Do most people not like talking about their experiences in war?

Question

if its true then why dont you like talking about it? My uncle was in Vietnam and he never talks about it but he did join a vietman vet biker gang. would you like to share your war stories with me? I always love hearing about them.

also my grandpa was in world war 2 and hes told me a few stories but he never says much, I wish I could know every story he has about his experience in world war 2 because he is turning 90 and may not have too much longer to live.

Answer 1

Had you been there, you'd understand that those that haven't been there cannot understand.

That's why we have VFW's and other such organizations. So when we do wanna talk about it, the people we talk to will know what it is we're saying.

Sorry.

I throw in a few stories here, the light ones: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-DfkctJU7dK5B7LcNROoyVQ--;_ylt=AvKCmn92W_FCk0ugZGetFge0AOJ3?cq=1

Answer 2

The problem is one of shared context. Someone who hasn't been there doesn't get the point of the story, doesn't get the humor or the why it's a good story. People who have been there do get it, but they usually have stories too, and aren't so much interested in yours.

I'll give you an example from the medical field.

I'm hanging an IV for a guy who is dying of lung cancer. And there's this surgical bucket next to his bed for him to cough into. It's just like a regular bucket, only chromed. Bright shiny chrome, so it can be sterilized easily.

It's so the guy can cough out bright red, frothy foam from his lungs. Maybe a bit of lung tissue on occasion.

So, the attending nurse and I retire to the break room and remark at the tragedy of it all. While we have a smoke break.

See? It isn't the same if you haven't been there.

Answer 3

My husband talks about Iraq all the time! He is on his 3rd tour right now..When he came home the 1st time he was quiet for a few months. I learned later he wanted to talk to me about it but was afraid for me to hear what he had been through. He is a Combat Medic so he has seen some of the worst in battle. Well he asked me if he could talk to me about it..this of course was before all the Army counseling programs they have now. I listened and cried with him. The 2nd time he came home he didn't have to ask..he just opened up to me..I listened and cried with him again. Yes there were strange things that he did but I never questioned him. Is he different?? Some, yes but he is still a loving and wonderful man. He is much more vocal with his appreciation, with his feelings and he absolutely takes nothing for granted. We truly believe that because he opened up right away it has made us both stronger and he says it kept him sane..Everyone reacts differently of course and this may not be the best way for everyone. It was hard on both of us but as I tell him "that's what I am here for".
We will do this again when he comes home in a few months..Hopefully it will be the last time we have to deal with this...
Proud Army Wife!! HOOAH!!

Answer 4

Amongst themselves the majority of Veterans do talk to each other. Its a form of letting of (for the wan't of a better word) tensions that may have endured for years and in themselves, on occassion, caused some dispair and misery in ones immediate family.

I've never really had cause to concern myself about past military actions, my personel involvement, and the events eminating from them.

Yes. Like many, I witnessed brutal and savage incidents perpertrated predominately against civilians who, in no way, could ever defend themselves.

As a soldier at times coming under fire, it went with the job (that you understood) however, you invariably surmised it would never happen you and getting hit - being least of all!

Finally meeting up with such perpertraors, mindful of what they had done, gave no cause for leniency whatsoever as to the treatment handed out or otherwise.

I lost a lot of dear friends, I saw many wounded, crippled and mained for life.

For the most part they were honourable actions against those who had illigelly invaded countires and/or acts of aggression within a soverign state that would invariably give rise to dictatorships or whatever being established.

Unforunately, as in Vietnam, this was by no means the case. And many, many initial serving military peronnel were, undeniably, at its outbreak, of that opinion.

Tragically, for the American Military and its supporting / serving Allies this was all to evident. The outcome in doubt and events that followed proving the futility of the US and Allied involvement.

If I'm asked a question, I attempt to give an answer. I also qualify it with commnets to the effective that war albeit justifeid or not is by means to be glorified. In many cases it has profound effect on individuals and, of greater degree, rarely acheivs in total, what it was intended to do.

Answer 5

My father was in World War II on the German side; he volunteered for the Luftwaffe in the hopes that he would survive what was then already clearly a lost war. He saw some horrendous things and could only really talk about them when he was drinking. People don't realize how ugly war is. All of my relatives of that generation went through World War II and none of them came through it psychologically unscathed.

Answer 6

If you haven't been there and done that then you can't understand the mind set [and it isn't your fault ] In combat you do or see things that are hard to explain except to some one who has been there and knows what you are talking about with out having to over explain it With your GrandDad you can find out what unit he was in and do a little research to see where his unit was in WWII then setup a video camera and sit him down and ask him specific questions about where and what he did in those areas He may not want to talk about it but He might and you would have it on tape to share with futcher genarations

Answer 7

one of the hardest things to accept is when a good soldier is permanently wounded (both legs gone to an ied) just because a dumb a** platoon leader didn't follow a procedure that was in place at that time. i, as the company first sergeant, "pointed out" the mistake to the LT just to have him deny he made a mistake and that he was correct in his actions. he eventually got fired after screwing up continually. Also, when you try telling an officer what will happen if a certain action is conducted/not conducted just to have him disregard your input and prove you right the hard way - more than once.

Answer 8

My father was overseas the whole of WW11 and front lines during Korea. He never talked much about it unless you ask him a question. I do know he had allot of nightmares during his life.At his death at the age of 82 he refused a Military funeral. he said Everything the Military promised him were either not given or taken away.He had some bitterness but his dress uniform were covered in metals which he did not want.
I will always wonder what happened to that man who gave his youth to America,turn against them in the years later.
He was my hero

Answer 9

Who cares approximately Obama? Vote McCain only to be secure! i might quite have a former Squadron Commander working a conflict than a community organizer who's pals with William Ayers and Jeremiah Wright.

Answer 10

It's is a strange topic. People use terms like "bravery", "heroic", and other qualities we think of as good to have when describing war and/or battles in war. In that aspect, that is something we need as a society. We need to aspire to great things cause we need to better ourselves. But, the reality of those events is anything but nice. I promise you that no one who has ever received any type of award for being brave conciously thought about being brave, they just thought about doing their job.
No one likes to feel bad or upset or stressed out. The feeling of fear has all those aspects and more bad qualities. No one likes talking about feeling helpless and scared. No one wants to talk about their weaknesses. But, all the branches' training regimens are designed to get a person to perform actions when under this fear induced mind numbing stress. Some perform better than others, but everyone [hopefully at least] does their job. One of the best lines in any movie is the one in Black Hawk Down where the one guy says, to paraphrase, it isn't about the politics, it isn't about right and wrong, it's about your buddy next to you. Everyone, even if they've received an award or not, who does/did their job is/has been brave. And, odds are, they were scared $h*tless while doing it. None of them really wants to relive that feeling of fear and helplessness.
The biggest fear I had in my "combat experience" wasn't really getting shot at, I had full confidence in myself and my team. I worried most about possibly dealing with an unseen enemy or, more accurately, too small to be seen: chemical weapons. The possibility of chemicals coming my way scared me a LOT more than any of the bullets that did. I could see the bullets and get out of their way in order get rid of their source. How do you get out of the way of a floating cloud that may or may not be seen? Luckily, that never happened.