'In the Valley of Elah', it was a great movie. But I am having trouble believing that our soldiers come back

Question

as the cold hearted killers that they were portrayed. I know for a fact that Vietnam vets came back very depressed often times. Please give me your opinion of the movie. And your view of the cold heartedness of the soldiers in the film.

Good movie, but I think it was a little lame to show them like that.

But I don't know the facts so I am asking.

Answer 1

We do not come back like that. Even the Vietnam vets did not come back like that. There are some, but not all. For example, while it is true that a higher percentage of Vietnam Vets are homeless compared to the rest in their generation, a higher percentage own their own home then the rest of their generation. But a story about someone owning a home isnt newsworthy.

You see all the hard luck stories because the real day to day stories would not make a good movie. Expecially when a movie is trying to make a political point. The events in that movie were based loosely on a real event, but it was taken to an extreme in the movie to make it more dramatic.

I came back from Iraq just fine. As did the vast majority of the people in my units. I have been deployed 5 times since I joined. We are not blood thirsty, and for all the hype in the news, most of us do not have PTSD (yes some do get it, but not most of us).


James M,
I know what you mean about coming home. It is odd and you do change. When you have been a year, everyone changes. I seriously doubt its PTSD. It can be odd becuase there are something you can only talk about with another soldier. A lot who don't serve don't understand what you try to talk about a lot.

Answer 2

I have not yet seen the movie, however, i really dont want to, to be honest. I returned from Iraq almost a year ago, my second time there. The second time was far more difficult for me. I havent noticed it, but my family and friend have mentioned that I am different. They have put the PTSD tag on me, which i don't like, but this war does take its toll on some who return. Just remember, for those who have been there, we know, each person is different and you can not judge soldiers on the basis of a movie.