Many veterans have responded to my book with gratitude that I have set the story straight. Others have challenged my thesis, claiming to have been treated badly when they returned from the war. Few of the latter stories, however, lend validity to the myth that it was anti-war activists who were hostile to vets. Upon questioning, vets will often concede that the hostility came from older veterans, the Veteran s Administration hospital, or simply a drunk in a bar. The historical fact is that the peace movement saw veterans as potential allies and reached out to them.
Myths help people come to terms with difficult periods of their past.
They provide explanations for why things happened. Explanations offered by myths can also help reconcile disparities between a group s self-image and the historical record. On a societal level, we have largely forgotten that much of the energy and inspiration for the anti-war movement came from veterans of not only Vietnam but World War II as well. We forget because the image of anti-war warriors does not fit comfortably with the militarism that dominates our culture. But political amnesia can be dangerous.