I think people are a lot more aware of suffering soldiers than they were say 40 years ago. There's a lot of charities and organizations designed for returning soldiers, whether they have PTSD or several amputated limbs. And they don't just throw them out once they're fighting fit, they make sure that they're moving forward, having a standard job, able to maintain themselves and live a normal life.

The only way this image would be possible if the roles were reversed, the homeless man is the unknown soldier, because if he bottles the emotions up when being discharged, and doesn't show his insecurities and mental trauma, then people can't help him. Letting people know you're hurting, physically or mentally, is the first step to getting treatment.