Page 154 - Stand Down Vietnam

I think the idea that those who served in Vietnam were
all drug addicts and alcoholics is extremely
exaggerated. Yes, I did see some of it. I estimate a
significant percentage of the Vietnam “In-Country”
soldiers used marijuana.

As I learned a little bit more; I discovered they
weren’t getting the much-needed medical treatment, they

weren’t seeing a psychiatrist. They were told to
“stuff it”.

They were coming home after having seen all that they’d
seen and experienced in Vietnam. Instead of getting
medical and psychological care, they were being told to
“stuff it” and deal with it.

Drugs and alcohol were a problem, but it was something
they turned to because the system let them down. Think
about it, if you can’t go to a doctor and get something
to help you sleep, then you are probably going to turn
to alcohol and drugs.

I did not condone the use of drugs and alcohol. They
did self-medicate. As to how it affected unit
readiness, to my knowledge, it affected readiness very
little.

Soldiers would get in trouble. The commanders had a

tool at their disposal which basically allowed for a
three-strikes type punishment. If a soldier got into
trouble three times, on the third time the commander
could offer the soldier an opportunity to take a
general discharge in lieu of punishment.

Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY Published 8:05 p.m. ET Sept. 3, 2014