Europe vs Pacific - Returning home

From my limited reading of first-hand accounts, it seems to me that Pacific vets had a higher incidence of problems readjusting to life in the US. Based on my own experience with my father and his friends, there seems to have been fewer problems. He fought in Europe (North Africa and Italy), but seems to have brought home little psychologically from his experience. Few of the men seemed to have exhibited these signs. I obviously don't know what their home life was like, but my limited exposure to them (reunions and visits to our home), showed little of the trauma I see in my reading. I'm curious to know if others have any information about this. Granted, my reading and first-hand knowledge are limited, but am I wrong in my conclusions? Please feel free to weigh in with your thoughts or any data you might have. My curiosity was piqued while I was reading Maharidge's Bringing Mulligan Home.

 

I encountered a large number of veterans over the years in my prior profession. From my view, it seems that the men who were willing to disucuss their service faired better than those who clamed up about it.

I remember one Marine in particular that fought on Iwo Jima with the 24th/4th Marine Division. His company was virtually destroyed and rebuild during the battle, losing all but eight of the original 250-something men that were present when they first went into action. He was one of the men wounded. He would freely talk of the battle and seemed to have been successful post war. He was of the opinion that people needed to know what had happened so that they would view it as the hell on earth that it was.

 

Interesting in that the two responses are diametrically opposed. My father didn't discuss his role in the fighting except at the reunions. Then, they won the war bigger each time. I never knew his awards until after he died and my mother sent them to me, including the CIB and Bronze Star. He seemed to have re-adjusted without having to talk much about it. I guess I'll continue to look.

 

Bear in mind, Lou, my comments are certainly not scientific but just my observation.

I've been wrong before, ya know.

 

I don't know if anyone has empirical information. I guess I'm curious about the return. I think anecdotal impressions are as valid as any. I don't think you're wrong. Your answer was based on your experience. I'm just happy that there was some response.

 

One aspect that "may" and it's a big May, is the Pacific Theater was far more isolated. Due to the nature of the fighting, ground forces would have to endure days if not weeks of "waiting" while en-route to the beaches leading to close contact with the Enemy with little to no true retreat areas available. Nearly every battle was begun with an invasion from sea. This would in my mind induce a greater level of anxiety from the European style of mainly land based advances. Not to diminish the ground war on the mainland but knowing you were going to be put into the fight with the only reinforcements coming from ships or air forces must have played heavily on their minds. I think the Japanese reputation (real or imagined), of fanatical offense/defense was a well known ingredient adding to a heightened sense of dread. The majority also never saw a house or building and lived the majority of their time in tents.
One other area would be the lack of R&R for troops, seamen and airmen. My Uncle does not and basically will not talk much about his time, June 43-Feb. 46, but one thing he has mentioned is he rarely went "off-line". He was ordered back to Australia for R&R after months of nothing but jungles, islands and flying. He said he was more wore out after returning than before he left. The time needed to return to "Civilization" and back to base took it's toll. Hours in a cramped aircraft, compounded by days of waiting to catch the next available mode of transportation while on 'just another island' for at most a week of 'rest' was more stressful than if he had just had a week off where he was. One other thing I just remembered was in all his time there he never saw a USO show and other than Lindbergh, who was there to teach long range flying capabilities, never saw a "Celebrity".

 

Very good points, Roger. Having a father who fought in Europe, I never gave much thought to the Pacific. Your ideas are as good as any, and better than most. I can understand the problems faced by your uncle. Thanks for your input.

 

I appreciate your comments, Tommy. I can certainly sympathize with Sledge''s comments. My sense is that anecdotal evidence is all we're likely to get. I concur that the individual is more important than the than the theater, but it just seems from my reading that the difficulties were more prevalent in the Pacific. Of course, my views are my own and I'm anxious to read what others have to say.

 

I didn't intend for this thread to become a general discussion of PTSD. I agree that PTSD is real, and it's not something you "get over". My only point was that the WW2 vets from the Pacific seemed to have a harder time readjusting to life at home than vets from Europe. I also didn't want it to become political, so limit your responses to only that point, anecdotal or not.

Thanks for your input, Tommy. I've read both of those books, along with Jeff's book on the 30th Division and Karen Fisher-Alaniz's book about her father and his troubles. Some are European, some are from the Pacific. I'm as clueless as you are. I'm not sure of anything right now, so I look forward to reading more responses.

 

Yes, I have, but it's been some time since I saw it. I remember it as being violent, and that many of the main characters had difficulty relating when they returned home. It reflects what I said in my original post. Having read Sledge's book, I just don't know the answer, if there even is one.

 

You may be right. However, I have read of instances of the same kind of terror in Italy and Northern Europe. Your well-reasoned response only increases my confusion. I can see your point. I guess it means more reading for me.

 

Done.