| Rambo is a term that has become synonymous with | | | | depicts Rambo as a person who was deeply |
| gung-ho action and a persona that has become | | | | struggling with his past experiences in Vietnam. After |
| attached to the identity of movie action star Sylvester | | | | losing his job as a mechanic, Rambo became a drifter |
| Stallone. Today, "Rambo" is a word that is used to | | | | and wandered from town to town. In the movie, |
| denote military or individual aggression. It is also used | | | | Rambo got into trouble after a local sheriff imprisoned |
| to refer to a person who is heroic and, at the same, | | | | him for possession of a jungle knife. In jail, he was |
| time capable of perpetrating extreme violence. | | | | again subjected to torture. The injustice he suffered |
| Taken from the 1982 movie that was originally entitled | | | | under the hands of his captors made his decide to |
| First Blood, the film is about the character named John | | | | escape. The police, together with the National Guard, |
| James Rambo, a member of the elite U.S. Army | | | | launched a manhunt. However, Rambo was able to |
| Green Berets. Deployed in Vietnam, he fought | | | | elude and deter the armed troops who were sent to |
| against the Vietcong and North Vietnamese soldiers | | | | hunt him. He again used his Green Beret skills to |
| by using guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare strategy. | | | | survive and deter his pursuers. Later in the movie, |
| Based on the novel where the the screenplay was | | | | Rambo attacked the town center where the cruel |
| adapted from, Rambo was caught by North | | | | sheriff was hiding. To avert the further escalation of |
| Vietnamese soldiers in November 1971 and was | | | | violence, Army Colonel Trautman came and |
| subjected to inhuman torture and abuse in one of the | | | | persuaded Rambo to surrender to him. The colonel |
| infamous POW camps. Together with other | | | | was Rambo's commanding officer in Vietnam. |
| American prisoners of war, Rambo suffered extreme | | | | Like the movie and the character of Rambo, |
| episodes of physical torment in the hands of his | | | | thousands of Vietnam veterans suffered from |
| captors. He experienced almost daily beatings, | | | | PTSD. Many fell on a path to self-destruction by |
| water torture, electrocution, and other forms of inflicting | | | | getting hooked on drugs and committing violent acts. |
| pain. After six months of "living hell", Rambo was able | | | | Others were not able to manage the guilt, frustration, |
| to escape from the POW camp. After a period of | | | | anger, and rage they felt after completing their tours of |
| recuperation, he was again re-deployed to Vietnam | | | | duty in Vietnam. Many veterans were diagnosed |
| and was finally honorably discharged from the U.S. | | | | with PTSD and other psychosis. |
| Army in 1974. | | | | While the movie did not show that Rambo received |
| Rambo's return to civilian life was not easy. The '70s | | | | professional help for his struggle with PTSD, in real life, |
| was a period of student activism that was | | | | many war veterans had to receive psychological or |
| characterized by the growth of the so-called peace | | | | psychiatric treatment. These veterans were made to |
| movement and "flower power." During that period, | | | | take antidepressant prescriptions in order for them to |
| the United States became divided over the issue of | | | | manage their symptoms of depression, guilt, rage, and |
| the Vietnam War. Many student protests centered | | | | other self-destructive emotions and behavior. For |
| on the claim that the Vietnam War was an unjust war | | | | many war veterans, getting through a day with some |
| and that the United States was actually committing an | | | | semblance of normalcy required the use of |
| act of aggression. Many soldiers and veterans like | | | | anti-anxiety medication. Their treatment was also |
| Rambo, most of whom were only drafted into the | | | | complemented by counseling, a process that helped |
| war, were subjected to protest, ridicule, and | | | | them vent out their anger, frustrations, and fears. |
| contempt. Civilian protesters saw men like Rambo as | | | | Unlike the movie, real-life soldiers are not invincible |
| warmongers and anti-peace. But during that time, | | | | Rambos who can go through life without seeking |
| now many were aware of the depression | | | | professional help in dealing with the war-time |
| experienced by many soldiers who had to fight in | | | | experiences, emotional struggles, and psychological |
| Vietnam. They, too, were against the war but had to | | | | burdens. |
| fulfill their duty as military servicemen. The stress | | | | Another installment of the Rambo movie series will be |
| and anxiety of always being under fire and not | | | | shown in 2008. It remains to be seen whether the |
| knowing if it was already their "last day" made soldiers | | | | issue of PTSD would be made a central issue in the |
| in Vietnam oppose the war as much as the civilian | | | | movie since it is now a highly relevant matter. |
| protesters. | | | | Today's conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are producing |
| Like many Vietnam veterans, Rambo suffered from | | | | more and more soldiers who, like Rambo, have to fight |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. The novel | | | | and win their own internal battles. |