Vietnam veteran
Southeast Asia servicemember
A Vietnam veteran is a person who served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, roughly 1955–1975, though most commonly referring to those who served during peak American involvement in the 1960s and early 1970s.
The term often carries connotations of the difficult homecoming many veterans faced—inadequate support, public hostility, and lasting physical or psychological effects: My uncle is a Vietnam veteran who still struggles with PTSD.
Sometimes shortened to Vietnam vet.
- warArmed struggle between groups
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- jungleDense tropical forest
- jungle warfareArmed conflict in dense forest
- search and destroyTactical elimination mission
helicopter · Huey helicopter · rolling thunder · combat · Agent Orange · MIA · POW · flashback · platoon · Saigon · draft · homecoming · welcome home · memorial · Wall · fatigues · service · trauma
- Veteransvets, VA, retired soldier, ex-serviceman, combat vet
- military statusactive duty, enlisted, retired, deployed, reservist
Vietnam veterandraft dodger
One who avoids compulsory enlistment
conscientious objector · draft evader · civilian · anti-war activist · peacenik