the hollywood elite are completely uninformed, but like mindless lemmings they follow the Alpha moron off the edge of the cliff.

If you want to have an intelligent debate about the facts, as my president would say...BRING IT ON.

Answer 11

it extremely is comparable to on the instant, back then Johnson a great deal escalated the war against the purposes of many interior the rustic, Johnson being a democrat became untouchable via his followers so which you ought to particular their anger they attacked the infantrymen. The attack the infantrymen became carried over into Nixon's time alongside with blaming Nixon for the war, however the hatred of infantrymen via the left became already ingrained in many liberals. however no longer close to as undesirable, the very comparable component is occurring on the instant, the tide of blaming the administration is turning to blaming the militia.