Is the Government Doing Enough or Has it Failed at Taking Care of Our Wounded Troops?

Mary Kirkland
Some of these soldiers have lost limbs and may never walk again. Other Soldiers are suffering from
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and some of them find it humiliating to get help. Some of these
Soldiers have seen their friends blown up right in front of them, or they have been the only person to
make it out alive when their vehicle was hit from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Some Soldiers are actually told they were crazy before they enlisted in the Army, that their problems
aren't because of anything they went through during the War in Iraq and therefore the Army doesn't have
to pay for their treatment. What we should find strange is the fact that if these Soldiers had pre-existing
conditions such as (PTSD) and why were they allowed to enter the Army in the first place? More likely is
the fact that the pre-existing conditions never existed and the Army is trying to save money anywhere
they can and our wounded Soldiers end up the victims.

When our wounded Soldiers come home what they really need is to have their families around for
support and to cheer them on. A non profit program that provides a place for family members of
wounded servicemen and women to stay so they can be close to one another is The Fisher House, it
provides just that place and because of a large sum of donations most family members stay for free or
$10.00 per day in some cases depending where they are located.

Since 2003 more than 20,000 American troops have been wounded, according to the U.S. Military.
Some Soldiers have lost limbs, have horrible burns, have lost their eye sight in one or both eyes, and
some needed surgery to remove shrapnel from exploding (IED's). These Soldiers heal faster when they
have family around to cheer them up. It may take a while for them to recover or get used to having
prosthetic limbs.

More it seems is being done from regular citizen's of the U.S. to help our wounded troops than from the
Military. Donations pour in every day from regular people like you and I and Non-Profit places open up
like The Fisher house to help our Soldiers. Yet the Army is still trying to get out of paying for medical
treatment for many Soldiers that were injured defending our country. It's not right and more people need
to realize what's going on.

The amount of Soldiers who are surviving their injuries compared to earlier war's is numerous and it
seems the Federal Government isn't able or willing at times to pay for the treatment and some times
on-going expensive treatment that some of the wounded troops are in need of. Veteran's of earlier war's
know this to be a fact, we send off our young men and women to fight and when they come back
wounded and without limbs they are pushed aside as if they don't matter any more. These people
made sacrifices for us and now they need help, if just letting the American people know this is going on
helps, then I've done what I meant to.

Published by Mary Kirkland

Mary is originally from Redondo Beach, California and now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and daughter. Mary has had extensive experience with small animal care as well as rescuing and re-homing....  View profile

  • Since 2003 more than 20,000 American troops have been wounded
  • The amount of Soldiers who are surviving their injuries compared to earlier war's is numerous
Fisher House http://www.fisherhouse.org/ is a place where family members of wounded soldiers can stay to be close to their family members.

17 Comments

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  • Mary Kirkland2/11/2007

    Thank you Knowledge Bearer.

  • Mary Kirkland2/10/2007

    Very true, andrea.

  • Andrea Edwards2/10/2007

    There is a Veteran's Club at my college now, and all of them admit that Americans can do a better job of taking care of American Vets. They do not have the proper medical care or psychological help that they need, and they might never get it. I feel for American Vets. They have seen and experienced things that none of use will ever comprehend.

  • Mary Kirkland2/9/2007

    Thank you Heather.

  • Heather B.2/9/2007

    Great piece, very honest. I agree. We do not take good enough care of our wounded troops.

  • Mary Kirkland2/9/2007

    Yes, everyone can do more and alot of people are. Opening places for the wounded to get physical therapy where they can be close to their families and the families don't have to pay for housing is one thing people have done. If more people know about what's really happening, maybe more will be done.Thanks for commenting.

  • A. J. King2/9/2007

    It's not just the government - everyone can do more. I got so sick of seeing those yellow magnet "support the troops" ribbons... I got one the said "just pretend it's all okay" and slapped it on my bumper. Put up or shut up.

  • Curtis DeBaun IV2/8/2007

    This was a good article. This is an issue that the public needs to be more aware of.

  • Mary Kirkland2/8/2007

    Woohoo I made it to the front page with this one!

  • Mary Kirkland2/6/2007

    That's a really good Idea. I'm sure the people at the VA, appreciated it.

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