“No one ever comes back from Vietnam. Not really.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Gary D. Schmidt, the idea of the lasting impact of war on individuals is addressed. The statement implies that the experiences of soldiers in Vietnam are so profound that they cannot truly return to who they were before. This speaks to the idea of the psychological and emotional toll that war can take on individuals, highlighting the difficult journey many veterans face in trying to reintegrate into society and find a sense of normalcy after experiencing combat.
The Lasting Impact of Vietnam
In Gary D. Schmidt's quote, "No one ever comes back from Vietnam. Not really", the idea of the Vietnam War still haunting those who experienced it is highlighted. This quote speaks to the lasting impact that war can have on individuals, not only during their time on the battlefield, but also long after the fighting has ended. The physical, emotional, and psychological toll of war can leave a lasting mark on individuals that may never fully heal.
Gary D. Schmidt on the impact of Vietnam
Gary D. Schmidt once said, “No one ever comes back from Vietnam. Not really.” This quote highlights the profound and lasting effects that the Vietnam War had on those who served in it.
Reflection Questions
Reflecting on the quote "No one ever comes back from Vietnam. Not really." by Gary D. Schmidt, consider the following questions:
- What do you think Schmidt means by saying no one truly comes back from Vietnam?
- How do you think experiences in war, such as those in Vietnam, can change someone?
- In what ways do you think the effects of war can linger long after someone physically returns home?
- How might this quote apply to other traumatic or life-changing experiences beyond war?
Similar quotes
“If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day.”
“This is what happened when one left one's home - pieces of oneself scattered all over the world, no one place ever completely satisfied, always a nostalgia for the place left behind. Pieces of her in Vietnam, some in this place of bone. She brought the letter to her nose. The smell of Vietnam: a mix of jungle and wetness and spices and rot. A smell she hadn't realized she missed.”
“Maktub,” she said. “If I am really part of your dream, you’ll come back one day.”
“My shoulders sagged. Really, is it too much to ask that I be able to come home from a long day of work and relax? Oh, no. I have to come home and read a bunch of letters written to the love of my life by his fiancée, who, if I am correct, had him killed a hundred and fifty years ago.Then, as if that is not bad enough, he wants me to explain the Vietnam War.”
“Our songs travel the earth. We sing to one another. Not a single note is ever lost and no song is original. They all come from the same place and go back to a time when only the stones howled.”