The Effect of the Vietnam War on Soldiers The Vietnam War was the longest and most unpopular American war of the twentieth century. The United States was involved in Vietnam from 1944 to 1973, but only in recent years did the United States deploy ground troops (Lawrence 1). For the first time the United States was the aggressor. Vietnam is located thousands of miles from the United States, so Vietnam did not pose a direct threat to U.S. security. Vietnam's leader Ho Chi Minh seems to look up to the United States, their declaration of independence is proof of this. The involvement of the United States was so controversial because for some the United States was trying to stop the heroic Vietnamese national liberation movement. Tim O'Brian was a college graduate when he was drafted to go to war and wrote several short stories about the Vietnam War. His writings serve to clarify the suffering that soldiers go through in Vietnam. He intentionally blurs the line between fact and fiction to make the reader feel as if his story is true. Every war has its profound effect on soldiers. The psychological impact of wars on soldiers has always been present, but the Vietnam War was different from previous wars. In his short story “The Things They Carried” O'Brian uses symbolism and imagery to show the reader the physical and mental burdens that soldiers during the Vietnam War had to carry. O'Brian effectively juxtaposes physical and metaphysical burdens to show the reader how these seemingly different burdens are similar. His short story O'Brian provides a deeper understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The United States has always fought conventional wars, where, as Josh Hochgesang states, armies meet on a battlefield... middle of paper... ....IC discontent.Tim O'Brian wrote several novels and short stories about the Vietnam War, including Going After Cacciato, If I Die in a Combat Zone. His writings provide an insight into the Vietnam War and all the soldiers suffering while in Vietnam. In his short story "The Thing They Carried" O'Brian lists everything the soldiers carried into battle from the soldier in the tale, items such as jungle boots, personal letters, and feelings such as fear and shame. Tim O'Brian effectively puts a face to the burdens, regrets, and fears that soldiers carried during the Vietnam War. He uses imagery, symbolism, and effectively juxtaposes physical and metaphysical burdens to show the reader how this seemingly different weighs on the similar. O'Brian uses vivid imagery to add credibility to his writing, he intentionally blurs the line between fact and fiction..