ePluribus Media Community || The War List: OEF/OIF Statistics

The War List: OEF/OIF Statistics

by ilona

Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 09:00:09 AM EST

Originally posted Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 11:37:18 PM CST - bumping for front page - standingup

It is said that Sir Winston Churchill once remarked, "Statistics are like a drunk with a lampost: used more for support than illumination." What I like about stat lists is the attention they require from the reader; since illimunation (analysis) isn't offered, the reader is left to draw their own conclusions.

Unfortunately, this lampost is enough to make anyone buckle...

The following Afghanistan (OEF) and Iraq (OIF) war stats cover deployment, medals awarded, disability, women in the military, recruiting, Walter Reed, Veterans Administration, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), homelessness, and much more.

commentary :: :: :: buzz-it!

Global War on Terror (GWOT)

Troops who have served in OEF/OIF since 2001: ~1.4 million
Portion of U.S. population that fought in WWII: 12%
Portion of U.S. population that fought in Vietnam War: 2%
Portion of U.S. population fighting in OEF/OIF: <0.5%
Active-duty armed forces, end of Cold War (early '90's): 2.2 million
Active-duty armed forces today: 1.4. million
OEF/OIF troops, separated from service, through summer 2006: 588,923

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Medals

Purple Hearts awarded since 1932: 1.7 million
OEF/OIF Purple Hearts awarded: 13,944 (as of July 31, 2006)
WWII Medals of Honor (the highest military citation) awarded: 464
Vietnam War Medals of Honor awarded: 245
OIF Medals of Honor awarded: 2 (both posthumously)

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Afghanistan/OEF

Duration, as of March 2007: 5 1/2 years (started October 7, 2001)
OEF KIA, all branches: 271 (as of Mar. 7, 2007)
Taliban attacks on coalition forces, 2005: 1,558
Taliban attacks on coalition forces, 2006: 4,542

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Iraq/OIF

Duration, as of March 2007: 4 years (started March 19, 2003)
Troops in Iraq, as of Jan. 10, 2007 (pre-surge): 152,000
2007 official surge amount: 21, 500
Time to recruit/train/equip 10,000 new troops, Gen. Peter Pace: 2 years
Estimated strength of insurgency, November 2003: ~5,000
Estimated strength of insurgency, October, 2006: 20-30,000 (including militias)

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Iraq/OIF, Attacks

Daily attacks by insurgents/militias, July 2003: 16
Daily attacks by insurgents/militias, November 2006: 185
Multiple fatality bombings, through Feb. 2007: 1,247
...suicide bombings portion of above figure: at least 426 (34.2%)
Successful improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, June 2006: 1,481
...additional IEDs found and neutralized: 903
Successful IED attacks, January 2006: 834
...additional IEDs found and neutralized: 620

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Iraq/OIF, Human Costs

OIF KIA, all branches: 3,190 (as of Mar. 10, 2007)
OIF KIA, nonhostile portion of above count (as of Mar. 10, 2007): 596
- OIF KIA age breakdown as of end of Feb. 2007, <22: 932
...22-24: 732
...25-30: 745
...31-35: 316
...>35: 366
Journalists killed: 93 (168 including drivers/interpreters)
U.S.-trained military and police force killed, through Feb. 25, 2007: 6,158
Post-invasion Iraqi civilian deaths: >58,476 to 655,000
Internally displaced Iraqis, March 2003-November 2006: ~650,000
Iraqi physicians killed since invasion: ~2,000
Iraqi refugees living abroad: 1.8 million
Portion of professional class that has left since 2003: 40%

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Iraq/OIF, Monetary Costs

2002 Bush administration prediction of overall OIF cost: $100-200 billion
Congressional budget estimate of OIF cost, through 2006: $500 billion
Conservative estimate of ultimate cost of OIF to taypayer: $2 trillion

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Coalition

Total non-U.S. troops, Jan. 2004: 25,600
Total non-U.S. troops, as of Feb. 2007: 14,010
Britain...KIA: 134
...estimated cases of anxiety, depression: ~20,000
...receiving mental health treatment from the MoD, through Oct. 2006: 2,123
...diagnosed with PTSD: 328
...year-on-year jump in troops seeking help: 20%
...believed to be homeless: >1,000

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Contracts

Private security contractor firms in Iraq, 2003: at least 60
OIF Erinys (Brit private security firm) contract for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers protection, annually (from 2005 report): $50 million
OIF Kellogg, Brown & Root (a Halliburton subsidiary) contracts: ~$20 billion
Potential Halliburton overcharges flagged by a top Army procurement official, 2005: >$1 billion

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Contractors

OIF contractors killed, as of end of 2006: almost 768
...if added, would increase U.S. KIA count by: 25%
OIF contractors wounded, as of end of 2006: 3,367
Military personnel-to-contractor ratio, Gulf War (1991): 50-to-1
Military personnel-to-contractor ratio, Iraq War (2003): 10-to-1
Contractors in Iraq, 2007: 120,000
...support/logistics contractors, 2005: 50,000
...non-Iraqi security contractors, 2005: 20,000
...Iraqi security contractors, 2005: 15,000
...reconstruction contractors, 2005: 40-70,000
KBR workers in Middle East: ~50,000
Erinys private security guard pay: $400-1,000 per day
Overall annual pay: varies, some making $100,000 or more
Contractor pay vs. new Army private pay: at least 6X higher, mostly tax-free

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Equipment

According to secret Petagon study, Marines KIA from upper body wounds that might have survived with extra armor, 2003-2005: 80%
Factories supplying armor for principal transport trucks, Jan. 2006: 1
Marine uparmored Humvee shortfall, Jan. 2006: ~2,000
Unaccounted Army parts/tools shipped to contractors, 2004: $68 milllion (15%)
...unreconcilable misc. parts shipped for repair, 2004: $481.7 million (42%)
...classified parts/tools accounting discrepancies: $8.1 million (37%)
Helicopters downed, through Feb. 2007: 59 (at least 29 by enemy fire)

Global War on Terror (GWOT) - Wounded in Action (WIA)

Vietnam War, receive other-continent, state-of-the-art critical care: 15 days
OEF/OIF, receive other-continent, state-of-the-art critical care: 13 hours
WWII, WIA-to-KIA ratio: 2-to-1
Korea/Vietnam, WIA-to-KIA ratio: 3-to-1
OIF, WIA-to-KIA ratio: 7-to-1
OIF, wounded/ill casualty-to-KIA ratio: 16-to-1
Vietnam War rate of initial injury survival: 7.5-in-10
OIF rate of initial injury survival: 9-in-10
OEF WIA, all branches: 1,062 (as of Dec. 2, 2006)
OEF non-hostile WIA, medical transport required: 5,565 (as of Dec. 2, 2006)
OIF WIA, all branches: 23,417 (as of Feb. 3, 2007)
OIF non-hostile WIA, medical transport required: 32,544 (as of Feb. 3, 2007)
OIF total casualties (as of Feb 3, 2007): 55,961
OEF/OIF WIA not returned to service, through Feb. 10, 2007: 11,116
OEF/OIF official WIA count on DoD website, Jan. 9, 2007: 50,508
OEF/OIF offical WIA count on DoD website, Jan. 10, 2007 (after figure was used by Harvard researcher Linda Blimes in a professional paper): 21,649

DoD - Disability

Government assigned value for prime age male: $6.1 million
Permanent and temporary disability benefits payments, 2004: $1.2 billion
Army soldiers approved for permanent retirement disability, 2001: 642
...portion of total going through medical retirement process: 10%
Army soldiers approved for permanent retirement disability, 2005: 209
...portion of total going through medical retirement process: 3%
Army soldiers placed on temporary disability leave, 2001: 165
Army soldiers placed on temporary disability leave, 2005: 837
Army soldiers given lump-sum severance pay vs. disability retirement: 11,174

DoD - Disability, Amputations

Amputations as Jan. 16, 2007: 500
Does loss of fingers/toes count in above figure? No
Amputations performed in 2004: 156 (fewer up-armoured Humvees)
Amputations performed in 2006: 128
Multiple amputees (more than one limb) in 2006: ~25%
Multiple amputees in first full year of OIF, 2003-2004: 13%
OIF rate of amputations compared to previous wars: 2X
Amputations, overall WIA count: 2.2
Amputations, overall WIA/not able to return to service: 5%

DoD - Disability, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Combat troops exposed to bomb blasts, may suffer at least mild TBI: 11-28%
Overall portion of WIA: 20%
OEF/OIF troops diagnosed with mild/moderate/severe TBI at Walter Reed: 30%
Portion of total OIF bomb blast victims with TBI: 60%
Projected lifetime TBI treatment costs: $35 billion
Increased funds for TBI research, cz evaluation forms, Mar 2007: $14 million

DoD - Disability, Claims Process

Forms the typical wounded soldier is required to file: 22
...various commands these forms need to go to: 8
Information systems used to process the forms: 16
Army personnel databases: 3 (which cannot read each others files)
Nationwide average waiting to claims processing: ~5,000
Physical Evaluation Board caseload, 2001: 7,218
Physical Evaluation Board caseload, 2005: 13,748
PEBs in 1972 processing 19,000 cases: 6, with 260 employees
PEBs in 2004 processing 15,000 cases: 3, with 70 employes

DoD - General and Mental Health

Troops receiving pre-deployment mental health assessment by professional (DoD is mandated by congress to assess all deploying troops): 1-in-300
Army/Air Force required pre/post-deployment health assessment failure rate, GAO: 38-98% (depending upon base)
Army/Air Force required immunization failure rate, GAO: 14-46%
Troops seeking help for emotional issues returned back to units: 98%
Troops referred for follow-up care after flagging by DoD for PTSD: 22%
Troops kept on duty despite showing significant psychological distress pre-suicide, 2004-2005: at least 11

DoD - Mental Health, Caregivers

Navy psychologist positions filled: 72% (85% including trainees)
Navy psychiatrist positions filled: 62% (91% including trainees)
Army psychiatrist/psychologist positions filled: 80-85%
Portion of mental healthcare professionals not trained/supervised in four PTSD therapies recommended by the Pentagon and VA: 90%
Deployed Army mental health providers, reporting high burnout/low motivation or morale, 2005: 1-in-3
Behavioral-health workers (counselors/psychiatrists), high/very high burnout: 33%
...primary-care specialists (doctors and nurses): 45%
...chaplains: 27%

DoD - Discharge, Personality Disorder

Troops discharged with PD since 2003, Army: 4,092
Troops discharged with PD since 2003, non-Army: 11,296
Briefest Fort Carson PD diagnosis evaluation length: 10-20 mins.
Military psychologist signatures required for PD discharge: 1(PTSD needs medical review board)
Processing of paperwork duration: a couple of days (PTSD, several months)
VA disability benefits PD-diagnosed combat vet eligible for: 0%

Walter Reed

Year Walter Reed Army Medical Center opened: 1909
Portion of wounded OEF/OIF troops treated at Walter Reed: 1-in-4
BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) scheduled for Walter Reed: 2011
Rate at which oupatient troops in limbo outnumber hospital patients: 17-to-1
Average outpatient soldier stay: 10 months (some stuck as long as 2 yrs.)
Walter Reed troops saying their outpatient experience was "stressful:" 75%
...saying that Army literature on navigating outpatient process is helpful: 12%
Current outpatient soldiers waiting on Medical Evaluation Board processing (1st stage of process; 2nd stage is the Physical Evaluation Board): 704
...highest level of waiting outpatients, summer of 2005: nearly 900
Time MEB process should take, start-to-finish: 120 days
...average at Walter Reed: 270 days
Time to wade through both MEB and PEB processes: 9 to 15 1/2 months
Federal employees providing facilities management services, pre-2007: 300
...providing above services day before outsourcing went into effect: 60
...private workers replacing above workers on February 3, 2007: 50

Women

Female OEF/OIF troops who have served since 2001: 160,500
Female-to-male ratio: 1-in-7
Portion of female troops in military: 15%
OIF WIA: at least 450
OIF KIA: 75 (as of Mar. 7, 2007)
OIF females KIA as a percentage of total count: 2.18%
Cases of reported military sexual assaults, 2005: 2,374

National Guard/Reserves

Reserve OIF KIA, as of end of Feb. 2007: 263
National Guard OIF KIA, as of end of Feb. 2007: 408
Combined reserve component, end of Cold War (early '90's): 1.2 million
Combined selected reserve strength today: 830,000
Portion of total overall military force: >1/3
Portion of forces serving in OIF, 2004: 40%
Portion of overall DoD budget: 8%
Personnel deploying ANG units borrowed from other units in 2006: 1/3
...equipment they needed to borrow: 60%(from a dozen other units)
Of 170 guard troops required for deployment by the California National Guard's 756th in 2005, number available from the company: 7
...units tapped to arrive at needed 170 troops (called cross-leveling): 65
...locations individually tapped troops came from: 49
U.S. reservist days of service, 2001: 12.7 million
U.S. reservist days of service, 2006: 63 million
Approved reservist permanent retirement disability claims, 2001: 16%
Approved reservist permanent retirement disability claims, 2005: 5%

National Guard/Reserves - Equipment

Portion of total military equipment funding allocated to reserves: 3%
Guard units rated 'not ready' in U.S. due to equipment shortfalls: ~90%
Current level of authorized stock of dual-use equipment: 50%
Value of equipment needed to bring Guard units to full readiness: $38 billion
Budgeted by Army to augment Guard equipment, through 2011: $21 billion
Humvee shortage: 22,000
Medium truck shortage: 42,000
Rifle, machine gun, other small arm shortage: 53,000
Night vision device shortage: 264,000
Tactical radio shortage: 50,000
Black Hawk helicopters available to fight forest fires in Montana, out of 12: 2

Recruitment

Former active-duty servicemembers joining the reserves, 1997: 61%
Former active-duty servicemembers joining the reserves, 2006: 38%
"Youth propensity to enlist," 2005 (males): 21%
"Youth propensity to enlist," 2006 (males): 14%
"Youth propensity to enlist," 2005 (males/females): 15%
"Youth propensity to enlist," 2006 (males/females): 10%
2006 Air National Guard recruitment shortfall: 14%
2006 Army recruitment shortfall: 8% (highest since 1979)
Maximum recruitment age raised to: 39 (from 35)
2005 recruits admitted under waivers (of criminal records): 21,880 (17%)
...increase of above over 2000 waivers: 42%
Recruits 'washed out' during basic trng/1st 6 months service, May 2005: 18.1%
Recruits 'washed out' during basic trng/1st 6 months service, current: 7.6%

Multiple Deployments

Troops under acute stress, first tour of Iraq: 12%
Troops under acute stress, second+ tour of Iraq: 18%
Increased risk of acute combat stress in those serving multiple tours: 50%

Veterans Administration (VA)

VA networks: ~20
VA hospitals (VAMCs): >150
VA outpatient clinics: >800
New readjustment counseling service centers expected in two years: 23
VA employees: 235,000
VA employees working at demobilization centers overseas: 100
Proposed VA budget for 2008: $87 billion
OEF/OIF vets seeking services from walk-in vet centers, Oct. 2005: 4,467
OEF/OIF vets seeking services from walk-in vet centers, June 2006: 9,103
OEF/OIF vets seen by Milwaukee's Zablocki VAMC since wars' start: 2,300
Projected OEF/OIF veterans expected to flood VA system: 750,000
Lifetime projected cost for OEF/OIF veterans: $300-600 billion

Veterans Administration (VA) - Disability

OEF/OIF VA disability claims filed: ~150,000
OEF/OIF VA disability claims granted: ~100,000
OEF/OIF VA disability claims pending review: 30,000+
Overall new claims backlog (any war) at VA awaiting processing, 2006: 400,000
Average wait for VA claim processing: 6 months - 2 years
Average 100% disability rating payment: $2,400/month
...50% disability rating payment: $700/month

Veterans Administration (VA) - Appointments

People seen by the VA annually (all wars): ~5 million
OEF/OIF vets treated at VA medical facilities since 2002: 205,097
...above amount greater than VA's projection by: 3X
Mental healthcare appointment length, high: 75-80 minutes
Mental healthcare appointment length, low: 20-30 minutes
National rate at which 20-30 mins. appointments were given: 51%
...rate Artesia, NM, received 20-30 mins. appointments: 99%
...rate Amarillo, TX, received 20-30 mins. appointments: 87%
...rate Butler, PA, received 20-30 mins. appointments: 6%
Average wait for new mental healthcare patient appointment:
...at Loma Linda, CA: 39% received appointment within 30 days
VA staff contemplating limiting services, adding waiting lists: 15-of-60
...sent patients to group therapy when individual treatment needed: 40%
...said they needed more staff: 30%
Veterans receiving all mental health care outside of VA system: 22%
Annual visits provided by VA for psychiatric care, 1995: 11.7
Annual visits provided by VA for psychiatric care, 2006: 8.1
...in Hudson Valley, NY: 22
...in Fargo, ND: 3.1

Veterans Administration (VA) - Mental Healthcare, Expenditures

Unspent of $300 million VA told Congress it was setting aside for PTSD/mental health care programs in 2005/2006: $54 million
Inconsistent VA outlay of outpatient mental health care: $500 to $2000 per veteran, depending upon facility/region
Montana, ranked by amount of troops sent to war: 4th
Montana, ranked by % of delivered 2005 VA mental health services: 50th
VA mental health expenditures, 1995: $2.01 billion
VA mental health expenditures, 2004: $2.19 billion
VA expenditures on mental health ailments per veteran, 1995: $3,560
VA expenditures on mental health ailments per veteran, 2004: $2,581
...in Connecticut: $2,317
...in Saginaw, MI: $468

Veterans Administration (VA) - Mental Healthcare, Treatment

OEF/OIF vets treated at VA for mental health conditions: 73,157
OEF/OIF vets coming to VA for any type of counseling, September 2005: 43,682
OEF/OIF vets coming to VA for any type of counseling, June 2006: 144,227
Troops who sought mental healthcare in first year home: 35%(2006 study)
...received a mental health diagnosis: 12%(2006 study)
VA clinics that provided no mental healthcare in 2005: 100 (out of ~800)
Specialist sessions returning troops receive vs. 10 years ago: 1/3 fewer

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

OEF/OIF troops who have/may acquire PTSD, Nat'l Center on PTSD: 40%
OEF/OIF vets being treated for PTSD, Sep. 2005: 20,394
OEF/OIF vets being treated for PTSD, through end of 2006: 39,331
...of above figure, receiving hospital care: 29,041
...of above figure, receiving counseling center care: 9,103
Of those treated for PTSD, enrolled in VA specialized care program: 27%
...in Wisconsin: 13%
...in Ohio: 45%
Returning vets who had PTSD one month after returning home: 4%
...four months after returning home: 9%
...seven months after returning home: 12%
Seven-month vets showing no signs of PTSD/depression at one month: 78%
Troops meeting DoD criteria for PTSD, stigmatized from seeking help: 2/3
PTSD rate common to Army/Marine ground units vs. other units: nearly 4X
Non-OEF/OIF troops reporting mental health concerns: 8.5% (2004)
OEF troops reporting mental health concerns: 11% (2004)
OIF troops reporting mental health concerns: 19% (2004)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - History

Hospitalized Civil War troops diagnosed with insanity/"nostalgia": 7,800
Post-war mental/"nervous" disease ("irritable heart") vets, Civil War: 44%
Portion of troops aged 9-18, Civil War: 15%
...increased likelihood of above group of getting "irritable heart": 93%
Civil War vets losing at least 5% of company, increase in risk for cardiac, gastrointestinal, or nervous disease: 51%

OEF/OIF Suicides

Portion of veterans making up total U.S. suicide population: 25%
Army soldier suicides in Iraq and Kuwait, 2005: 22
...above rate compared to national average: nearly 2X
Rate of OIF Army combat zone suicide increase,2004 to 2005: 2X
MN active-duty/discharged servicemember suicides, Jan. 2003-Oct. 2006: 13
...extrapolation of above rate to 50 states: 650

Homelessness

Total homeless veterans (from all wars): 194,000
Beds available in VA-funded shelters or hospitals, nationwide: 15,000
Estimated OEF/OIF veterans currently homeless: 500-1,000
OEF/OIF troops receiving shelter from VA, 2004-2006: 300
OEF/OIF vets assisted by IAVA in New York City alone since 2004: 60

Family

Estimated kids with a mom or dad in uniform: 1.9 million
Calls to 24-hour helpline Military OneSource, 1st 10 months of 2005: 100,000
...above figure, increase over year before: 20%
Rate civilian families move across county lines annually: 1-in-12
Rate military families move across county lines annually: 1-in-4

Updates and additions to OEF/OIF Statistics can be found here.

The War List: OEF/OIF Statistics | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)

Will update stats throughout the week... (5.00 / 4) (#1)

Those finding us via Google may not know about Moving a Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops [be sure to read ePluribus Media's review here for more].

If you are interested in issues concerning our returning OEF/OIF vets, we are aiming to push the issue another inch or two forward in the coming weeks and months. Please consider joining us...

What are people saying about Moving a Nation to Care?

A sample of blurbs received from people who've received an advance copy affirm that, if nothing else, the project will be a worthy addition to the record. We have a long way to go, however, to adequately support the reintegration of our returning troops.

Everyone's help and support remains greatly appreciated!

"Ilona Meagher is a powerful advocate for American combat veterans of all generations. With mental health issues facing hundreds of thousands of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, Moving a Nation to Care brings desperately needed attention to the devastating hidden costs of war. Anyone who wants to "support the troops" should read this important book." -- Paul Rieckhoff, author of Chasing Ghosts and executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
###
"In an affecting expose`, Ms. Meagher documents how bad planning in the Iraq War wasn't confined to the battlefield. It is causing unnecessary suffering for the troops when they come home. For too many soldiers, suicide becomes an option."
In "Moving A Nation to Care" another tragic layer of the Iraq War is revealed through Meagher's meticulous reporting. This is a must read for returning troops and their families. Ms. Meagher's book will save lives." -- Trish Wood, author of What Was Asked of Us: An Oral History of the Iraq War by the Soldiers Who Fought It
###
"A meticulously researched book that is essential for any truly patriotic American who wants to delve beneath the generic headlines and shallow American talking points and discover the real costs of the war on our Armed Forces as well as our great country." -- Zack Bazzi, Iraq veteran and cameraman/star of The War Tapes
###
"PTSD is not a new phenomenon. But this painstakingly footnoted and researched guide reveals the little-recognized cost of the embedded pain and suffering wrought on returning U.S. troops by a high-tech, frontless, victoryless, faith-based, quagmire occupation of Iraq. This work by a second-career journalist shows that passion, persistence and Internet-honed training can produce as fine -- and as timely -- a work as any traditional news organization." -- Bill Densmore, director of The Media Giraffe Project at UMass Amherst
###
"Going beyond mere yellow ribbons into the real support that returning troops need, this book is as easy to read as a newspaper and yet well-documented enough to keep on the shelf as a reference. After the Hollywood images of heroic war are long faded, in the real world the after-effects of killing and other traumas will remain with us for decades. We need to understand what we face, and this book does an excellent job of explaining that, along with what we can do to reduce the damage." -- Rachel M. MacNair, Ph.D., author of Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress: The Psychological Consequences of Killing
###
"This book is an insider's look at the issues. It begs the question, "Are we honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who have served? Are we doing all that we can do to provide them with the tools to return to society." If this book creates debate in Congress or causes a parent to fight for the healthcare of their loved one then it has accomplished its mission." -- Steve Robinson, Director of Veterans Affairs, Veterans for America
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"Meagher has written an informative and tremendously powerful work. Highly recommended." -- Mark Boal, freelance journalist for Playboy magazine
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"Moving a Nation to Care offers more than a deep understanding of the nature of posttraumatic stress injuries, a saner approach to avoiding them, and a thoroughly researched, selective resource guide for those who must learn to live with them. This is a book filled with wisdom and love. It is truly a star in a troubled and confusing darkness." -- Penny Coleman, author of Flashback: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, and the Lessons of War
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"Ilona Meagher has been at the forefront of bringing the plight of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to national attention. Moving a Nation to Care gives us a thorough understanding of the syndrome, and a compelling view of the brave warriors who survived combat only to fall from its tragic aftereffects. A must read for anyone who understands that the worth of a nation is best measured by how it treats its wounded heroes." -- Commander Jeff Huber, U.S. Navy (Retired)
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"Ilona Meagher has done an impressive and important job in researching, assembling and chronicling the psychological suffering and neglect visited upon our new generation of veterans, their families and our nation. She assembles heartbreaking evidence from stories and statistics, journalism, social scientific research, historical record and first-person accounts. Our military servicemen and women are called to protect us. In turn, our duty as citizens is to help them return home and heal. Moving a Nation to Care sounds a citizens' alarm to action on behalf of our veterans. We all must answer its call." -- Edward Tick, Ph.D., author of War and the Soul, The Golden Tortoise and The Practice of Dream Healing and Director of Soldier's Heart: A Veterans' Safe Return Initiative

Read them all here. The generosity has been overwhelming. Thank you, one and all...

On PTSD Combat | Email list | Book
by ilona on Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 01:42:15 AM EST

Injured Troops Back To Quagmire (5.00 / 2) (#2)

The Army is ordering injured troops to go to Iraq
At Fort Benning, soldiers who were classified as medically unfit to fight are now being sent to war. Is this an isolated incident or a trend?

March 11, 2007 | FORT BENNING, Ga. -- "This is not right," said Master Sgt. Ronald Jenkins, who has been ordered to Iraq even though he has a spine problem that doctors say would be damaged further by heavy Army protective gear. "This whole thing is about taking care of soldiers," he said angrily. "If you are fit to fight you are fit to fight. If you are not fit to fight, then you are not fit to fight."

^^^^^^^^^^

Beyond Quagmire
A panel of experts convened by Rolling Stone agree that the war in Iraq is lost. The only question now is: How bad will the coming explosion be?

The war in Iraq isn't over yet, but -- surge or no surge -- the United States has already lost. That's the grim consensus of a panel of experts assembled by Rolling Stone to assess the future of Iraq. "Even if we had a million men to go in, it's too late now," says retired four-star Gen. Tony McPeak, who served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War. "Humpty Dumpty can't be put back together again."

^^^^^^^^^^

Those who take some sort of relief in the "We are fighting them over there so we won't be fighting them here!", Better Rethink their Future, or rather their Childrens Future!!

The Failed Policies will Haunt Us and the World for Decades!!

by jimstaro on Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 04:36:09 AM EST

Beyond Quagmire Link (5.00 / 1) (#3)

Posted with a mistake in link, heres the fix.

Also didn't have a reply link when I came back in to fix it.

by jimstaro on Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 04:47:51 AM EST

Sad and latest additions to the long list of PTSD (5.00 / 2) (#4)

related incidents...

ilona has a diary over on Kos: Here: Marine Overdose at Los Angeles VAMC, Latest in Long Line

by Cho on Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 10:53:59 AM EST

The War List: OEF/OIF Statistics | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)

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