Description
The Korean War (1950–53) was once a ferocious and brutal conflict that produced over four million casualties within the span of three short years. In spite of this, it remains moderately absent from most accounts of mental health and war trauma. Invisible Scars provides the first extended exploration of Commonwealth Division psychiatry right through the Korean War and examines the psychiatric care systems in place for the thousands of soldiers who fought in that conflict. Fitzpatrick demonstrates that even supposing Commonwealth forces were usually successful in returning psychologically traumatized servicemen to duty and fostering good morale, they failed to compensate or toughen in a meaningful way veterans returning to civilian life. This book offers an intimate look into the history of psychological trauma. As well as, it engages with current disability, pensions, and compensation issues that remain hotly contested and reflects at the power of commemoration within the healing process.