A very well remembered time of warfare was during the battle of Gettysburg leaving casualties of 7,058 fatalities and 33,264 wounded. The Confederacy lead by Robert E. Lee and the Union carried by George Meade even saw some of their best soldiers get injured. In the book the Killer Angels by Michael Sharra, the civil war would go on to diminish the mental and/or physical health of many men along with minimal health care, such as Dick Garnett with an injured foot, Lew Armistead who was shot and killed, and a boy suffering from a gunshot through the cheek. To begin with, on
Approximately 20% of all war veterans suffer from a mental disorder called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD for short. This continues to affect many soldiers, just like it did in the past. For instance, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is a first-person narrative set during World War I about a young boy and his friends’ journey to the battlefield. An anti war propaganda, Remarque’s novel debates the corruption of WWI. However, this novel can be used in connection with almost any war, regardless of the time period; many say that older ones, such as WWI, were extremely different than current ones.
In his article “The Civil War's Hidden Legacy” Horowitz discusses 25 year old corporal John Hildt who who had lost his right arm during battle and then “lost his mind” (Horwitz). John Hildt was an example of what the hard realities of war do to some of those who have experienced it first hand. After John had served his country and lost his in arm in the the war he was institutionalized in a government hospital for the insane because he was said to be suffering from acute mania (Horwitz). According to Horowitz’s research John Hildt had no previous history of mental disorders. It could be assumed that Corporal Hildt’s was afflicted by PTSD and not a physical exertion of some sort.
How do you think war impacts soldiers? I believe that there are two different effects war can have on a soldier, a psychological and a physical one. One disorder involved with war is Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, in All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul Bäumer, the narrator, tells of his experiences in World War I and the term associated with soldiers who have been corrupted by the war is “shell-shocked”. In my essay I will talk about the impact war has had on Paul, and how it 's affecting soldiers today.
Imagine that you are going into the Civil war and not knowing anything about weapons, of combat, or the fact that there are about nine different steps to loading a musket. That is what Henry Fleming the main character of The Red Badge of Courage written by Stephen Crane had to do. The Red Badge of courage is about a young boy named Henry Fleming who decides to fight in the Civil War. He meets a boy named Wilson and they both need to be courageous during the horrifying battles.
Today, many Civil War veterans have PTSD. According to Mayo Clinic, “Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that 's triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event” ("Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).”). “The Artilleryman’s Vision” by Walt Whitman and the movie “Glory” both portrayed disturbing experiences of war; however, Whitman’s poem is more personal, vivid, and relatable; therefore, the reader gains a better understanding of how PTSD affects an individual.
Have you ever wondered about a soldier's life style? Who were they? How many soldiers fought in the war? In the Civil War, there were both Union and Confederate soldiers. Both Confederate and Union armies were made up of mostly young white boys under the age of 30.
Matt Morrow Mrs. Kane English 18 October 2016 Mental Effects of War When reading All Quiet on The Western Front a major theme is the mental impact war has on each veteran. Although many people die in war, the mental disturbance when coming out alive can be brutal. “According to RAND, at least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD and/or Depression.” (Veteran Statistics: PTSD, Depression, TBI, Suicide.
In Soldier from the War Returning, Thomas Childers writes that “a curious silence lingers over what for many was the last great battle of the war.” This final battle was the soldier’s return home. After World War II, veterans came back to the United States and struggled with stigmatized mental illnesses as well as financial and social issues. During the war, many soldiers struggled with mental health issues that persisted after they came home.
The experience of total war was a deeply traumatic and challenging period that reshaped the lives of millions of Americans. Whether fighting in the war or supporting it from the homefront, the conflict profoundly impacted virtually every aspect of daily life, from social and economic structures to personal relationships and mental health. The connection between the homefront and the battlefield during the Civil War was a critical factor in the war's outcome, as the support of civilians provided essential resources and morale to soldiers, while the experiences of soldiers on the battlefield shaped the perceptions and actions of those on the homefront. Exploring the motivations for soldiers to enlist and remain in service while examining the status of life on the homefront will elaborate on the
In Great Britain, about 382,700 soldiers were killed throughout the war (World). While soldiers had to have tremendous bravery, their parents and family had to have tremendous faith and bravery to believe their loved ones would return. One lady named Lilia Goncharova said,”World War II had a devastating effect on my family. As a result of this war, I don’t have many relatives left. Five members of my family died during the Nazi occupation of the Soviet Union” (Euronews).
At Fredericksburg and Petersburg, Inman witnesses casualties, inflicts wounds, and receives injuries. Not only was close combat immensely painful, but one could distinguish the characteristics of the enemy. Men fought with, and against, young boys. Emotions brew, but since it was unmasculine to display those of weakness, some men struggle with inner thoughts provoked by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
In “The Last True Story I’ll Ever Tell”, John Crawford shows how war can drastically change soldiers by having psychological effects on them and when soldiers come back from war they can feel like they are alone. Some psychological effects are post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, depression,
Paul Baumer and the Lost Generation The traumas of war affects active duty servicepersons and veterans every day. What we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was undiagnosed as an illness during World War I and was thought of as a side effect of being in the war. In the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, the readers are introduced to Paul Baumer. Paul is an enlisted soldier who joins the war as a young, innocence schoolboy, who falls apart and becomes broken by the war.
Soldiers train rigorously, preparing for the departure of war. They sacrifice all that they have to fight for their country. As they return after the war, they are left with painful experiences and traumatizing memories, suffering from their inevitable conditions. However, the spouse, families and children back at home are suffering even more than soldiers.
