Discuss Lynda Van Devanter’s experiences in Vietnam and afterward. How did her wartime experiences and her PTSD affect her life?

This essay should be a minimum of 750 words. Please include an in-text citation in the footnotes in Chicago style.

Reference:

Lynda, V. D. (2001). Home before morning: The story of an army nurse in vietnam (Reprint ed.). University of Massachusetts Press.

Lynda Van Devanter’s Vietnam Experience-Sample Solution

Experiences

Lynda van Devanter was an American nurse born in 1947.[1] The nurse founded the Vietnam Veterans of America Women’s Project in the 1960s. Lynda also wrote a book, Homecoming before Morning: the story of an army nurse in Vietnam, detailing the gruesome experiences in Vietnam. Lynda was recruited into the army in 1968 and was part of the contingent sent to serve in Vietnam during the Vietnam war.[2] Lynda’s struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was caused by her wartime experiences, prompting the production and editing of poetry books and inspiring people facing life difficulties, especially when dealing with mental illnesses.[3] The paper will explore Lynda’s experiences in Vietnam and examine the effects of the experiences on the nurse’s post-war life.(Lynda-Van-Devanter’s Vietnam Experience Essay-Example)

As a nurse under the 71st Evacuation Hospital Pleiku province of the war-torn country, Lynda experienced grueling and unfathomable working conditions.[4] Lynda served in Vietnam for a year before returning to America, broken and unable to understand the reasons for America’s involvement in the Vietnam war. Lynda was inspired to pursue nursing and help soldiers fighting for democracy. Thus, Lynda’s service in the war-torn country resulted in terrible experiences, severing the nurse’s devotion and confidence in America’s involvement in the War.(Lynda Van-Devanter’s Vietnam Experience Essay-Example)

Lynda explained that the hospital had limited equipment, and a shortage of nurses was paramount.[5] The nurse worked a 12-hour shift treating soldiers with horrible wounds as sniper gunfire and bomb explosions rocked nearby places. Besides, the hospital was congested with treated and untreated soldiers, while more wounded soldiers were consistently flown into the facility. The constant exposure to death deteriorated the nurse’s faith in America’s contributions to the War, primarily owing to the stories of corruption among Vietnamese officials and the brutality of American soldiers. Lynda narrates, “This is the seventh month of death, destruction, and misery. I’m tired of going to sleep listening to outgoing and incoming rockets, mortars, and artillery. I’m sick of facing, every day, a new bunch of children ripped to pieces.”[6] The nurse expected the soldiers and Vietnamese officials to uphold the safety of innocent Vietnamese civilians instead of considering them collateral damage. Thus, Lynda was affected by congestion in the hospital and regular encounters with death.(Lynda-Van-Devanter’s Vietnam Experience Essay-Example)

The idea of bravery and desire to positively contribute to America’s efforts to achieve democracy underscored the nurses’ decision to travel to Vietnam. However, those inspirations and perceptions were short-lived after just one year in the service. Lynda returned home to a cold reception as Americans expressed concerns over the country’s continued involvement in the War.[7] Americans held demonstrations countrywide and were hostile towards veterans of the Vietnam war, with Lynda experiencing increased hostility considering that most people were unaware of women’s involvement in the War.[8] Therefore, these hostilities and lack of recognition from the American public worsened the poor experiences encountered during the War.(Lynda-Van-Devanter’s Vietnam Experience Essay-Example)

A positive aspect of Lynda’s experiences during the War was the opportunity to deliver a baby.[9] The nurse experienced wholeness and lively when helping the new mother deliver the baby. The innocence in the child’s eyes indicated the presence of hope and a better future. However, the feeling was short-lived as the nurse resumed daily routine, saving the lives of wounded soldiers and witnessing death regularly.

Finally, flashbacks of the deplorable working conditions unraveled slowly in Lynda’s mind, resulting in severe PTSD after returning home. The nurse felt isolated at home, where there was peace and love, mainly due to criticisms for engaging in the War. It resulted in isolation and anger, reinforcing depression and eventual post-traumatic stress. According to Janet, Lynda faced challenges transitioning back into society due to increased restlessness and flashbacks of her wartime experiences.[10] Therefore, the nurse’s post-war life was marked by isolation and anger, paving the way for PTSD.

Effect of the Experiences and PTSD

The experiences severely affected Lynda’s mental health. The nurse struggled with anger and depression for a long time without the U.S. government initiating interventions to help deal with the mental health problems, such as providing rehabilitation services.[11] Janet explains that working in U.S. hospitals after returning home created flashbacks of chilling memories and hopelessness experienced during the War, forcing Lynda to abandon her nursing career.[12] It made it challenging for the nurse to secure and maintain employment. As a result, the nurse spent much time in isolation, which worsened the condition. Lynda engaged in a regular drinking spree to deal with the post-traumatic experiences.

Lynda wrote the book Home before morning: the story of an army nurse in Vietnam to improve the healing process while undergoing post-traumatic therapy.[13] The nurse pursued psychology in college to enhance the efforts of helping veterans cope with the unbearable conditions they encounter after returning from War. Lynda died in 2002 at 55 while continuing with the inspirational work of raising awareness about PTSD and its effects, primarily on war veterans.(Lynda-Van-Devanter’s Vietnam Experience Essay-Example)

Lynda’s experiences in Vietnam were instrumental in the nurse’s struggle with PTSD and influenced the production and editing of poetic books, inspirational to those struggling with difficult life situations like mental illness. The paper highlights Lynda’s experiences, like working in deplorable conditions and regular death sites. It also explored the effects of PTSD on Lynda’s post-war life, such as engagement in heavy drinking before becoming a psychologist after receiving therapy. Henceforth, these experiences indicate the need to establish intervention programs for helping veterans of War and those with PTSD.(Lynda-Van-Devanter’s Vietnam Experience Essay-Example)

Bibliography

Daddis, Gregory A, “Mansplaining Vietnam: Male Veterans and America’s Popular Image of the Vietnam War.” (2018). ISSN 2572-1496

Tanner, Janet D, “And it never happened: Leaving the War Behind.” In Army Nurse Corps Voices from the Vietnam War: Eight Women, One War, pp. 177-215. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. 10.1007/978-3-030-69617-7_6

Van Devanter, Lynda, Home before morning: The story of an army nurse in Vietnam (Reprint ed.). The University of Massachusetts Press, 2001

1. Lynda Van Devanter, Home before morning: The story of an army nurse in Vietnam(Reprint ed.). University of Massachusetts Press, 2001.
2. Van Devanter,Home before morning: The story of an army nurse in Vietnam.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Van Devanter, Home before morning: The story of an army nurse in Vietnam.
7. Ibid.
8. Gregory Daddis, Mansplaining Vietnam: Male Veterans and America’s Popular Image of the Vietnam War. (2018). ISSN 2572-1496.
9. Van Devanter, Home before morning: The story of an army nurse in Vietnam.

9.Tanner, Janet D, “And it never happened: Leaving the War Behind.” In Army Nurse Corps Voices from the Vietnam War: Eight Women, One War, pp. 177-215. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. 10.1007/978-3-030-69617-7_6

10. Van Devanter, Home before morning: The story of an army nurse in Vietnam.
11. Tanner, “And it never happened: Leaving the War Behind.”

[13] Van Devanter, Home before morning: The story of an army nurse in Vietnam.