Educational Media Reviews Online

While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often associated with troops returning from war, the staggering number of veterans who fought in the Vietnam War over 40 years ago and who are suffering with this disorder still registers in the thousands. Even more disturbing is that over 110,000 Vietnam veterans committed suicide after returning from the war, a number almost doubling the 58,000 casualties from the war.

Described on the container insert as “an unforgettable journey tracing the loss and rediscovery of the human soul,” Healing a Soldier’s Heart captures this pilgrimage journey as veterans return to Vietnam with psychotherapist Edward Tick and family members to begin a process of healing psychological wounds, conquering war demons, and ultimately finding a path to peace that starts with visiting the place where the trauma began.

The film introduces the viewer to the five veterans through short vignettes about their lives and candid conversations with them describing their fears and troubles. Reflections from their wives and friends provide another perspective for the way the men interact on a personal level after the war. As veterans confront their demons, the portrait of post-traumatic stress emerges even though the name was not used for the condition during the Vietnam War.

The trip to Vietnam led by Dr. Hick provides context and reference to help the veterans understand what they experience. The veterans visit places of bombings, a Center for Agent Orange victims, and meet other victims of the war who survived bombings. They are able to apologize to some victims and receive forgiveness from others. They also give back to the country by bringing school supplies, clothing and toiletries.

Viewers not only come away with an awareness of the significance of post traumatic stress but see the transformation that begins for the veterans. The photography, scenes from the countryside, the footage from the National Archives, and the technically smooth transitions as five men describe their stories provide an exceptional film to begin understanding post traumatic stress and the Vietnam veteran. Compelling, poignant, and heartfelt, this film is highly recommended for collections in military psychology, post traumatic stress, and the psychological aspects of the Vietnam War.