Wounded Veterans of Iraq: the True Legacy of War
Thank God for the advancement of medicine. One of the clear results that can be seen from the Iraq war is that the trauma treatment received by the wounded far exceeds the capabilities of the past. While America mourns the 4,400+ dead soldiers from the Iraq war, it important to think about the 30,000 soldiers who were wounded during the conflict. The sad reality, however, hits home when you realize a large percentage of that 30,000 would have been the deceased of past wars. While the critical care the military gives has saved lives, many veterans are coming home in numbers far sicker and more debilitated than from previous wars.
Here is just one veteran's story:
Davis suffered wounds to his stomach, chest, shoulders and hips. Someone rolled him up in a blanket to staunch the bleeding.
Davis was taken to an air base where medics worked on him, then to a hospital in Germany where he had three surgeries. He was then flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, where he underwent more surgery and began a long battle for recovery, which he continues to fight today, five years later, in Gautier.
Davis, now 29, is classified as 90 percent disabled. He’s applied for jobs, but had no luck. He said he gets the strong feeling employers don’t want to hire him because of his disabilities. He’s trying to get his classification upped to 100 percent.
Davis still has physical problems -- pain, intestinal problems, a shoulder that doesn’t allow him to do much lifting.
But he said his biggest problem is the nightmares, lack of sleep and short-term memory loss for which doctors can’t seem to find the right medication. He’s dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is a common malady among returning soldiers...
Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2011/12/03/3611588/legacy-of-war-wounded-warriors.html#ixzz1ga9L45x7
And that's just the physical toll. The psychological toll among the million+ soldiers who served in Iraq has been reported to be nearly 30% by some estimates. http://usliberals.about.com/od/homelandsecurit1/a/IraqNumbers.htm
While America may be leaving Iraq. In this holiday season, we need to remember that the war is a gift that keeps on giving. The war isn't over. Just ask the veterans who are suffering the most.
