Veterans are known for their great senses of humor, albeit sometimes completely morbid. But if you can’t laugh at it, how do you get through it? Sometimes the best way to heal is through humor.
Here are 10 memes about the Vietnam War we think you’ll enjoy:
1. No Man Left Behind
The “No man left behind” policy is fundamental to the U.S. military as it was initially attributed to the elite US Army Rangers who held to their creed of not leaving compatriots behind. The meme shows a soldier carrying a fellow soldier who seems maimed over his shoulders and a soaring American flag with the caption, “he is not heavy; he is my brother.”
2. The Trees Speak Vietnamese
In most wars, troops tend to find various ways to camouflage with their surroundings making them unseen. It is common for soldiers to do so using their military uniforms. However, the North Vietnamese soldiers used camouflage wisely and incorporated it in their guerrilla tactic while fighting the South Vietnamese. Most of Vietnam was covered by trees due to its climate and mountainous terrain, so the North Vietnamese soldiers were so good at hiding in the trees, making it hard for the Americans to spot them till they heard the voice of the Vietnamese soldiers. This situation created the “trees speak Vietnamese” meme.
3. Another tree meme
4. The Lorax Meme aka another tree meme
The Lorax meme is based on a book by Dr. Seuss and an animated film based on the book where the Lorax is a character that promotes environmental conservation. The meme is humorous as the Lorax is depicted with his line “I speak for the trees,” and afterward, he comments, “They speak Vietnamese.”
5. SpongeBob Veteran Flashback
The U.S. and its allies employed approximately 7.5 million tons of bombs during the Vietnam War. This occasion was alarming as it constituted the largest aerial bombardment ever known. The bombing was traumatizing for both the Vietnamese and American soldiers as it is captured in a meme. In this meme, a grandchild makes popcorn, making loud noises that take the grandfather back to the war.
6. It Was Like That in The Vietnam War
The meme epitomizes the intersection of comics and war. It depicts a shocked man sweating profusely with the caption, “When you tell a joke in war, and the bushes start to laugh.”
7. CCR
I mean let’s be honest, have you ever seen a Vietnam War movie WITHOUT Creedence Clearwater Revival? Considering Fortunate Son was an anti-war theme it seems about as likely as a pairing as Snoop and Brittany Spears, yet here we are.
8. The Chessboard Meme aka another great tree meme
The chessboard meme is centered on the North Vietnamese soldiers’ guerrilla tactic involving hiding in the trees. In the meme, there is a chessboard that depicts the war. The white side with all the chess pieces represents the Americans, while the black with trees represent the Vietnamese. Accompanying it is the caption, “When you play chess with Vietnamese.”
9. Oh Neptune
Numerous Americans protested against America’s involvement with the Vietnam war, especially through songs. The song Fortunate Son has an anti-war theme and shows unanimity with the American soldiers. The Oh Neptune meme shows the Vietnamese perspective upon hearing the song, which made them know they were done for.
10. Chihuahua PTSD
The Chihuahua PTSD meme, also the chihuahua Vietnam war flashback, is an image that shows a dog gazing into the distance with photographs from the Vietnam war laid on top of the dog’s picture.
