How the life of a Vietnam soldier changed during and after the war. Society had many different opinions regarding soldiers and war. When returning home, veterans faced many distinct challenges. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial helped heal the nation. The Vietnam War had a major impact on the United States and the soldiers who fought in it. The Vietnam War was a violent and costly war that needed many men to fight for its cause. These men are now known as Vietnam Veterans. Numerous veterans who fought in the war were injured or lost a comrade during the battle. These soldiers fought to protect the United States and its people at the risk of their own lives. Many of these brave men were killed or wounded and did not get the respect they deserved until the end of the war. Vietnam soldiers felt they had a responsibility to protect their country and its people. During the time of the Vietnam War, many men were away living their lives, but that all ended when they were drafted into the war. These recruits had to leave school, abandon their families, and risk being killed or wounded in a war they did not want to fight in. The draft also caused many more anti-war movements to occur (Cayton, Perry, Reed, and Winkler [FIND]). These anti-war movements also harassed soldiers when they returned home. Life in Vietnam presented numerous challenges for the soldiers there. Drugs and alcohol were a way for soldiers to forget the horrors of war and were also used as a pastime. Soldiers were punished several times for disobeying or failing to salute (Hochgesang). For countless soldiers, the only thing that kept them going was the fear of being killed. There were many diseases in the camps where the soldiers were... middle of paper... I also show a chronology of the war and perhaps some important people."Health risks during the Vietnam War." - We honor veterans. Np, nd Web. January 15, 2014. This site gave me insight into the life of a soldier while fighting in Vietnam. Black and white photographs, 1971. New York University Archives Photograph Collection. 1971. Photography. New York University Archives Photograph Collection. http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/collections/exhibits/arch/1971/1971-3.html. Network. December 4, 2013. This image will help show me the anti-war movements in the United States "Anti-Vietnam War Buttons". Anti-Vietnam War buttons. Np, nd Web. December 04, 2013.This image will help me show the anti-war movements.Protest against the Vietnam War at the University of Texas at Austin. 1965. Photography. History of the image. History of the image. Network. December 05, 2013. This image will also help me show the anti-war movements and the lead-up to veterans returning home.