returning from Iraq and Afghanistan NEED HELP, damnit!!!
I was listening to a rebroadcast of The Air Americans on AAR today, and Senator Akaka from Hawaii (D) who is head of the Armed Services Committee, was on. He was talking about this very thing: PTSD. One of the things he said, which I know is true, is that initially, when military personnel come home after being in war, many of them seem fine, but sometimes up to a year later, they really start having problems with PTSD. He has worked on a bill to make the transition of care from the Defense Department to Veteran's Affairs smoother, so that these men and women do not fall through the cracks.
Here is some info on that.
http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsArticles.Home&month=6&year=2007&release_id=1751This is so very important. I hate it when I hear the argument that "They volunteered for duty". Well, duh, because we don't have a draft right now. But volunteering shouldn't mean that this country owes these men and women nothing. It doesn't matter if they volunteered. AND it doesn't matter, in many ways, what a person's view on war is. Those who volunteer, those who go and fight, deserve the physical and mental care they need when they come home.
I am disgusted and heartbroken when I read these stories. This SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING! Anyone who thinks that they don't deserve the care they need doesn't support the troops, period.
Edited to add link.