More than one million soldiers have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan over the last eight years. Close to 4,500 have died in Iraq and nearly 20 percent of those who return have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Well over 100,000 Iraqis have been killed. As Memorial Day approaches how will soldiers, families of soldiers, and the rest of our society reflect on the dead and those still living with the trauma of war? Today on GRITtv Darren Subarton a veteran who served in the Army’s 101st Air Borne Division, Joshua Kors who has written extensively on the experience of veterans returning from war, Dan Lohaus director of When I Came Home, and Nada Michael a student in Social Work at Smith College discuss the challenges veterans face, dealing with the VA, and what likely won't be discussed Memorial Day. For additional information on organizations and websites that support veterans you can visit Wounded Warriors Family Support, Community of Veterans, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Support Your Vet.
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Year in Review: The Things Veterans Carry
It's 2010, and we're still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan--and there are some who seem to think that adding a new war would be a great idea. It's often pointed out that those who are willing to rush into wars are often not the people who fight in them. Back in May, we held a discussion on veterans' issues. We wrote then:
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The last film clip explains the suicide rate.
The game is set up against the vet.
We have to fight the system to get the assistance to which we are entitled.
It’s an adversarial system.
The VA has all the records, all the information, all the experience of previous claims.
I have to prove everything without knowledge of what has been accepted by the VA in previous cases.
For some of us the war affects our mental health.
Loose your temper in the VA and security escorts you to the street.
The rage and despair takes over.
Do I kill the enemy or kill myself.
Sometimes suicide seems like the best way out.
By elkojohn on January 2nd, 2010 at 12:51 pm