Veterans - Do We Owe Them Anything?

As of February 10, 2007 almost 25,000 US soldiers have been wounded in action in Iraq, Afghanistan and probably at other locations that we will never hear about. Approximately 13,500 were returned to duty within 72 hours which leaves a balance of about 11,500 that required substantial treatment, hospitalization and evacuation. Many of the wounded are pictured with limbs missing or other severe injuries that will hinder their quality of life for the remainder of their lives.

Recently there was a report that the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington housed many of the wounded that were still undergoing treatment and recovery in a leaky, mold infested building where roaches and other vermin ran wild. Amidst the reports of great strides in the treatment of these war wounded and the development of artificial limbs and prosthesis for those that experienced traumatic amputations, many of our wounded are relegated to the slums of medical treatment. A substantial number are suffering from psychological disorders that have forever changed them.

Now the American public and many in our political leadership seem to be demanding that the United States declare Iraq lost to an insurgency and return our troops home. America has been victimized by faulty intelligence, bad battlefield decision making and an intractable enemy that has engaged in very successful psychological operations that have caused us to lose our will to prevail. The going got tough and America decided it wasn't worth the cost in lives or money.

So now our wounded veterans and the others that survived without substantial injury or permanent damage may soon return. Does America owe them anything? After all, they are volunteers. They should have been smart enough to recognize that the chance for injury or death existed the moment they decided to join. Can one really be referred to as a patriot if they pursued a cause that has been determined to be unworthy?

The American public now has and will continue to have a difficult time determining how our veterans and their families will be treated. Of course the battles will be largely hidden from the public and fought in the halls of Congress as they debate the costs associated with pay, housing, education, medical benefits and other promises that were made to those that served. If history is any teacher, their service and sacrifice will soon be forgotten as the financial reality of what our government said they would do for those that volunteered and what the government actually delivers. Of course the American citizenry can shrug their shoulders and state they were not aware of any difficulties.

It seems that many American citizens really don't care as long as they are not personally affected. A call for any military action only seems to arise if there is an eminent national emergency and then the call is for somebody else to do something. The refrain might well be, "I don't want my son or daughter to have to serve, particularly if there is a chance that the fighting will be called off because America lost it's will." So the question remains - what do we owe our veterans? Probably a great deal, but what we will deliver is probably our thanks, good wishes and nothing else. Anything more might call for a sacrifice.