10 Things We Learned From Oliver Stone On Joe Rogan Experience

Though it was alluded to at numerous points during this episode of the JRE, there were a few occasions when Oliver Stone spoke at length about his experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam War.

After writing a book based on his own life for two years and attempting to get it published, Stone was ultimately rejected and forced to rethink what he would do with himself from that moment. He eventually decided to enlist in the army as, being a Christian at the time, he wanted to 'let God sort this out'. He then added if he wasn't supposed to come back then he wouldn't have.

He also mentioned how he felt spiritually desolate when he first arrived in Vietnam, but this was later replaced by a feeling of gratefulness to be alive after witnessing so much death and actually surviving the grim period. He didn't make it through unscathed, however, as Stone was wounded twice. He was also a part of 30 helicopter missions and earned a bronze star during his service.

Once he returned to the U.S., Stone then said that he felt numb and alienated, whilst also feeling incredibly confused about the whole war which eventually led to his fights with his father.