RiverRider, in the sense that combat leaves a lasting mark I don't think Vietnam was unique. Any of the participants here on the 'Fire will likely agree. Have said more than once however, I would not trade the experience for all the tea in China, nor do it again for twice that. It was a formative experience in a multitude of ways and I am incredibly lucky to have survived it. That is the older, wiser man speaking of course; back then I was bullet proof. Mostly.
For what it may be worth, the writing about tour #1 was fairly easy. The catharsis came a couple years later when I was able to regurgitate the second tour. The sense of humor found here enabled me to step past the darkness that enveloped us during the drawdown and Easter Offensive in '72 and get that part off my chest.
