Back to The Nam - Healing Journeys back to Vietnam for Veterans and Family

PTSD for the Vietnam Vet can be an overwhelming disability! In too many cases it means that the Soldier never came home from the War. Every day he/she relives their tour of duty. Before they go to sleep Vietnam plagues their thoughts. In the middle of the night 'flash backs', nightmares, sweats occur, depriving the Vet of sleep. In the morning upon waking and if they are able when they go to work, thoughts of their tour of duty in Vietnam re-occurs, holding them back from a normal working day and home life.

We walk, we talk, we carry on outwardly like nothing has changed. In our minds we wonder why the world around us has changed? Why is everyone different? Why can't people understand me? What is the problem? Will my life ever be the same?

Vietnam Vets upon returning home returned to a different world than when they left. Protesters, opposing the War. Protesters blaming the Vets for the War, when in reality all they did was their duty to God and Country. It is difficult after all these years to forgive a nation that blamed the young men and women who went to Vietnam under orders from the US Government. Thoughts of War, thoughts of guilt laid on them from their own friends and neighbors elicits PTSD.

Kids that couldn't afford college or just wanted out of school for awhile were drafted. They went from the sock hops and soda fountains to South East Asia to do unspeakable things from their up-bringing! 18, 19 and 20 year olds were called on to watch friends explode before their eyes, asked to take the lives of the enemy. Many of these kids never fired a weapon before in their lives. Now they were being trained to kill.

When it was time to come home if you were lucky, you left the battle field went to a camp and left for the World. Sometimes not even having the addresses for buddies you lived with for a year shared your meager rations, your hopes, your girl friends photos, your entire life. In a flash these men who were closer than ANY family ever could be are gone from your life. It is similar to losing everyone you loved in an instant!

Back to a world of demonstrations, civil unrest, and disorder. Entering into a life of PTSD! It is my belief you could not be a Combat VET and NOT have PTSD to some degree. We all manage our problems differently, but I firmly believe that any Combat Vet is suffering from the effects of PTSD and probably isn't even aware he/she has the problem.

Today in our society if a child or teacher at a school dies suddenly, the first thing that happens is a team of PTSD experts are sent to the school to talk to students about what has happened. Present day Vets of Iraq and Afghanistan are under close scrutiny for signs of PTSD. Vietnam and earlier War Vets, never had this attention to the problems that would ensue combat.

Present day Vets are subject to large homecomings, yellow ribbons, accolades in the media. Flags being flown at half mast for Vets Killed in the War. All the things that Vietnam Vets NEVER got.. Many are still waiting for their parade.

Now for the first time since the Vietnam War, it is fashionable to be a Vietnam Vet..this is noticeable by the amount of people that never went and who now are portraying themselves as Vietnam Veterans. Stolen Valor is very busy these days.

After making over 25 trips back to Vietnam and on some of those trips taking other Vets back to the source of our PTSD, I have noticed especially with myself the extreme changes in my attitude towards Vietnam and it's people. I don't think of them as an enemy. I don't lie awake at night thinking how I could have killed more of them. I look at Vietnam as a place of solitude, peace and beauty. This same scenario has been experienced by everyone I have taken back. Without exception, every Vet that goes back to Vietnam to re-visit returns home with a completely different perspective on Vietnam and it's people.

Most Vets that served in Vietnam remained in one Area of Operation. Thus seeing only a very small part of Vietnam. On my trips I try to take each person back to their AO not always possible but usually, and then take them on a tour of the rest of the old 'South Vietnam'. We hit the Delta, Cu Chi Central Highlands, ride elephants, on up to the DMZ Hue, Danang, and then down to Nha Trang for a day or two of R&R at the beaches. Every trip is a little different.

Vietnam is NOT the same as you left it all so many years ago! It is my goal to get as many Vets back to Vietnam as I can. I also want to get the children and grand kids of Vets to go to Vietnam. Scholars and schools should visit the place of Americas shame. I say that in the context of how the Vets were treated, not in how we conducted the War.

Don't say no, say you will think about it, or yes i want to go back!

I dedicate this Web Site to all my men who died on the fateful day of 10 October, 1968.

Bill Braniff

Helpful Resources to Learn more About Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Vietnam Veteran Organizations I Support

Gift From Within - An International Nonprofit Organization for Survivors of Trauma and Victimization

Rolling Thunder - The major function of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is to publicize POW-MIA issues: To educate the public that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect future veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war-missing in action. We are also committed to helping American veterans from all wars.

The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of U.S. Veterans through research, education and training on PTSD and stress-related disorders. This site provides educational resources for Veterans and also for health care providers, researchers, and the general public.

The National Institute of Mental Health PTSD Booklet

Founded in 1978, Vietnam Veterans of America is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families.

JOFDAV.com, Job Opportunities for Disabled American Veterans. The site features employment opportunities across the nation, searchable by category, description, title, and location. The site also features disability employment news, disabled veteran news, medical news, and articles including tips on all stages of the job search process. Disabled veterans can post their resumes for employers to search, and registration is free.