Memorial Day, 2008

Another year on. Five+ years into yet another foray into failed diplomacy, among other, more sinister things.

Still, this gives us another chance to reflect on something of imminently greater importance than just how many hot dog buns should be picked up at Costco for this year’s “Kickoff to Summer!” barbecue.

What I will reflect upon, instead, is my profound gratitude to the servicepeople who have, during this past year, given everything that was in their power to give.

And their families. Let us never forget those whose lives have been forever changed by that ultimate of sacrifices.

I will observe the 3 PM “Moment of Silence,” and Remembrance, for all those who have lost their lives in service to this country.

Wherever you may be, please do take a moment to remember. We may all espouse the rights, and demands, and particular preclusions of liberty. In the end, they have died for them.

Consider the following to be an addendum to my Memorial Day, 2007 posting; God willing, there will be fewer of these in the future.

The Memorial Day postings will continue, however. It should be our collective privilege to remember.

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U.S. Forces Wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, to 23 May 2008: 32,076

Coalition Forces Killed in Action in Iraq, Memorial Day 2007 – 23 May 2008: 647

Coalition Forces Killed in Action in Afghanistan, Memorial Day 2007 – 23 May 2008: 220

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The Invisible Wounds of War

Okay. It’s time for a veterans’ care update. It’ll be short, so don’t freak.

I’ve been meaning to put this up for the past month, since the day it came out, but have been short of time for posting anything, of late (I suppose one post about every 10 days kinda illustrates that, huh).

In any case, the RAND Corporation – the nation’s largest policy-analyzing, reporting-to-the-Office-of-the-Secretary-of-Defense, (rather clannish) group – recently released a report on estimates for the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions among OIF/OEF veterans. This is the most extensive report of its kind to date; the entire thing runs 500 pages.

I’ve downloaded that, and have even begun to read through it, believe it or not (makes for some real light reading), but will instead post the 19-page summary, here.

The estimates are not pretty. In fact, they’re rather horrifying. It is being predicted, conservatively, that 18-22% of veterans from this war will suffer from PTSD, major depression and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI) or mTBI (the “mild” version). Further, there is a high incidence of co-morbidity among these conditions.

Either way, “one-in-five” is a staggering ratio.

I just wanted to put something up that really means something. If you have even 20 minutes to browse through this, to see what these hundreds of thousands of young men and women will be grappling with and going through in the years to come, then please – take that amount of time to familiarize yourself with this. Just over half the personnel who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past five years – that’s more than 800,00 people, folks – are between the ages of 20 and 29, and this war will be affecting them for, presumably, the greater portion of their lives.

The upshot is that we, as a nation, will need to begin to deal with this war, whether some of us want to or not.

I’m off to bed. Time to try and get refreshed for another day of reading, writing, researching (about things such as this, and more) and feeling grateful that I have a wonderful and special son whom I adore (and who WOWS me every day with his special brand of sweetness) as well as supportive and loving people in my life.

G’night.

 

Homelessness among United States veterans

As part of the course requirements for my Community Psychology class this Fall (BIS343, for all you academics), we were required to do a term research project on a social problem in the United States. Going against the tide but with my personal research interests, I asked my professor if it would be alright if I did mine on the problem of homelessness among U.S. veterans. She was intrigued – no one had ever asked to research that particular problem before – so she said “yes.” I am thankful she did, as it has served as the catalyst for engaging me to take further action, to look more deeply into this problem than I previously had. Considering my professed passion for veterans advocacy work, it was about time I opened my eyes more fully to this.

I am posting some of my research materials here. Believe me – this is just a tiny sampling of what I have, and of what is out there. Homelessness among veterans is a huge problem, so quite a lot has been researched and written about it. Tragically, that’s not translated well into effective action being taken on behalf of homeless veterans themselves. But this has become something that I want to be more involved with, to try to help. At best, the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA) answer to veteran homelessness is ineffective; at worst, it’s criminal.

The system is broken. If we don’t come to grips with that fact, the OIF and OEF veterans who are soon to be returning en masse - suffering from PTSD, TBI, the strain of multiple deployments and the toll that that takes, not just on soldiers (sailors, Marines, airmen…) but on their families as well (and hence, the soldier’s support system) – are going to make care for the Vietnam era vets look like a cakewalk, and we are not ready.

The latest estimates are that up to 40% of the homeless male population in the U.S. are veterans. How can this be?! And there are homeless women veterans as well. Where do they go? Who is watching their backs? Many have suffered sexual abuse, both inside and outside of their military service. Is forcing them into dangerous shelters, where they are routinely exposed to yet more trauma, the answer? It goes without saying that that applies to male veterans as well, and approximately 96% of the veteran homeless population are men.

These men and women, whether they be combat veterans or guardians during peacetime, have served us all. Forcing them out onto the street – or to shelters, benches, farms, parks, underpasses, hilltops, mountainsides, dumpsters – is a disgraceful way to say, “Thank you for putting your ass on the line for me; thumbs up, dude.” At the very least, they are due the benefits they have been promised, and have rightfully earned. They are not getting them.

I’m just the tiniest of blips on the Net. But part of my blog can serve as a source for information. Perhaps that’s all I can do for now, but at least I can do that much. When I began this blog last March, I posted that I didn’t want it to be yet another avenue for self-absorption; we have enough of that already in the world, especially in this culture.

Towards that end, this will be a recurring section of this site; updates will post as new information becomes available and seems reliable. This will include information on both homeless veterans’ issues and combat-related PTSD (my career field of interest). Links will open in a new window, with all information available for download (most in .pdf format). Unfortunately, I cannot post academic journal articles, as that would constitute copyright infringement. However, if anyone out there is searching for something and is interested, I can e-mail them for individual use. Just e-mail me if you are searching for specific info. Who knows – I just might have something you’re looking for, or could possibly point you in a useful direction.

NOTE: Take the governmental and VA reports for what you will.

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Veteran Homelessness in the U.S. ~ Facts, Statistics and General Information:

• Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report for Congress: Homelessness — Recent Statistics, Targeted Federal Programs, and Recent Legislation – 31 May 2005
• CRS Report for Congress: Veterans and Homelessness – May 2007
• Looking at our Homeless Veterans Programs: How Effective Are They? Hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – 16 March 2006
• National Alliance to End Homelessness: Vital Mission – Ending Homelessness Among Veterans (report snapshot) – November 2007

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

• VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents: 2007 Edition
• VA: Programs for Homeless Veterans – 2006 Fact Sheet
• VA and Nat’l Center for PTSD: Iraq War Clinician Guide, v2 – June 2004

WA State Dep’t of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) & WA state veterans support:

• Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) — Web site
• WDVA: Homeless Veterans Brochure; December 2006
• WDVA: Homeless Veterans Action Plan – Update, January 2007
• Washington County Veterans Coalition (CVC) – Web site. Washington Counties Serving Veterans

MISCELLANY (as well as the most interesting, and probably, most useful):

• Homeless Veteran’s Survival Guide – Web site, from the WanderingVet; currently, a homeless veteran offering advice and guidance for his fellow homeless veterans via his blog.
• CW Nevius ~ San Francisco Chronicle: A flood of stressed vets is expected - 9 December 2007
• “When I Came Home” – Web site. A 2007 documentary film about homeless veterans in America. The filmmakers have posted a page for How You Can Help homeless vets as well.
• Abraham Cho: BC, College of A&S Senior Thesis – Our Home is Gone: Homeless Veterans and the Road Back – April 2007 – Tons of material here, fully cited for further research.

 

“With confidence in our armed forces…”

* For Lyle: survivor of NAS Kaneohe Bay. And Wade: survivor of USS Tennessee:

I miss you both. *

And to the 2, 404 sailors, soldiers, Marines and civilians killed on that day: you are still remembered, and we honor your sacrifice.

A journey of 3,400 miles. A task force of six aircraft carriers, loaded with 350 planes. Strict radio silence, broken only with “Tora! Tora! Tora!” as a message sent back to the task force to announce that total surprise had been achieved.

A terrible day, but one that needs to be remembered.

~ FDR’s December 8, 1941 Declaration of War – FDR Presidential Library & Museum

~ USS Arizona Web page – National Park Service

~ Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum & Visitor Center – Home of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund. From the site: “Engineers estimate as few as 2 years of useful life remaining before the world’s most complete Pearl Harbor museum must be abandoned.” Donations to assist in preserving this site are gratefully accepted (a secure page).

~ Pearl Harbor Attack: Naval Historical Center

~ Other Links of Interest:

• Pearl Harbor Survivors Association — A wonderful organization. I met some good men (and their wives!) through this. Sadly, many have since left us.
• At Dawn We Slept, by Gordon W. Prange — the finest narrative yet written about the attack and the planning leading up to it. If you desire to learn more about December 7th, begin here. Professor Prange devoted his life – the forty years after Pearl Harbor – to researching both the American and Japanese histories behind the attack that drew the U.S. into war, interviewing what Japanese combatants remained by its end. The manuscript was not yet finished upon his death in 1980, and was posthumously published by his assistants. It remains, IMHO, the definitive account available on the subject. And Michael Bay – “director” – should be ashamed of himself.
• Audio recording in the House of Representatives of FDR’s Address to a Joint Session of Congress; December 8, 1941 — includes a full introduction by the reporter on-hand (person unknown) just prior to the beginning of the speech, as members are still filing in. Really, an amazing recording to listen to in its entirety.
• Pearl Harbor Remembered

 

Hope

I’m putting all politics – left, right and center – aside for now, and just want to guide you to an uplifting dispatch from Michael Yon. Perhaps, there truly is light at the end of this long tunnel. Many have kept the faith about that, and I’d like to include myself in that group, even though it’s a double-edged sword when you read about civilians being killed and eighteen-year-olds arriving home in flag-draped caskets. There has been enormous sacrifice in this war, as there is in every war.

But these images and their accompanying story from Yon tell a wonderful tale of hope.

Michael Yon Online Dispatch: Come Home — 16 November 2007

What ran through my mind as I read the above dispatch: “Come to the Water” — St. Louis Jesuits

 

Report Card Day – Supplemental *Plus*!

For those who like to peruse such things – and yes, I’m a part of that group – here is General Petraeus’ report to Congress, in .pdf format. There are also charts and graphs at the end of the report.

 

Report Card Day *Supplemental*

Here are a few other articles of interest and information today, despite the fact that a couple of them come from sites which force me to roll my eyes, for the most part.

It’s tough being neither exclusively one thing, nor the other, LOL. Ah, well… such is life.

• The Australian: Strategist behind war gains by Rebecca Weissner – 18 August 2007 (a highly recommended read)
• National Review: Don’t Ask Me What I Think about the Petraeus Report – Ask the battalion commanders by Michael Yon – 10 September 2007
  
• Radio Free Europe: Analyst Says Debate Too Focused On Troop Reductions – Interview with Anthony Cordesman – 10 September 2007
• Wall Street Journal Online ~ Listening to Petraeus: The president had the courage to change course on Iraq. Does Congress? Op-Ed by John McCain and Joe Lieberman – 10 September 2007
  

 

Report Card Day

General Petraeus is about to speak on Capitol Hill, in what will most likely be the most important hearing of the year.

Catch all of the riveting action on C-Span.org via their feed from C-Span 3 (not available in the Seattle area, unfortunately). It’s a tiny screen, but at least it’s “LIVE!”. Testimony and questioning are expected to go on until 6:30 PM Eastern tonight, so essentially, all day.

Repeats of Gen. Petraeus’ testimony will begin airing on C-Span TV this evening.

So now we wait to hear what the man has to say.

 

Is there room for “cautious optimism”?

T’s “Thoughts For the Day”:

God knows we don’t want to be in Iraq forever. And no one wants to learn about yet more IEDs killing yet more U.S. troops, let alone innocent Iraqis, the vast majority of victims. The Bush administration has much to answer for, as well, and we should be engaging in massive amounts of diplomacy right now, but we’re not. So many mistakes have been made by arrogance and hubris that it’s almost sickening. Our civil rights have been under attack here at home and we’ve alienated most of the rest of the world. I do believe that in order to restore some of our former global standing that the neocons will just have to go, and good riddance.

However, I also believe that we need to find a more reasoned approach than to just start pulling troops out of Iraq en masse. Wanna see the VA system truly collapse? Start bringing entire divisions home just as rapidly as possible – that’ll do it.

This is not a particularly popular position (say THAT three times fast!) in my circle, I know. My more centrist positions in terms of defense and foreign policy are not always understood, nor, I daresay, necessarily respected, despite my progressive convictions on social issues. But I can’t help that. Every adult is entitled to her or his own opinion (if that opinion is borne out of informed reason, anyway), and mine is that now is not the right time to leave Iraq to the wolves of al Qaeda. Civil war would erupt into outright slaughter.

One way or another, we are going to have to come to grips with the mess that is the Middle East. And that includes finding a reasonable (and lasting) peace plan for Palestine, for calling Israel to task for its own abhorrent treatment of the Palestinians, while still supporting the one democracy in that region.

Not a job I’d want, thank you. But whoever figures all of that out will deserve a prize greater than the Nobel.

Hopefully, we’ll find a saner group of people to take over in ‘08, which shouldn’t be too difficult, let’s face it. But I wouldn’t support a candidate who advocated immediate withdrawal from Iraq, either.

I’m waiting to hear General Petraeus’ remarks when he presents them to Congress in mid-September. Check your local listings for C-SPAN, as I’m sure they’ll be broadcast.

Until then, here is an Op-Ed that Michael Yon wrote for the NY Daily News regarding his opinion about some of these debates:

• I have seen the horror… — 05 August 2007
  

His latest dispatch from Iraq is also rife with links to past stories and at least anecdotal evidence of progress, from his viewpoint on the ground:

• Michael Yon Online: Three Marks on the Horizon — 13 August 2007

And that’s all from here. Happy Dog Days of Summer, everybody.

 

Props to the docs (and nurses, and medics…)

During my nightly meanderings around the Net, most of which invariably center around catching up on the day’s events in the Middle East, coming to a better understanding of today’s veterans’ issues and perusing milblogs, I came across a video on YouTube, put out by CNN back in June.

Since I have both a brother and a sister-in-law (as well as a former sister-in-law) who are doctors, and an ex who is a veteran army/SF medic from Gulf War I, among other places (now civilian paramedic/firefighter), I have some understanding of the training and fortitude that it takes for those in the medical field to do the work they do. At the very least, I have a healthy respect for them. For the most part, they are devoted individuals.

Now, just imagine doing that demanding job under the stressful conditions that these people are under. One of the most moving milblog postings I’ve yet read was written by a combat doc (posted at The Sandbox), recalling just one night’s work to save yet another soldier.

The first is like a highlights reel (or a music video – music by Coldplay) of medical personnel at a CSH — a Combat Support Hospital, known as a “CASH” — in Iraq.

The second is a clip from the overall special series which CNN produced, and from which the material in the music video is culled; naturally, it was titled “Combat Hospital.”

Just thought they deserved a little more exposure, is all. My personal ‘thanks’ goes out to all of them.

CNN: Combat Hospital Music Video – “Saving the Fallen”

CNN: “Combat Hospital” – clip from series