I dont think anyone can truly understand what people went through in the war unless you were there at the scene. one way people try to deal with things like trauma is to write about it, some of the most moving poetry is war poetry.
In spiritual terms all need healing as yes, the spirit has been wounded. Many people turn to drugs or drink to ease the pain and to forget.
Today is ANZAC day in nz and australia, so we have a day to remember all those fallen soldiers in gallipoli in world war 1. we have a dawn service, (in our bubbles this year) and people wear poppies as a symbol of those soldiers. usually every year RSAs (retruned services associations) each have parades and there are prayers and wreathes put out as memorials. of course at the cemeteries they couldnt bring those bodies back for burial but each one has a cross in the cenotaph to remember them by.
I dont know if americans have a remembrance day, or one especially for vietnam, but if they dont maybe they ought to make one.