War's toll on troops revealed in survey

October 19, 2005

War's toll on troops revealed in survey
More than 1 in 4 require medical or mental treatment after coming home


By Gregg Zoroya
USA Today
More than one in four U.S. troops have come home from Iraq with health problems that require medical or mental health treatment, according to the Pentagon's first detailed screening of servicemembers leaving a war zone.

Almost 1,700 servicemembers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom this year said they harbored thoughts of hurting themselves or might be better off dead. More than 250 said they had such thoughts "a lot." Nearly 20,000 reported nightmares or unwanted war recollections; more than 3,700 admitted having concerns that they might "hurt or lose control" with someone else.


Overall, since the war began, about 28 percent of Iraq veterans -- roughly 50,000 troops this year alone -- returned with ailments ranging from lingering battle wounds to toothaches, from suicidal thoughts to strained marriages. The figure dwarfs the often-quoted Iraq casualty count: 1,980 American troops dead and 15,220 wounded through Tuesday.

Some survey results, which have not been publicly released, were provided to USA Today by the Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine.

After a more conventional phase of fighting in 2003, more soldiers and Marines surveyed in 2004 and 2005 said they felt in "great danger" of being killed. Twice as many said they fired a weapon in combat.


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http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051019/NEWS06/510190403/1012/NEWS06

let's not forget em.

I am not very optimistic, though, considering our actions regarding Viet Nam veterans, or veterans of the first Gulf War. We as a nation have a record of letting our government get away with screwing over the troops once we have no further use for them. There are going to be a lot of depressed, frustrated, angry and DANGEROUS veterans in our country.

a kick and a recommendation so more can read this.

More than one in four U.S. troops have come home from the Iraq war with health problems that require medical or mental health treatment, according to the Pentagon's first detailed screening of servicemembers leaving a war zone. (Related: Troops screened as never before)

Almost 1,700 servicemembers returning from the war this year said they harbored thoughts of hurting themselves or that they would be better off dead. More than 250 said they had such thoughts "a lot." Nearly 20,000 reported nightmares or unwanted war recollections; more than 3,700 said they had concerns that they might "hurt or lose control" with someone else.

These survey results, which have not been publicly released, were provided to USA TODAY by the Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine. They offer a window on the war and how the ongoing insurgency has added to the strain on troops.

Overall, since the war began, about 28% of Iraq veterans - about 50,000 servicemembers this year alone - returned with problems ranging from lingering battle wounds to toothaches, from suicidal thoughts to strained marriages. The figure dwarfs the Pentagon's official Iraq casualty count: 1,971 U.S. troops dead and 15,220 wounded as of Tuesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/1in4iraqvetsailingonreturn

higher when all is said and done on this abomination...25% is way, way low...

who needs a thousand new bin Ladens when you have 3700 potential Timothy McVeigh's???

Nice going, George.

effect on combatants. The same was said about Vietnam vets. At least we knew when our hitch was up. These vets are in for the duration of an endless war of opportunity. We must gain power and stop this now!

It is the ultimate mind fuck. I hope those of you have not seen the horror are forever spared.

MM are you in ? If not join us!

you touched on. Some of these people are doing their 3rd and even 4th tours there now. Compare the tour ratio with Vietnam and factor in the difference of number regarding force size and its easy to see why we can expect way more PTSD related incidences both in the field and at home.

Whats even more hard to comprehend is that the VA is less equipped to deal with these PTSDs than during Vietnam. Further more the prevailing "suck it up you wuss" attitude combined with charges of cowardess for some who do try and seek help via the traditional chain of command and you have a Class A impending crisis.

I 100% believe that the only tenuous off-setter we have is the fact that people have truly learned how to support the troops and hate the war. At least compared to the Vietnam years... This will not offset much or for much longer though.

about 60 percent of returning iraq vets suffering concussive brain injury?

EVERY DAMN DAY!

:grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr:

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counting completed suicides, and murdered spouses and children. what a fucking whitewash!