II. The Unseen Wounds, The Silent Battles
The Weight of the Spirit
The return from war is a treacherous journey not across physical borders but through the landscapes of the mind. For many Croatian veterans, this journey was fraught with unseen hazards, a battlefield where the weapons were memories and the enemy was the self. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with its intrusive memories and avoidance behaviors, is a well-documented consequence of war. Veterans re-live traumatic events, have nightmares, and are triggered by the sights and sounds of civilian life. They often withdraw from family and friends, losing interest in activities that once brought them joy, in a desperate attempt to escape the relentless haunting of the past.
Moral Injury and Survivor's Guilt
Beyond the symptoms of PTSD lie the deeper, spiritual wounds of moral injury and survivor's guilt. Moral injury is not a mental disorder but a "complex emotional wound" that occurs when a soldier "behaves in a way that goes against their moral beliefs". This can be a result of acts of violence, even if justified by war, or by witnessing atrocities. The veteran is left with a sense of shame and betrayal, feeling a profound violation of their moral compass. This is a uniquely spiritual burden, a wound to the soul that no medication can heal.
Coupled with this is the debilitating weight of survivor's guilt, a psychological response to having lived when others died. This condition is characterized by self-blame, sorrow, and a tormenting internal monologue that asks, "Why me?". A U.S. Marine Corps veteran articulated this feeling with chilling clarity when he said, "Any wounded Veteran would always tell you they wanted to go back". This is not a simple wish to return to a time before injury; it is the spiritual anguish of feeling that one's own life came at the cost of another's, a sense of unworthiness that can turn the very gift of survival into a lifelong punishment.
The Body Keeps the Score
The internal battles of the mind and spirit are not fought in a vacuum; they leave indelible marks on the physical body. A large-scale study on Croatian war veterans revealed a stark and troubling truth: they suffer from a significantly higher prevalence of chronic medical conditions compared to the general population, a grim testament to the fact that the invisible wounds of war have a very visible physical toll.
As seen in the data below, the disparities are profound and undeniable:
The data reveals that the stress of combat and its long-term psychological effects manifest as a host of physical ailments, from cardiovascular disease to cancer and psychiatric disorders. Research on Vietnam veterans has yielded similar findings, showing that combat exposure and PTSD are strongly linked to chronic illnesses and heart disease, with effects persisting for decades after the conflict. The veterans' sense of suffering from "diseases that cannot be cured" is not a feeling but a biological reality, a biological and psychological response to the sustained trauma of their past.
A Parallel Odyssey
The struggles of the Croatian veteran are not a historical anomaly but a chapter in a universal human saga. The Croatian odyssey is a painful echo of the experiences of countless soldiers from different wars and different nations.
The most potent parallel is with the Vietnam War veterans. Like their Croatian counterparts, they returned home to a country that was not welcoming but "divided, weary, and often hostile". Instead of ticker-tape parades, they were met with protests, indifference, and outright rejection, leading to a profound sense of isolation and a generation of men who "carried their pain quietly for decades". This collective silence and lack of social support exacerbated their mental health challenges, mirroring the societal isolation that has hindered the social reintegration of Croatian veterans.
This shared narrative extends even further back in time, to the American Civil War. Veterans of that conflict also struggled with disillusionment and alienation upon their return. The establishment of the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in 1865 was an early recognition of the state's obligation to care for its veterans. This long and imperfect history of providing support for veterans, from the Civil War to the present day, underscores a timeless truth: the burdens of war continue for decades after the fighting ends, creating a new and permanent relationship between the soldier and the state.
The shared nature of these struggles, as summarized in the table below, demonstrates that the pain of the Croatian veteran is not unique but is part of a collective human experience. This is a recurring testament to the enduring and often unacknowledged costs of conflict.
Croatian Veterans (1991–1995)
Social rejection - Public criticism of earned benefits and a shift from hero to scapegoat.
Long-term health problems - Significantly higher rates of chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.
Identity crisis/reintegration - A militarized identity that hinders return to civilian life, leading to self-segregation.
Vietnam War Veterans (1955–1975)
Social rejection - Met with protests and vilification instead of parades and thanks.
Long-term health problems - PTSD strongly linked to cardiovascular disease and chronic illnesses decades later.
Identity crisis/reintegration - Collective silence and lack of support led to feelings of isolation and disconnection.
American Civil War Veterans (1861–1865)
Social rejection - Struggled with disappointment and alienation from pre-war life.
Long-term health problems - The burdens of war, including physical disabilities, continued for decades after the conflict.
Identity crisis/reintegration - Veterans became powerful agents of memory, framing how later generations interpreted their war.
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