Military Faces Growing Ranks of Bereaved

[babylonsister]

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=9340

Military Faces Growing Ranks of Bereaved

By David Crary / Associated Press

FORT HOOD, Texas - One of the first sights greeting visitors to Fort Hood is a day-care center's playground, brightly colored evidence of the Army's commitment to be family friendly.

A few blocks away is a more poignant symbol: an office building recently converted into a first-of-its-kind support center for women and children whose husbands and fathers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. From Fort Hood alone, the toll has passed 365.

"It's our sanctuary," said Ursula Pirtle, whose daughter frequents a playroom at the center. Three-year-old Katie never met her father, Heath. He was killed in Iraq in 2003.

Over the past 15 years, America's armed forces have taken huge strides to retain married service members, improving schools, health programs and child care. But now, as never before in this family-embracing era, the military is struggling with the toughest home-front problem of all: Doing right by the often outspoken and ever-growing ranks of the bereaved.

Of the 3,350 Americans who died in Iraq and Afghanistan through early January, 1,586 of them, 47.3 percent, were married. Those fallen warriors left behind 1,954 children, according to the Pentagon's Manpower Data Center. More recent deaths have pushed that figure past 2,000.:cry:

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[rodeodance]

1. this is an aspect of the war we do not hear about much!

[vickitulsa]

2. After the Walter Reed story, I hope more people will be thinking

about both the "wounded warriors" and their families AND the families of those who have died in the profiteering wars of Bu$h in the Middle East.

I'm figuring a great many Americans will be seeing and hearing on the evening news some choice film clips of SSgt. John Shannon, Spec. Jeremy Duncan, and Mrs. McLeod, wife of an injured soldier, who testified today at the Walter Reed hearings.

"Thank you for your service" is not enough -- not for the sacrifices made, not only by those injured and killed, but by their families.

The pain and grief, for them, goes on and on. Bu$hCo and the Repukes have abused and neglected the troops they want us to "support," and then they are forgotten once they've been used up.

Americans really do care, I believe, about those troops, and perhaps if they see that we Dems care also -- and want to do something to improve the lot of those who serve and sacrifice so much -- we can turn the tide against this administration once and for all.

As we Vietnam-Era folks have said for so long: NEVER FORGET!

Thanks for this story, Sister.

[Olney Blue]

3. The War President strikes again.