Soldiers’ silent war

Soldiers’ silent war


The happy homecomings are splashed on the news. Troops fresh off the plane from Iraq and Afghanistan scoop up their spouses and children in joyous hugs.

But the story doesn't end there.

Angry outbursts. Nightmares. Thousand-mile stares. Memory lapses. Disintegrating marriages. The "invisible wounds" of war are cropping up in this newest generation of veterans, sometimes long after they come home. Left untreated, they can spiral into despair.

"For too many veterans, returning home from battle will not bring an end to conflict," said U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. "The war will follow them in their hearts and minds."

Duty in Iraq and Afghanistan exposed American troops to a constant threat of explosions from an elusive enemy. The impact of the blasts reaches beyond the horror of the immediate carnage. The trauma lingers in unseen brain injuries and damage to psyches that might not show up for months or years.

About 95 percent of Hawaii Army National Guard members have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and officials are stepping up outreach to find and help those who might have returned with hidden brain injuries. Some symptoms -- such as irritability and impulsivity -- overlap with those of post-traumatic stress disorder.


Read the rest of this excellent article at: http://starbulletin.com/2007/11/04/news/story01.html