Section 7, Killing in Vietnam: What Have We Done to Our Soldiers? : Chapter 2, What Have We Done to Our Soldiers? The Rationalization of Killing and How it Failed in Vietnam Summary and Analysis

The author begins by reminding us of the stages of killing. First is concern, second is either killing exhilaration or not killing and nonfiring, and third is remorse and regret. Group absolution is one important part of the process, and this is the one that is most likely to carry over into civilian life. Constant reassurance to the soldier is just one of the many forces needed to assist proper rationalization into the stage of acceptance that heals existing PTSD or prevents the disorder from...