Concord Repatriation Hospital I had many a trip into Concord Hospital after my return to Australia from Vietnam in July 1968. The wards were usually full with guys who were either in rehab from severe physical injuries, fighting alcohol addiction, anxiety depressive state, claims assessments etc. When I went in for assessment for all my physical ills in 1970 as an in-patient, I was treated as a crazy (was just plain suffering from severe ulceration of the stomach I thought), had my belt removed and my razor blades taken away so I couldn't do myself in. I protested loudly over this treatment and was informed all Vietnam Vets were treated the same. It seemed we were a dangerous bunch and suicidal. There were guys in the ward who had major surgical problems from wounds and they were treated as crazy. We weren't crazy - we just needed help to adjust back into a hostile society and get back on track to what we were before we went overseas. Not too much to ask surely? I remember clearly that my specialist (who was at the time a Local Medical Officer (LMO) for Veteran's Affairs) had a nice greeting on entering his office - "What's your problem fellah?" I would always say, "Nothing, I was sent here to see you." I hated that guy and his indifference to my problems. I was sick physically, losing weight, given to alcohol and couldn't control my anger. I wasn't crazy, mad or a loony. I just wanted some compassion, understanding, to be accepted as a 'Digger' and a simple thank you for serving my country. That wasn't too much to ask, surely? We spent most of our day in hospital playing table tennis or lawn bowls. Every now and again (more 'again' really) we would all troop up to the pub on the corner for therapy. The tenders would come and round us all up and herd us back to the ward where the sister would tell us what rogues we were and send us all off for relaxation therapy (soft music in a dark room). Most freaked out and escaped to do other things. The system really didn't have a clue on PTSD in those days. Thank God those days have gone and at least today there is help for the tormented veteran. The reality was that the nation couldn't give a stuff about us so why should we. Pretty silly thinking, but at the time my friend, it was all about surviving. Vietnam was bad enough, but to have to survive the onslaught against us by the media and the public was more than most could bear. Every time there was a problem - off to Concord - my local MO used Concord like a pharmaceutical script. My kids suffered terribly through this period. They shouldn't have had to, but they did. No help for them - take out medical insurance and pay your bills like any other tax payer. My wife and children were victims of the Vietnam War. They were just as much a casualty as I was. My wife suffered many bouts of severe clinical depression, was hospitalised and the institutions remedy for her was over 40 shock treatments. Why did she have to suffer all that? There was no government help for her or my children. Even to this day there is no doubt in my mind that some of her physical illness was as a direct result of those years immediately following my return from Vietnam. No only having to deal with a changed husband, she also had to deal with the stigma of being a Vietnam Veteran's wife. That alone was enough to topple the strongest willed. Yet in all these years our family still suffers and there is no financial relief for the illnesses caused to them by the Vietnam War. WHY? Years of political ret eric hasn't solved the issues with our families. Is it too hard? go to top