Iraq war vets describe life after the conflict

[Caldric]

Some serious renovation of how we take care of our vets has been needed for decades. This is an interesting read, is not a bash against the military or anything or the war just fact of adjusting to life after horrendous injury and lost.

You need to watch the video to get the whole story.

Challenges and frustrations
mark return to America

Nearly two years into the Iraq war, more than 1,000 U.S. service men and women have been killed and more than 10,000 wounded. Those with no physical wounds often come home bearing other scars of war. Is America doing enough for its troops after they return? In the first part of a three-day series, "Today" spoke with veterans and their families about the frustration of getting benefits, the medical care they received and their readjustment to life after the war.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6860510/

[Bluehawk]

Every bit of news we can get is vital... thank you.

[cato2]

Caldric I appreciate that article. I contains some good links as well on the bottom.

Some of the problems the VA system is having is just plain numbers. The baby boom is entering a stage in their life were increased medical services are sought. And that age bracket fought in the Vietnam war. Another generation of veterans, the WWII generation is dieing at the rate of approximately 1000 per day. Many of these two groups are utilizing the VA for services.

Also I do not think the VA frankly was ready for this war on Terrorism that we find ourselves in now. The numbers are begining to mount up.

Instead of dieing as they may have in earlier wars our soldiers and alive but with injuries. And it is going to be up to the VA to provide those services.

[Caldric]

I realize what you are saying Cato and make a very good point.

However I must say with 105 billion for war this year a few could go to private practice for our troops. If the VA can not handle it there should be a fund to draw on to send them to good mental health folks and private rehabilitation centers.

Especially the ones who have seen a bit too much. These finest of our young people who will drink, commit suicide, beat their spouses, should have every chance our enormous and professional medical system can do for them. As the sister of the one who hung him self stated "he just fell between the cracks". Of course it may have nothing to do with the war but I think there is a good chance it was the straw that broke the back.

10,000+ maimed and wounded is a not so much we can not handle. And the 250,000 or so of which maybe 50,000 have seen combat should not burden us much. And if it is a burden then we need to expand it until it is not, **** the cost.

Oh and I am not preaching to you Cato just venting there a bit.

[scott.voigt]

Thank you for posting this... Iread it earlier and it's pretty sad... People join the military and end up like this... It's very sad... especially the article about the Marine that hung himself that was truly a saddening thought... That kind of pain that comes from war is unlike any other.