A Vietnam veteran in Memphis, Tenn., grabbed a gun and threatened to kill himself this month after watching television clips of 'Platoon,' the explosive movie about the Vietnam war.
In Louisville, Ky., about 40 vets being treated for emotional problems related to the war saw the film together Jan. 14 as part of their therapy -- and then wept and hugged each other.
Nationwide, federal counseling centers for vets are beginning to get calls from shaken ex-warriors who have seen 'Platoon.'
There are psychologists who say the movie may assist the healing process of many vets -- and even the American people -- by helping them face their feelings about the nation's longest war.
But they also warn that for vets with deep and unresolved emotional wounds, the film may be too much to handle, particularly if they step into a darkened theater alone.
'I have some vets who I wouldn't advise see the movie,' said Tom Hannon, a vet as well as a team leader and a psychiatric nurse at a Veterans Administration clinic in Boston. 'It could blow their doors off.'
Since being released last month, 'Platoon' has been a box office hit for Hollywood, a chilling history lesson for millions of Americans and a painful flashback for some veterans.
'There is always a down side but overall, I believe, the impact of the movie on the vet has been positive,' said Ken Berez, an associate director at the Vietnam Veterans of America.
'The reaction of the vet is, 'It's about time a movie like this is out. Mr. and Mrs. America, this is what we went through,'' Berez said. 'It makes him feel good that family and friends can better understand what it was about.'
The Veterans Administration and vet groups are using the movie, nominated for an Academy award as picture of the year and directed by a Vietnam vet, as a theraputic tool. They are arranging groups of veterans to see the film and then meet with counselors.
In 1986, the nation's 189 VA counseling centers centers saw about 90,000 Vietnam vets, half suffering from or having symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder -- a condition referred to as 'battle fatigue' or 'shell shock' during World War I and World War II. The disorder is blamed for problems ranging from anxiety and nightmares to divorces and suicides.
A federal study released this month found that soldiers who served in Vietnam were much more likely than other recent veterans to die during their first five years out of service, particularly from drugs, car accidents and suicides.
Psychologists estimate that 20 percent to 25 percent of the 3.8 million Americans who served in Vietnam have PTSD or signs of it, with frequency and severity the greatest among those who saw heavy combat.
Over the years, there have been surges in episodes of PTSD linked to world events such as the 1981 return of American hostages from Iran and the 10th anniversary of the fall of Saigon in 1985.
'Platoon' is expected to cause another rise. Some VA centers are already seeing it. Others are bracing for it.
'We're starting to get an increase in the number of people calling our centers because of things the movie brings out,' said Dr. Joseph Gelsomino, a chief clinical manager of the VA vet center program.
'Overall, it hasn't been much of an increase yet, but a delayed reaction is expected,' said Gelsomino. 'A lot of people are still processing what they have seen.'
Some react immediately.
'We got a suicide call from the family of a vet who saw clips of the movie on TV,' said Ed Wallin, a social worker at the VA center in Memphis, Tenn. 'He got emotionally upset. He went for his gun. He threatened suicide.'
Wallin said a counselor went to the aid of the vet, a former PTSD patient at the Memphis clinic who has since returned to treatment.
On Jan. 14, about 40 vets from the VA outreach clinic in Louisville, Ky., saw 'Platoon' and then gathered to decompress.
'There was a lot of crying, hugging, talking, praising each other for having served in Vietnam,' said Matt Shuy, the clinic's team leader. 'I can't say they liked the movie, but they appreciated it.'
Dr. James Grotts, a psychologist at the VA center in Dallas, said, 'Of the clients I have seen, the ones who have PTSD felt worse afterwards. Some said they wish they hadn't seen it, but they wish everyone in America sees it.'
As for the well-adjusted Vietnam veteran, Grotts said, 'I haven't seen any come apart, but a few lost a few nights sleep.' ---
Bob Dunkin, 39, a Vietnam veteran and a readjustment counselor at the VA clinic in Los Angeles, said, 'I saw the movie on Friday. And I have to admit I didn't have a good weekend. I thought I had taken care of a lot of old stuff from Vietnam, but it stirred up a lot of emotions.'
Among the emotions was anger with the movie itself. Dunkin complains that it unfairly characterized GI's as drug users and baby killer. 'It perpetuated those same old myths.'
Still, Dunkin said, 'I've got mixed feelings. I'm upset with the misrepresentations, but I'm glad the movie is out. This is the first one not to glorify war. The message is -- 'think before you lay your life on the line.''
