COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE EXPERIENCES OF IRAQ AND VIETNAM: Thousands were killed and many more were injured in the Vietnam War, a war that many still experience today. with the consequences. The Things They Carried, written by William Timothy O'Brien. The story takes place in Vietnam during the war in the 1960s. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and his unit are in Vietnam serving for the United States. Jimmy is in love with a student named Martha who comes from her home. Martha writes Jimmy many letters about school, rarely mentioning the war. It's the story of a group of soldiers at war and the items they carry. Men bear not only the physical necessities of war, but also the emotional and psychological weight. The unit's task was to "search and destroy elaborate tunnel complexes in the Than Khe region, south of Chu Lai" (O'Brien 100). Nearly seconds after the soldier emerged from the tunnel, the American soldier, Ted Lavender, was shot and killed as he returned to the rest of the unit after relieving himself. Jimmy Cross was in a trans state while the man was in the tunnel, thinking about Martha. The soldiers describe the event as a "boom-down" (O'Brien 102), indicating the manner in which Ted Lavender hit the ground. Jimmy Cross felt horrible about Ted's death, thus adding another thing to carry, the guilt of losing one of his soldiers. While all the soldiers carried things, this story gives an awareness of not only the physical aspect of war, but also the emotional aspect. that is, post-traumatic stress disorder and physical disabilities are issues that many soldiers face once they return from war. The mental effects on veterans can vary from person to person. The events are in the middle of paper...... they are preparing to serve their country and fight in the war in Afghanistan. Although a number of people are against the war, many citizens support and appreciate the soldiers who fight for America. However, it appears that veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan receive more support for their time of service, compared to those who served in Vietnam. CONCLUSION: To conclude, the Vietnam War and the war against Afghanistan have their similarities. In both cases, there are people who do not support either war for various reasons. In Vietnam as in Afghanistan, veterans generally suffer the same consequences of war. Some are physically injured for life, others may be emotionally and psychologically disturbed. Many organizations are created to help veterans get the help they need to readjust to a normal civilian lifestyle..