What is the difference between a World War 2 soldier and a Vietnam soldier?

Answer 1

I would say they were the same in that it was a battle over ideology with WW2 being fought over Nazism vs Communism and capitalism/ democracy. At one point in WW2, gorrila warfare was being fought in Berlin and this was similar to the whole of the Vietnam War, They were very different in the other senses. Vietnam was a battle between a third world country and a super power. The tactics were different with most of WW2 being conventional (not in the pre-WW1 sense.) With land, sea and air being a combat zone. Vietnam was almost all a land war with bombing on the part of the Americans and some naval action. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Both involved some sort of political take-over. Vietnam became Communist-controlled, and Germany became a leading power with Fascism. I do believe that there was an attack on an American ship that caused fear in the US, later leading to the US arrival in Vietnam. Similarly, Pear Harbor lead the US to WW2. Germany was ruled by a dictator Hitler, and Ho Chi Minh lead Communist Vietnam. Differences: Vietnam was opposed by many back in the states. WW2 found support by many people in the country, which started the whole "Victory Garden" asset, and the Rosie the Riveter slogans. I also believe that Vietnam was longer, and more presidencies were involved.

Answer 2

World War 2 was a total war, fought to win with any weapon available, including the atomic bomb (minus chemical weapons by treaty). The Vietnam War was a "Limited War", limited to using CONVENTIONAL weapons ONLY (NO Atomic Weapons); and limited to within the countries of North (air & sea warfare only) and South Vietnam.

Answer 3

Besides the obvious age difference and the same nationalities, the main difference was the following:

1. WWII US servicemen (Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Sailors) fought a declared TOTAL war against centralized enemies in a PRE-ATOMIC AGE: The Axis Powers; Germany, Italy, and Japan.

2. Vietnam War veterans fought a war in the ATOMIC AGE against a global enemy; communism.

Explanation: Pre-Atomic age military men (sailors, marines, airmen, soldiers) could fight TOTAL wars. Total war means ANY weapon may be used, such as the atom bomb. The A-Bomb was detonated in 1945...which was also the end of WWII. From that date onward, the world lived in the atomic age. TOTAL WARS CAN NO LONGER BE FOUGHT, because of nuclear weapons (nuclear weapons=atomic weapons). If nuclear armed opponents fight each other, it is termed "MAD", meaning "Mutally Assured Destruction." Thus the cold war was born.

Vietnam War veterans fought a limited war (limited to conventional weapons) in the cold war. No US war has been declared since WWII; because a declared war implies total war; total war implies NUCLEAR WAR.

WWII vets fought a centralized enemy and defeated them. Vietnam vets fought a global enemy that STILL EXISTS...communism. As a consequence of this scenario, WWII vets get the billing of having fought the "good war", whereas Viet vets get the billing of having lost a war; because WWII vets vanquished their foes; Viet vets did not.