Soldiering is tough duty, not everyone is cut out for it. Most, with a little sleep, some hot chow, and a dose of contact with real human beings put their experiences behind them and go on to lead normal, productive lives whether it is in civilian life or in the military. Their combat experiences did not make them the normal productive human beings that they became, nor did it detract from it.
Some, for reasons that are unclear, do not emerge from their combat experiences as normal, well adjusted human beings. I believe that most of these were predisposed to this behavior before their combat experiences. Some reached their tipping points because of the incredible demands of combat. They probably would have tipped anyway at some time in the future, but who’s to say.
The government owes these men a reasonable support struture and empathy for their plight. But, we need not beat our chests in despair. Some people just can’t handle the demands of life, and they might have reached their limits bagging groceries at Piggly Wiggly.