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The Affects Of PTSD On WWII Pows

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The Effects of PTSD on WWII POWs During World War II, thousands of American soldiers were captured and taken into Japanese prisoner of war camps. These POWs were subjected to terrible treatment and horrible conditions. Their environments were so terrible that many World War II POWs have developed post-traumatic stress disorder, a disease which affects their postwar lives in drastic ways. An example of this being Louis Zamperini, a WWII POW who spent nearly 2 years being tortured and abused in POW camps in Japan, his story recorded by Laura Hillenbrand in Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. After the war, Zamperini suffered from PTSD and alcoholism due to his abuse, which nearly destroyed him. Prisoners of war held by the Japanese during World War II are particularly susceptible to this disorder due to the severe mistreatment and traumatic experiences they encountered. PTSD can ruin the lives of afflicted POWs. During World War II, soldiers held captive by the Japanese were treated with nothing short of brutality. Japan’s treatment of their POWs was abominable, and many POWs died because of it. In the study, Persistence of traumatic memories in World War II prisoners of war by Lance Rintamaki, the author reveals that approximately 37% of POWs held by the Japanese were killed, compared to less than 1% that were held …show more content…

As a result of this, many of those held in captivity suffered from PTSD during their postwar lives. Some had their lives ruined by the recurring memories of their terrible experiences. Some were able to find treatment and overcome their condition. Some, like Louis Zamperini, suffered for years, but were finally able to conquer PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder is an issue that must be addressed, as it is capable of devastating a person who has risk their own life in order to save those of

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