The 1970s were a time of massive change for soldiers around the world. With the Vietnam War winding down and Cold War tensions still simmering, military life was anything but quiet. These years saw a shift from front-line combat to rebuilding, reflection, and preparation for whatever came next.
Some images capture exhaustion and loss, others show fleeting moments of brotherhood and calm amid chaos. Together, they paint a vivid picture of the people behind the headlines. Young men and women navigating duty, fear, boredom, and loyalty in a world that wasn’t always sure what it was fighting for. Let’s take a look at 20 photos of soldiers from the 1970s.
1. “My grandfather as a Soviet border guard, 1970s”
2. This American soldier ran out into heavy fire to save these two Vietnamese children, 1970
3. This soldier put pictures of his girlfriend on his helmet, Vietnam
4. Navy SEALs in Vietnam wore jeans because they were higher quality than the standard uniforms
5. That’s the face of exhaustion, during the Rhodesian Bush War, 1970s
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6. A soldier from the 101st Airborne in Vietnam, 1970
7. Col. Hal Moore, portrayed by Mel Gibson in the 2002 film We Were Soldiers, 1970s
8. Raquel Welch dances on stage with a group of soldiers in Da Nang, Vietnam, early ’70s
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9. This Irish woman was detained for mocking a British soldier for being short, 1972
10. A Swedish soldier climbing into a tank, 1970s
11. East German soldiers during training, 1970s
12. “My father in his Russian Military uniform, back in the 1970s”
13. American soldiers riding through Vietnam, 1971
14. A Rhodesian light infantry soldier on horseback, 1970s
15. Vietnam Vets protesting the Vietnam War, 1970
16. “My dad in ‘Nam, when he was just 22 years old, 1970”
17. This man was an Airborne Army Ranger and Vietnam vet who taught troops how to safely skin and eat certain animals to survive
18. A protestor posing in front of Iranian soldiers during the Revolution, 1979
19. The white feather sniper, Carlos Hathcock, 1970s
20. Soldiers getting some beach time in Da Nang, Vietnam, 1970
Want to see more vintage military content?
Check out 35 Vintage Photos From World War 2, or take a look at 20 of History’s Most Infamous Military Captains. Finally, if you want to see colorized military photos from the ’40s, check out 20 Colorized Vintage Military Photos From the 1940s.
