Waging the Battle at Home

This Memorial Day, as we honor the brave men and women who defended our country throughout history, our thoughts will also be with our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the 35,000 here at home who have been physically injured since those conflicts began.

It's time to extend that honor to those who have sustained the hidden injuries of war.

Today, the wounds we see are often coupled with the ones we cannot. According to a RAND report, some 300,000 U.S. troops are suffering from major depression or post-traumatic stress; 320,000 have sustained traumatic brain injuries.

This isn't about politics, or about the war. It's about the warrior. Most troops wounded in combat are surviving their injuries. They fought our country's battles. Now they fight their own.

Returning from combat to civilian life, many face intense cognitive and psychological issues, fall into substance abuse, experience depression and anxiety. A growing number are severely rent burdened, 500,000 paying more than 50% of their income on rent. Their own personal struggles reveal the larger social issues like suicide and homelessness our nation will be required to address.

We must redouble our efforts to return our soldiers home to the assistance they need to reintegrate into society. We can do this in three ways.

First, education. After we raise the flag, we must raise awareness about the physical and psychological wounds of war, and what's required for injured service members and their families to have successful futures.

We've started talking about the tough issues. But we need everyone to lend an ear. From the halls of government, to community center bulletin boards, to online chat rooms, we must work through every channel to foster an open dialogue that empowers communities nationwide to take action.

Second, investment. We need more money, and proven places to put it.

Financial needs during recovery often exceed what the government is currently structured to provide, forcing those who give up their jobs to be the primary caregiver to bear undue financial burdens. We must move beyond deliberations and pilot programs and compensate those who care for our injured men and women.

Funding is also needed for transitions not covered by the DOD or VA, such as the periods between treatment and rehabilitation, or between active duty pay and VA benefits.

Outside these funding disparities loom larger questions over where precious dollars should be spent, and who should spend them. Local charities have been highly effective in meeting needs government alone cannot.

One charity built a state of the art Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, TX, so injured service members and their families have a place for respite and recreation during their long rehabilitation.

Another in Jacksonville, NC is helping seriously injured soldiers in remote locations adapt their homes with accommodations for therapeutic treatment.

In New York City, a leader in supportive housing is building residences for homeless and low-income veterans, while another is training campus professionals to help student veterans deal with trauma and move on to productive college experiences.

Together, enterprising communities across the country are showing our injured soldiers the impact they can still have and helping them find reward in a life beyond recovery.

Third, collaboration. We must work together to identify, fund and replicate innovative programs like these to serve unmet needs, fill the gaps where government falls short and make existing programs better.

To do this well, we must bridge the chasm between the public and private sector, sharing information across civilian and military cultures and political lines to find solutions.

Changes in the Department of Defense and new leadership in the VA under General Shinseki are promising, but incomplete steps. The

DOD's new Wounded Warrior program will help us better address the needs of the wounded in the acute phases of treatment and provide much needed non-medical support to families. But funding to track and support injured service members for the long term is still lacking. As our troops come home, we will need fresh ideas, and the broadest level of collaboration, to solve the complex issues related to the return of service members to civilian life.

As we consider those who risked their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy, we should consider this: Memorial Day shouldn't end when the last picnic is over. More than a holiday, it's an enduring symbol of the responsibility we share to ensure that "support our troops" -- including those with hidden injuries -- isn't just a slogan. When the general orders for Memorial Day were drawn up, it was written that the people should in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit. The best memorial we could build to America's veterans is a homefront ready to support them.

Bob Woodruff is an anchor with ABC News and co-founder of The Bob Woodruff Foundation, which provides resources and support to injured service members, veterans and their families. Seriously injured by a roadside bomb while reporting in Iraq, he has returned to the air and covers a variety of issues from around the globe. To donate to the military through his Foundation, click on www.remind.org.

Comments

[FairTalk]

I support Service Animals for veterans. A service dog can help with physical disabilities, as well as with the trauma. Form a group, and sponser the training of a service dog for a vet.

[kojoman]

Freedom Is Never Free... Others Fought & Died For It.
**********­**********­**
REMEMBER THEM…
http://www.youtube.com/kojoman75
This presentation was preformed & created by members of the famed All Black 555th Airborne Regiment, Combat Team Association; at Pioneer Garden in Chicago (Bronzeville) Illinois.
The event took place during a memorial service, for widows of the U.S Army's last all Black Combat Unit, the 24th Infantry Regiment. Association, Illinois Chapter.

Kojoman
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.myvideos

[provgrays]

The most compassionate act a soldier can receive is to not be sent to a needless war of choice instead of a conflict of necessity.

Enough breast beating. Where was all of this concern when Bush was lying to the country and soldiers, who believed that they were being sent to suffer and die for a good reason?

[Garybot]

And as you libs always forget somehow, the Dems were going along with all of it and making sure everyone noticed how patriotic they were.

[provgrays]

Garybot,

Don't dismiss your Dear Leader's decision to invade Iraq. Congress was wrong to go along but your man started the whole thing.

You rethugs never take responsibility for anything.

[camper65]

Just an aside, but the U.S. should have stayed out of WW I, too, as Churchill observed in the early 1930's. But that pompous, self-righteous Progressive Democrat Wilson just couldn't say NO. Same for Viet Nam.

[wilsonveteran]

It makes me sick to read some of these post by people that have never served or will never serve. Yes war is evil and I wish there would never be another. No one hates war more than a soldier. I served 21 years in such places as Korean DMA, Panama, Central America, and the Middle East. Today is a day to honor the people that served and died so that you can have your rediculous opinions. For those of you that would dismantle the Military, What will you do the next time we are attacked. I know some of you believe that 9/11 was a conspiracy. You probably believe that Pearl Harbor was attacked by Americans in planes just painted like Japanese.
Today I wonder why I sacrificed my youth, my friends, my family to protect the likes of you. Why is it I now live in pain on a daily basis because of my sacrifice. I remember my young daugher asking me why we did not make the money her friends parents do. My answer is I spent my youth defending them for very little money while they climbed the corporate latter. I also have to explain that I have very few civilian job skills and now that I am in my 50's can't find a job because I am to old. Then I look at the opportunities she has and I know why I served.

[peace4tomorrow]

There is no reason to honor anyone who serves in the military in my opinion. Why? War is wrong and is never justified. War has runied many poor people's lives across the globe. I turn on the TV and all I see are those with white skin bombing and butchering the brown-skinned people.

Whether is our troops torturing and abusing prisoners or Israel murdering Palestinians it's overwhelming and enough to make you question why we spend so much money for the military-industrial complex in this country. Stop the killing, stop the bombing NOW. 9/11 was caused because of our culture and history of white supremacy and instituionalized racism across the globe.

[wilsonveteran]

Why do you think you have the freedoms you now have? A military that fought and died for it. Should we let people attack us and just let it go? Should we just have let Hitler continue his genocide? Should we just have let Saddam Hussain Kill more of his own people? Personnally I think you are an idiot if you believe that any freedoms are actually free.

[spiritpony1]

I, for one, thank you for all your efforts and sacrifices; I am a liberal; having said that, my father served in WW11, and I KNOW what scars (physical and otherwise it left). Alas, SOME of these people, liberals-----some naive, some on trust-funds, and some who have NEVER been in a Humvee, foxhole, OR even a "stress-test" do not know what the f..... they are talking about. Then, the CHICKENHAWKS, like Cheney or Bush have no respect for what you and yours did; they simply consider you were pawns on the chessboard. Again, our love and gratitude-------

[MikePatronSaintofTruth]

There are wars that are fought because they pose genuine threats to the U.S. and then there are wars that are fought for $$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$$$$$­$$$$. And every war in the last 50 years has been fought for $$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$. Fighting in such a war does nothing to keep Americans free and does nothing to America's reputation abroad, except maybe damage it. The fact is that fighting such wars actually makes America MORE hated around the world and makes us MORE of a target for isolated incidents of terrorism.

[MikePatronSaintofTruth]

Wilson veteran, I would suggest that it is you who know nothing about the military, nor about soldiers. The fact is some soldiers LOVE war. Can you say "Ollie North"? He has a show all about it, and is as exuberant as a person can be when the topic of war comes up! And let me say this, if you believe that your service has kept me free, guess what?! That's just all the propaganda and BS you are incessantly fed by the upper brass of the military. Please tell me what freedoms I lost --or any American for that matter-- lost when we lost the Viet Nam war. None. So the arguement that your service is keeping Americans free is just a military propaganda lie. So stop deluding yourself on that. The reason why we are in Iraq is NOT for American freedom, but for ExxonMobil and Chevron oil --you know, the friends of Cheney, Bush and Rice (yes Condalezza Rice was on the Board of Directors of Chevron for years, and they names and oil tanker after her --look it up on the net). You defended us from the North Koreans? You really believe that the North Koreans would have conquered the U.S. and made us live in a gulag? Stop your silly delusions and join the reality-based community. I'm sure you're a great guy, but this "pity me, I kept you free" line isn't believed by ANYONE outside the military.

[provgrays]

wilson,

"The likes oy you?"

You served to protect every American, even those with whom you disagree. Service is based in humility, not a superior and condescending attitude such as yours.

[Garybot]

Please accept my thanks and gratitude for your service. I have not served due to physical problems, but have family member who have, and are still living with the pain and ruined lives.

What we are living thru now, with a President who is in the process of taking away the freedom that so many fought and died for, you realize how fleeting freedom can be.

I'm so sorry for all of us.

[MacGregor57]

...... and.......­.. to my buddies, the walking wounded, that participated in "The Vietnam Combat Veterans Clinic (Program) at the Menlo Park VA. A beautiful bunch of guys that did a lot for me. I hope your lives are happy and rewarding now. You earned that and more.

take care Jim Miller- Dust Off Medic

Welcome home dudes, we love you,

Blair

[peace4tomorrow]

War is wrong. There is never a justification. All of our wars of the last 50 years have been against persons of color (aka brown-skinned poor people.) We need a new direction in this country. It's time to dismantle the military industrial complex, reduce funding for the Department of Defense, and bring our troops home. Divert the money for more human and social service programs. End white supremancy and institutionalized racism NOW.

[wilsonveteran]

As a retired Veteran of the U.S. Army 21 years light infantry I can tell you no one hates war more than a soldier. However we do need to protect our country. You want to dismantle our military and what will you do when we are attacked again and 3,000 innocent Americans are killed.

[peace4tomorrow]

Really? I saw a lot of pictures of our soldiers torturing and abusing people. Looks like they were enjoying themselves.

[BrettnCalgary]

If your department of defense only concerned itself with defense you could do it with less that 10% of the resources you waste now, and from inside your own borders. Modern American military personnel are cogs in a military empire that dominates the planet for your own benefit and to the rest of the worlds detriment.

It wasn't always like that, but that is what it has become. if defending your country was what your military did you would have lost no one since the second world war.

[Patpace]

For decades our government has done a very good job of saving taxpayers’ money with inadequate Veterans Affairs funding.

President Obama recently made excellent leadership appointments to Veterans Affairs. Even with their proven leadership abilities, and impeccable credentials, both Secretary Eric Shinseki and Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould are facing the cumulative inadequacies of decades past. The tiny fuse of overmedication that has kept this whole VA system operational for 30-some years now desperately needs to be replaced with major re-wiring.

This young generation of veterans should not have to experience the palliative treatment of health care most veterans using the VA have experienced for decades. It would be great to see the VA step into the 21st century as the leader in world-class health care.

But after decades of under-funding, this proposed new VA budget is not enough. For our new leadership to achieve its full potential along with world-class VA health care, a one-time, additional funding of at least $17 billion is desperately needed.

The VA has many good doctors working there who will feel much relief to actually have the opportunity to treat their patients instead of just medicating their symptoms.

[gotalifepost]

You are doing great work.

Please relay this message to the troops that my doctor told me.

Never give up.

It sounds silly but it works.

[nutmeg2go]

I was driving along listening to NPR radio and heard the news that the Pentagon had decided that PTSD would not qualify for a purple heart. I understand the reasoning, but, as a clinical psychologist who has worked in the VA and in private practice with soldiers whose lives have been scrambled by PTSD symptoms, I remain convinced that they deserve some recognition for their sacrifice--perhaps a purple brain? I know that the decision made me angry at a visceral level (though logically, I can't fault their reasoning). I went home that afternoon and wrote a song, "I'll be alright", a rough cut of which is posted on www.myspace.com/rcurtisbrand. Give a listen if you're interested.

[samlu1]

Bob....the­re were no commercial planes on 911. It was another lie told to you by Bush....ag­ain. Every action, act, war, invasion, torture, rendition, bill that was passed....­.was ALL based on a lie. There were no commercial planes on 911.

[spiritpony1]

and, you don't know diddly-------we ALL know the bit---------but you musta been tooooo hooked on Mabe Russell's ghost, deah-------

[tfoley]

Bob great article, hope your healing from your injuries! Would like to see you on the news on a regular basis again. Good luck! Tim from Michigan

[Acidic]

I'm glad to finally see the recognition of mental illness as a valid reason for treatment and research. Happy Memorial Day all!

[acudoc]

War is a racket. I believe it was General Smedley Butler who uttered this famous quote. Succinct and accurate.

Here is my Memorial Day Wish.....t­hat all the veterans of all the wars ever fought anywhere in the world rise up from their graves and march en masse to the citadels of state power everywhere, that they then drag all politicians out of their hiding places, and all bankers hiding in their vaults, strip them naked, tar and feather them with a special tar made with superglue for this very purpose, then march them back into their legislatures and boardrooms and force them to stand and make silly patriotic speeches non-stop until they drop from exhaustion.

Yes, that would be my perfect world.

[iSeeDumbPeople]

Thank you! Uncle "Sam" is a scam.

[HamletsMill]

I'm right with you on your Memorial Day Wish. How many Americans this Memorial Day even know who Major General Smedley Butler was?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler

Or how many Americans on this Memorial Day even know who Lieutenant General David M. Shoup was?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_M._Shoup

Both were Commandants of the Marine Corps at different times in our history. Both knew war up close and personal. Both became bitter critics of the ill advised and immoral use of American military power. As then Col. David M. Shoup, he won the Congressional Medal of Honor at Tarawa in WWII. My father loaded the MASH units and hospital ships for that horrible battle. He said it was horrific beyond words. General Shoup became an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War. He detested that war had now apparently become a pre-packaged generational right of passage for American youth every 20 years thanks to the rise of the unchecked power of the Military Industrial Complex.. Eisenhower had warned us too in his famous 1961 farewell speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY

We did not listen. Our Presidents, Congress, Senators, professional Media, and we ourselves utterly failed the nation. And so we have reaped a bitter harvest of repeated death and ruin. And so it continues to this day. Endless war. Endless death. And endless killing with all the emotional, spiritual, and physical carnage that comes from it.

So it goes.
.

[FairTalk]

Great post. The problem is the US makes tons of money with the war industry. "We sell guns to the Arabs, dynamite to the Jews."

[curmudgeon3]

Although their numbers are dwindling, many World War II veterans remain. Their service was most honorable, however, we should not forget the sacrifices made by those who remained at home.

Many wives, saddled with the sole responsibility of managing the household,, also took on jobs in factories, jobs that had traditionally been performed by men, lending significant support to the war effort.

The sacrifices for many did not end then. Many who served did not return. The surviving spouse became the sole breadwinner and parent in the family. In many cases, other family members stepped in to help shoulder the burden. And then there was the incredible pain and sorrow of having lost a loved one at a time when their adult life was just beginning, and full of promise and possibilty.

And then therer is the collective loss to the nation, as considerable resources are lost to the war effort, leaving all who survive poorer in the bargain.

We would do well to remember Dwight D. Eisenhower's words about the topic, which are as follows:

"There is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs."

"War settles nothing."

"We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security."

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."

We have much to contemplate during this upcoming Memorial Day.

[tjinc]

For all of us, and especially those sporting "support our troops" bumper stickers, it's time to pony up. We absolutely need to support our war veterans, and not just by mouthing platitudes. Are we willing to put our time and tax money where our mouths and decals reside?

Our VA system is still badly in need of overhauling. Treatment of vets needs to be the number one priority; not filling bureaucratic positions and rewarding incompetency. Sadly, those same cracks remain, and our returning Iraq war vets are falling through them. Business as usual with better PR.

We need a dedicated, well financed and accountable VA system to address the many needs of these vets and their families. That will take public recognition and public will to have our vets avoid being used in war and tossed aside on the trash heap of anonymity and desperation when they return home.

In the words of John Prine: "Your flag decal won't get you into heaven any more".

[ramblin jack]

America is a nation that loves war and the over glorification of the troops does not help