Iraq WIA-KIA Ratio is 6 WIA for every 1 KIA (WWII 3:1, Vietnam 4:1)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/12/sunday/main605965.shtml

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In Iraq, there is a ratio of almost six wounded for every one of the more than 550 Americans who have died.

In Vietnam, four soldiers were wounded for every one who died. In World War II, three were wounded for every one killed.

"Some are coming back with serious wounds - soldiers that might have died in previous wars on the battlefield - but we are able to save them today." says Anthony Principi, the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Regrettably, they lose arms or legs, in some cases both. So, it's really, in one sense, quite remarkable what we've been able to do. But on the other hand, it's heartbreaking to see some of the wounds and it's a reminder how important our mission is to care for them."

Pictures taken by photographer Nina Berman, who has been documenting the returning wounded, have been published in this month's Mother Jones magazine. Each tells a story.

I subscribe to Mother Jones, the pictures and stories are heartbreaking.

Checvk out www.lunaville.org

They keep an ongoing accurate and complete record of fatalities. They also detail number of injured, as best they can determine.

The medical care has gotten extraordinary. Wounds that would have killed just a few decades ago are survivable today. Battlefield treatment and quick evacuation are some of the things that have reduced mortality due to wounds. In the Civil War and before thousands died of infections who had relatiely minor wounds.

Stonewall Jackson is an example of someone who died of pneumonia from a wound which today would not have been life threatening. Unfortunately Lincoln, even with today's technology would have died, as would Kennedy.

...die later. My bet is that the ratio is closer to that of Vietnam's.

I'm not so sure about that. If you check http://www.pigstye.net/iraq/wd.php you'll see combat deaths recorded at hospitals in the mainland US.

Spc. Luke P. Frist, 20, West Lafayette IN, 209th Quartermaster Company, U.S. Army Reserve -
Frist died of wounds on Jan. 5 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Frist was part of a convoy that was struck with an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq.

...because I'm checking every day.

If a soldier drives a Humvee into a river and dies, it's just an accident...

Funny thing though, the total mortality rate is about 8 times higher in the Iraq conflict than during normal peacetime drills.

I have links to data, if anyone is curious. I posted about this several times and nobody seems to care.

maximum info in a minimum of space

nice!