The Unhealed Wounds of WW2 POWs and Combat Veterans

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Nearly 16.4 million Americans served in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, and for millions of survivors, the fighting left many of them physically and mentally broken for life. There was a 25% death rate in Japanese POW camps like Bataan, where starvation and torture were rampant, and fierce battles against suicidal Imperial Japanese forces, like at Iwo Jima, where 6,800 Americans died. Additionally, the psychological toll of witnessing Holocaust atrocities and enduring up to three years away from home intensified the war’s brutality. This is why when they returned home, they had physical and psychological wounds that festered, sometimes for years, sometimes for decades, and sometimes for the rest of their lives.

Veterans suffering from recurring nightmares, uncontrollable rages, and social isolation were treated by doctors who had little understanding of PTSD, a term that didn’t enter the DSM until 1984. Returning veterans and their families were forced to double up with their parents or squeeze into overcrowded, substandard shelters as the country wrestled with a housing crisis. Divorce rates doubled, with more than 1 million GIs leaving or being left by their wives by 1950. Alcoholism was rampant, and an entire generation became addicted to smoking.

To explore this dark shadow that hung over the WW2 generation, we’re joined by David Nasaw, author of The Wounded Generation: Coming Home After World War II. Those affected include the period’s most influential political and cultural leaders, including John F. Kennedy, Robert Dole, and Henry Kissinger; J. D. Salinger and Kurt Vonnegut; Harry Belafonte and Jimmy Stewart. We look at the ways the horrors of World War 2 shaped their lives, but we also see incredible resilience and those who found ways to move past the horrors of their wartime experiences, and what we can learn from that today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Sky here with another episode of the History of Plug podcast.
0:08.0	Over 16 million Americans served in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, and for millions
0:12.2	of survivors, the fighting left many of them physically and mentally broken for life.
0:16.7	There was a 25% death rate in Japanese POW camps like baton, for starvation and torture were rampant.
0:21.8	The fierce battles against suicidal imperial Japanese forces, like Iwo Jima, left a crippling psychological toll for the survivors.
0:28.2	Many troops were also away from home for over three years, much longer than World War I.
0:32.4	This is why when they finally returned to the United States, they had physical and psychological wounds that festered, sometimes for years, sometimes for the rest of their lives. Veterans suffered from recurring nightmares,
0:42.8	uncontrollable rages, and social isolation by doctors who have little understanding of PTSD.
0:47.7	They and their families were forced to double up with their parents or squeezed into overcrowded
0:51.1	substandard shelters as the country wrestled with a housing crisis.
0:55.0	Divorce rates doubled after war with more than 1 million GIs leaving or being left by their wives
0:59.7	by 1950. Alcoholism was rampant and an entire generation became addicted to smoking.
1:05.3	To explore this dark shadow that hung over the World War II generation, were joined by David Nassau,
1:09.6	author of The Wounded Generation, coming home after World War II. Those affected include the period's most influential, political, and cultural leaders, including JFK, Robert Dole, Henry Kissinger, J.D. Salager, and Kurt Vonnegut. And we look at the ways of horrors of World War II shaped their lives, but also the incredible resiliency that those same people had, and how many found ways to move past the horrors of their wartime experiences,
1:30.6	and what we can learn from both the positive and negative lessons today.
1:34.1	We'll enjoy this discussion with David Nassau.
1:38.7	And one more thing before we get started with this episode,
1:41.1	a quick break for a word from our sponsors.
1:45.5	This Christmas, give more than just a gift. Give encouragement, inspiration, and joy. In the Crosswalk
1:51.8	holiday gift guide, you'll discover a curated collection of meaningful books and devotionals
1:56.4	that celebrate faith, family, and the real reason for the season. This Christmas, we invite you to
2:02.1	share comfort, quiet, or excitement with each person on your gift list. From beautifully illustrated
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from History Unplugged, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of History Unplugged and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.