Some Iraq war vets go homeless after return to US

[highflyerlaura]

It depends on the way that the lady was discharged as to wether or not she would be elegible for benefits or not. If she was dishonourably discharged, it would explain a lot, as I'm not sure as to wether benefits are available if that happens.

As a supply clerk though, at the very least she should of been able to of found a job at a transport company, or if she was really finding it hard: re-enlist, requesting a state-side position in supply, due to her young child.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I'm not so sure about that -- at least in terms of the Vietnam veterans. The all volunteer "professional" Army is supposed to have smarter soldiers than our armed forces of the past.

The "average" grunt in Vietnam was 19 years old, likely to have a high school education or less, a minority and probably drafted soon after high school. That doesn't give you a whole lot of preparation for life. As the article says, the vast majority of homeless who are former soldiers are from the Vietnam era.

Finally, the troops returning from Vietnam were hardly greeted as heros as our troops today are.

That men and women who served in our Armed Forces end up homeless is terrible -- but it is hardly a new thing.

1. What's the "average" grunt in Iraq? I'd imagine that they're not much older and have about the same level of education--but have a much more naive view of what war's about. The minority thing I'm not going to speculate on. Nearly every 19 year old that I know who enlisted did it because they didn't know what else they were going to do, and the Army especially has a really great PR machine that lets these kids believe they're going to do tons of fun things.

I do stand by my assertion that the kids from earlier war eras--if only because their fathers and grandfathers served--had a slightly better idea of what they were getting into. The kids who are serving now can't remember a time when the US was in a major war. I mean, in early 2001, my cousin enlisted out of HS because he wanted to marry his girlfriend right away. Do you think anyone did that in 1966?

2. Not every soldier was spat upon when he/she returned from SE Asia. Back to the case with Daddy Munch, who returned to a military hometown. For the most part, the people tended to be just as welcoming then as they were now. Not everyone came back to towns like Berkeley or Ann Arbor.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

2. Not every soldier was spat upon when he/she returned from SE Asia. Back to the case with Daddy Munch, who returned to a military hometown. For the most part, the people tended to be just as welcoming then as they were now. Not everyone came back to towns like Berkeley or Ann Arbor.

I'll agree with that - my father heard the occasional comment, but upon his return from Vietnam he said people in my hometown were for the most part welcoming, and just happy that he came back alive. There was a heavy concentration of WWII vets in the city, so that may have had something to do with it.

I'll agree with you on the other point too - there are less and less people going to war who can get first-hand experience accounts from their parents and grandparents.

On a slightly different note: Judging from the stories I've heard from my dad (and you've probably heard from your dad), they might not want the whole story. When I was considering West Point in high school, my dad made sure to give me a clear picture of what he went through; not to scare me, but more to educate me.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

1. What's the "average" grunt in Iraq? I'd imagine that they're not much older and have about the same level of education--but have a much more naive view of what war's about..

I think that the difference in this case is not the age, but level of education. The all volunteer Army at least gives lip service to wanting high school diplomas or GEDs. The draft went for any warm body -- as I said above, the average grunt had a high school diploma OR LESS. There was a huge number of high school dropouts in the Vietnam era Army.

I don't know about being more naive. My dad is a WWII veteran, but I had never experienced a (time of) war until Vietnam. Now, I would guess that a fair number of our armed forces members in Iraq have fathers who are Vietnam vets.

Anyway, it's a shame but homeless veterans are not a new phenomenon.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I'm not so sure about that -- at least in terms of the Vietnam veterans. The all volunteer "professional" Army is supposed to have smarter soldiers than our armed forces of the past.

The "average" grunt in Vietnam was 19 years old, likely to have a high school education or less, a minority and probably drafted soon after high school. That doesn't give you a whole lot of preparation for life. As the article says, the vast majority of homeless who are former soldiers are from the Vietnam era.

Finally, the troops returning from Vietnam were hardly greeted as heros as our troops today are.

That men and women who served in our Armed Forces end up homeless is terrible -- but it is hardly a new thing.

Not to mention that a significant portion of Vietnam troops were addicted to heroine when they got back to the states because it was made readily available in Vietnam. I was watching a special about drugs in America and I believe it said something like 1 out of 5 troops were addicts when they got back to the states. I am sure that would play a significant role in the lifestyle of troops when they got back.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Not to mention that a significant portion of Vietnam troops were addicted to heroine when they got back to the states.

No question that drugs were a significant problem in the military in the Vietnam era.

Twenty percent of returning troops seems like a pretty high number when the drug is heroine, but more "recreational" drugs were certainly rampant.

The military continues to fight drug use.