The Horrors Titled In Vietnam In Bloods By Wallace Terry

Vietnam was as an unnecessary war. American soldiers risked their lives for a war that

made no impact on Vietnam besides taking countless innocent lives. South Vietnam was taken

over by communists on April 30, 1975. This was also the day that America ended the war with

Vietnam and left. Vietnam had the same problems before America interfered and after America

left. Soldiers went through the horrors of war and came home defeated. Bloods by Wallace Terry

tells the story of African American soldiers were drafted into a war where they experienced

racism, dealt with horrendous situations that tested their morality, and even though they achieved

a high position in the Marines, they were treated with disrespect when they came home.

However, in his nightmares, it would be him who was in the man’s

position, staked down to the ground begging for death. PTSD is common in soldiers with all the

horrors they had to see and experience. The horrors of war was the reason why soldiers would

get addicted to drugs and alcohol to lessen the pain and the nightmares.

Black soldiers got along with the Vietnamese people better than the white soldiers

because they knew how it felt to be seen as inferior and live in poverty. Black soldiers were able

to relate and sympathize with them. They took the time and effort to learn about Vietnamese

social customs so they would not accidently offend them. Black soldiers learned to greet by

clasping their hands together and bowing instead of reaching out for a handshake and never

touching the top of a child’s head. Black soldiers were kind and respectful of the Vietnamese

which is why the Vietnamese people sympathized with the black soldiers as well. At the time of

the Vietnam war, more black soldiers were dying in combat because there were more black

soldiers in combat-oriented units than white soldiers. The Viet Cong, who were the

It was hard for them to adjust to civilian life after years of

living in such demanding circumstances. Soldiers came back home with half of what they were.

They came home with depression, and physical injuries. After Vietnam, Holloman was always

on guard. Despite the fact that he was not in battle and was in public, he always kept a look out

for danger. Going back to civilian life was tough, especially for disabled soldiers. Robert L.

Daniel’s right hand was amputated because of gangrene. It was difficult to find a job that would

employ someone with only one hand. He got disability and social security for six years until he

stopped getting checks from social security because there were supposedly numerous unskilled

one handed jobs. It was situations like this that made Vietnam veterans feel unappreciated. The

veterans from World War II were welcomed with open arms while the Vietnam veterans were

denied social security.

Black veterans who came back home were not treated with the respect and dignity that

they deserved. First lieutenant Archie Biggers was treated differently by the black community

because he was an officer. Apparently, black people were not supposed to become