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Edited on Sat Feb-16-08 12:04 PM by w8liftinglady
feel free to to fact check and correct before I submit to my ultra-red paper(they print all my letters)
As the Nation focuses on its' crumbling economy,the War in Iraq and Afghanistan goes on,virtually forgotten.The death count is up to 3960 troops in Iraq,766 troop deaths in Afghanistan.39,298 troops wounded in Iraq were unable to return to service,as were 7,552 troops in Afghanistan.As the Republican candidates stump for more war,let's review how our grateful nation has thanked those who gave all for our freedom:
-Members of the 10th Mountain Division,out of Ft.Drum,New York,have served a total of 40 months in Iraq thanks to multiple deployments and "stop-loss".With each deployment,the soldiers become 5 times more likely to be killed,and 4 times more likely to be wounded.The exposure to high-intensity combat,combined with extended tours and little time between deployments has left these soldiers at risk for PTSD.Despite this,mental health resources and post-deployment resources have been horribly lacking.Combine this with a recent memo leaked in which the Army instructed the Department of Veterans Affairs last March to stop helping soldiers there with their disability claims.At first, the Army surgeon general, Eric B. Schoomaker, denied that the Army had told Veterans Affairs to do so. But after National Public Radio reported on a memorandum from the March meeting in Buffalo in which a colonel was quoted as directing Veterans Affairs to discontinue counseling, the surgeon general apologized for his denial and said it was based on a “miscommunication.”
-Although the Veterans for America began reporting on the high suicide rate of Iraq war veterans in 2004,little attention is paid to this fact even today.Recent Army figures indicate that 2,100 soldiers attempted suicide in 2007.This number doesn't begin to incorporate the number of soldiers who are committing slow suicide via substance abuse and risk-taking behaviors that define PTSD.
-Reservists in the Army and Marine Corps have paid a particularly heavy price.Their multiple deployments have left heavy financial burdens on their families,increasing the risk for PTSD,suicide,and divorce.When a Reservist is deployed for 180 days or more,the family is entitled to all military benefits,such as housing allotment,military ID card and health care.However,should the Reservist serve 179 days,they are not entitles to these benefits.If a soldier is activated 22 months,specifically 730 days,the soldier is entitled to the full GI bill.There have been several instances where orders have been written for 729 days,thus eliminating these benefits.The Minnesota National Guard is currently in litigation over this very thing.71,000 Reservists and Guard members are currently deployed in a War Zone.
How many Daily Light readers have sacrificed for this war?What have you or your family done without?How many of your family members are serving in a war zone?How many of you have sons or daughters who COULD be serving?Do you support this war?Choose what you will sacrifice,which of your children or grandchildren you will send.Your leaders have chosen to treat its' defenders like toy soldiers,easily cast away when their use becomes "boring".Support our troops-elect a leader who will end this insanity and treat our troops with the respect their valor deserves.
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