What were some common (non-fatal) injuries of the Vietnam war?

Question

Hi, I'm beginning a novel in which a character gets injured in the Vietnam War. It is not life threatening but requires him to come home to a US hospital. What were some common injuries in the Vietnam war that would require this to happen?

Answer 1

fragments from mines/grenades, shot, amputated limb, napalm burns, other burns, disfigurement, foot rot (I'm not sure of the right name for this), brain injuries, back injuries, car accidents, multiple / severe broken bones, massive infection, deafness, blindness, any attempted suicide injury, the Clap (well maybe not a stateside return for this one).

Answer 2

Shell Fragment...(egg shell fragment in the eye)..just kidding...

Shell Shock was real though.

Answer 3

Shot,  3rd degree Burns, broken bones (arm/leg).

Answer 4

Spiked booby-traps (often with sharpened bamboo).

Answer 5

Loss of a foot, leg, arm, eye or a head injury.

Burns.

Answer 6

Well, like in Forrest Gump, you can get shot in the 'buttocks' or anywhere else non-fatal...that was pretty much a one-way ticket to home. Also, you could get into a thornbush, cause those were nasty, get stuck in a trap the the VC set minorly injuring you, etc.