Iraq and Afghanistan Combat Wounded

[The Oracle]

As many of you know I have been an advocate for our wounded warriors. Many of you may have heard about 82nd Airborne, SSGT Travis Mills. He is one of the latest and a quadruple amputee. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced more than 500 amputees. This figure does not include body parts like fingers, only these that have lost arms or legs. Since the development of better body armor and up-armored vehicles the number of amputees that have lost more than one limb is approximately 25 percent of all amputees. This is about a 100 percent increase from the first years of the war. The good news is that these men, and yes women, also have a better chance of survival than they did in the Vietnam War.

Approximately, 35,000 U.S. troops have been injured in combat since 2001. One of my biggest fears is that these young people will get “lost in the cracks.” Many of them will need our assistance for the rest of their lives. It is the debt that we owe them for their service. Our amputee wounded stand as that reminder.

http://homepost.kpbs.org/news/2012/apr/ ... lls-video/

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article ... 31,00.html

[n11pilot]

Oracle, this is a great post. Traditionally in this country we love our fighting men and women as long as there are barbarians at the gate, but the second the threat is over we tend to forget that they ever existed. We can't continue to make this mistake. These fellow Americans sacrificed the chance of a life of quality to protect us, all of us, with no regard to politics. To ignore their needs after they made such a sacrifice is not only ethically wrong it is criminal and stupid.

[Blackthorn]

Great post, Oracle. My wife and are on board, and we support Wounded Warriors Project:
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

[Cousi]

I agree with both of you. I had the honor to meet a Korean War veteran the other day and thank him for his service in out Forgotten War. I hope we can treat our heroic warriors with the respect they deserve, regardless of if their scars can be seen or not.

[AeroDillo]

Oracle, this is a great post. Traditionally in this country we love our fighting men and women as long as there are barbarians at the gate, but the second the threat is over we tend to forget that they ever existed. We can't continue to make this mistake. These fellow Americans sacrificed the chance of a life of quality to protect us, all of us, with no regard to politics. To ignore their needs after they made such a sacrifice is not only ethically wrong it is criminal and stupid.

Not a new thing, regrettably. I seem to recall Kipling had something to say on the matter. I imagine if you went back as far as the Romans and Greeks you'd get the same story.

People have short memories.

[n11pilot]

Oracle, this is a great post. Traditionally in this country we love our fighting men and women as long as there are barbarians at the gate, but the second the threat is over we tend to forget that they ever existed. We can't continue to make this mistake. These fellow Americans sacrificed the chance of a life of quality to protect us, all of us, with no regard to politics. To ignore their needs after they made such a sacrifice is not only ethically wrong it is criminal and stupid.

Not a new thing, regrettably. I seem to recall Kipling had something to say on the matter. I imagine if you went back as far as the Romans and Greeks you'd get the same story.

People have short memories.

Too true, it seems to be part of the human condition. The sad thing is only the protected are able to forget.

[The Oracle]

People have short memories.

Too true, it seems to be part of the human condition. The sad thing is only the protected are able to forget.

Yes, to both of you. That is why this is so important. We have sacrificed our greatest treasure, the blood of our children, time and time again for the sake of the "empire." Ever notice how people have told the WWII generation Thank You time and time again, but only in the last 10-15 years have we even started to recognize the Vietnam Vets. I still do not believe that we have given the Korean War Vets their welcome and thanks.

I have grown tired of the, in the words of Thomas Paine, "sunshine patriot." The person who is quick to wave the flag and beat the war drum knowing full well that they will not share the sacrifice. Our wounded have and will continue to bear the burden for the rest of their lives. I for one want people to remember; I want them to have a full understanding to the extent possible of the "cost" in lives. Sometimes it will be worth it, sometimes we might re-think our position. In the end, anyone who is thankfull and stands ready to be there for these brave souls, in my book "gets it."

[The Oracle]

Today I read a story about SGT Kimberly Agar. This young lady was a former Ms. Teen Texas and gave up the path of the beauty pageants to join the Army. She served in Iraq and was injured by an IED. She re-enlisted to be a member of the Army Choir in Germany. They say she had an incredible voice and was known to have sang the National Anthem in many events to including the Texas Rangers home games on several occasions.

In October 2011, she was found dead in her barracks room. The only cause of death I can find was due to Post Combat Life. Here is a serious problem my friends. To me, this says suicide due to PTSD. If this is the case it is part of a larger problem. The first part of the problem is that the military is experiencing a significant increase in suicides. Approximately 20 percent of all American suicides are former or current service members; not good due to the fact that at any given time only 1% of Americans are serving in the armed services.

This brings me to the next problem. If suicide was the cause of death for SGT Agar, I can empathize with the family not wanting to have this tarnishing her image, but the fact remains that this is a politically correct way of stating the cause of death if it was a suicide. By not being straight forward it takes the light off the issue and downplays the seriousness of this epidemic that is plaguing our young men and women in uniform. If I am wrong, I sincerely apologize for any hint of an accusation because there is a possibility that the death was due to a physical complication from the injury; it is just what I have taken from the story.

My heart goes out to this family. My friends, if you know any vet that may be suffering from PTSD, I implore you to make sure they don’t slip through the cracks. This military is not doing a good job of taking care of their needs, it is up to us.

[n11pilot]

We as a country owe these Veterans so much but when our lawmakers cut the pie they receive far less than the voting serfs who exist on perpetual dole. It is time we take care of those who have actually contributed to protecting this Nation.

I never met SGT Agar but she was my sister through military service and I bear the guilt of not knowing of her until her death.

[Super Ordinary Guy]

Cousi, the problem is much bigger than you think.....

Back before I retired I was a civilian working with the Army and they sweep this under the rug for sure... Name something other than suicide and keep mum on it all.... I watched weekly as the The honor guard detail went out to do their job and I gave up counting the ones that were suicides, it was too depressing.

You can't keep sending people back into war over and over again ., One tour takes it toll , You can not imagine what it is like to know you are going back again and again and again..
Sure there are those that like that sort of life but the average person who goes through this type of experience is never the same after only one tour.......

I still jump and some times get heart palpitations with any unexpected loud noise.....I honestly think I would have joined the exodus to Canada had they told me I would have been going back over again and again. I don't know how these young folks can do it........

[Blackthorn]

I can't even imagine what that must be like.

And the only cure I can see if America is to survive, since wars are inevitable, is a mandatory draft such as Israel has. That would provide enough soldiers, so that they could come home after a one year tour, with others taking their places. But of course any president that tried to institute a draft would be impeached.

[Major Eaton]

And the only cure I can see if America is to survive, since wars are inevitable, is a mandatory draft such as Israel has.

On a related note, does China have a draft? 1 gazillion available troops seems to guarantee that none of them ever truly see the horrors of war.

[Blackthorn]

And the only cure I can see if America is to survive, since wars are inevitable, is a mandatory draft such as Israel has.

On a related note, does China have a draft? 1 gazillion available troops seems to guarantee that none of them ever truly see the horrors of war.

From what I understand, no, they don't have a draft. But they have a culture that promotes military service to such a level that they have more applicants than they can possibly accept, so there's fierce competition to get into their army. They are the rock stars of that culture...well, after the billionaires and millionaires, I mean.

[The Oracle]

And the only cure I can see if America is to survive, since wars are inevitable, is a mandatory draft such as Israel has.

On a related note, does China have a draft? 1 gazillion available troops seems to guarantee that none of them ever truly see the horrors of war.

From what I understand, no, they don't have a draft. But they have a culture that promotes military service to such a level that they have more applicants than they can possibly accept, so there's fierce competition to get into their army. They are the rock stars of that culture...well, after the billionaires and millionaires, I mean.

There will come a time when perpetual war will bring the issue of a draft back to the table. However, I feel that this would not only undermine the entire military system, it would again be challenged as being unconstitutional. Although the SCOUS has ruled that the 13th Amendment does not apply to conscription, I think that today it would be looked at differently and the argument of the draft being a violation of the 5th Amendment could also be made. However, there is a bigger problem with the draft in today’s military.

Because of the way the constitution allots defense authorization every two years, draftees were always limited to two years of service. When you look at the technological advancements of the fighting force, an enlistment would be half over before most individuals were even trained. To institute a draft in today’s military a serious change in how to conduct it and the term of service would need to be debated. For me I do believe it is the duty of every able bodied male to be ready to defend the country against invaders, but to do this would also mean that every able bodied male should be required to have a fundamental knowledge of marksmanship and defensive tactics. During the revolution, the latter was lacking; today both are lacking.

Still, even during times of an active draft, the maximum that were serving only equated to 3% of the population. Traditionally, it has hovered around 1%. But, if we are just in our decisions to go to war, I do believe that we will always fill the numbers needed in an all-volunteer service. In our society, I do believe that our service members are rock-stars in the majority opinion. That will keep the numbers coming, it is what they get after they have sacrificed so much that worries me. I know of no country that puts these brave souls in the pedestal they deserve.

[Major Eaton]

[to do this would also mean that every able bodied male should be required to have a fundamental knowledge of marksmanship and defensive tactics. During the revolution, the latter was lacking; today both are lacking...

In my best cosplay translation: "No way dude, you're so wrong. I learned tactic's from Leroy Jenkins and marksmanship from Grand Theft Auto. See, the ever scary and efficent sideways gun stance"