http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2010/08/12/opinion/doc4c641c3c21b7c461364282.txtLETTER: ‘Speak out for our troops’
Published: Thursday, August 12, 2010 11:10 AM CDT
To the Editor,
As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan enter their 10th year, the Department Of Defense uttered yet another degrading comment toward the troops who have served multiple tours in war zones. The Army has issued a report —”Army Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention Report” —looking at reasons behind the increased suicide rate seen in war-zone military.Their conclusions fall into line with those seen with previous war issues — shell shock, Agent Orange, Depleted Uranium — in that it blamed the soldier, not the war. If we are to continue supporting the troops, as well as the veterans, we must educate ourselves and speak out.
As more and more troops are doing two, three, four, even five tours in war zones, the battle fatigue is becoming more pronounced and difficult. PTSD exists in one out of three troops. Its magnitude increases with every deployment. It is estimated that 106,000 active-duty troops are on multiple pain medications, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications. This does not count the Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans who are experiencing the same PTSD (although the treatment is much more difficult to find after discharge). Alcohol abuse, prescribed and illicit drug use and violence are the outcomes these soldiers are resigned to using to numb themselves from the war they must repeatedly participate in. One in three female troops report sexual abuse in a war zone. Female veteran homeless rate is 10 percent, with the majority being Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans, many with children.
These values have been reported, and ignored, since 2003. Medical personnel who have expressed concern and outrage have been demoted or reassigned. Federal funding of research has been withdrawn if blame is directed toward the war and not the warrior. (I refer you to the most recent withdrawal of the UTSW contract to research Gulf War Syndrome). The DOD and VA are extremely deficient in the availability of counseling for inpatient and outpatient troops and veterans, preferring to administer an increasing amount of “prescribed medications” and sending the active duty troops back again and again. The veterans have to pretty much rely on each other for help. And yet, the current trend is to continue to blame the troops for their poor outcomes behind closed doors, while claiming to “support the troops” in public.
If you truly support our troops and veterans, there are actions you can take. One of the most important ways is through The National Coalition For Homeless Veterans (
http://www.nchv.org/index.cfm). They offer many areas of support for our veterans, as well as a plethora of information. You can also contact our Representatives in Congress and demand they act — not just talk — on increasing help for our troops.Until all our troops are home, these multiple deployments end, and the veterans receive the help they deserve, we must act on their behalf.
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