Washblog

by Tim Heffernan for Esquire
(Complete article only available thru subscription)
This conflict is about to surpass the Korean War in duration

1. TOTAL AMERICAN TROOPS WHO HAVE SERVED: 360,000
When all U.S. military forces are counted - including Air Force and Navy pilots, as well as suppport personnel from all uniformed military branches - the number of Americans who have served in or around Iraq since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in March 2003 approaches 1 million.  For comparison, a total of 2.6 million U.S. combat soldiers (not including support personnel) served in Vietnam during the 14 years of that conflict.  Just under 200,000 American soldiers served in c! ombat during the Korean War.

2. FRACTION OF THE ARMY'S ACTIVE-DUTY FORCE DEPLOYED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN: 63 PERCENT
This includes all army personnel deployed since October 2001.  Of the army personnel sent to Iraq or Afghanistan, nearly 40 percent have been redeployed at least once.

3. NUMBER OF AMERICAN TROOPS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WOUNDED: 16,155
Nearly half of all combat-related injuries in Iraq have been so serious that they have prevented the soldier from continuing his or her military service.

4. NUMBER OF U.S. CASUALTIES WHO SURVIVE: 90 PERCENT
No military in history has been so good at keeping its wounded soldiers alive. Reasons include the widespread use of body armor, which offers some protection to vital organs, and the deployment of forward surgical teams to or directly behind combat lines, which provide sophisticated trauma care and emergency surgery in the field.

5. NUMBER OF AMPUTATIONS AMONG IRAQ-WAR VETERANS PERFORMED AT WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER: 285
ACCORDING TO A 2004 U.S. SENATE REPORT, 6 PERCENT OF INJURED TROOPS IN IRAQ HAVE REQUIRED AMPUTATIONS, TWICE THE RATE OF ANY PREVIOUS WAR.

6. THE APPROXIMATE SHARE OF ALL U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ THAT COMES FROM THE NATION! AL GUARD: 40 PERCENT
This number is far higher than any previous U.S. military campaign, and are far more likely to describe themselves as having low morale and feeling unprepared for combat. Studies conducted by the Army in Iraq show that Guard and Reserve soldiers are far more susceptible to PTSD than enlisted soldiers.

7. FRACTION OF IRAQ-WAR VETERANS LATER DIAGNOSED WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS: 20 PERCENT
According to a 2005 Department of Veterans Affairs study of nearly 170,000 Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, roughly 34,000 were diagnosed with psychological disorders, including 1,641 identified as suffering full-fledged PTSD.  More than 9,600 Iraq veterans have been provisionally diagnosed with PTSD by t! he VA.  About 12,500 Iraq veterans have contacted the VA seeking help for psychological difficulties in readjusting to civilian life, according to another 2005 VA study.

8. NUMBER OF IRAQ AND/OR AFGHANISTAN VETERANS CONFIRMED TO BE HOMELESS: 500
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) believes the actual number is higher and likely to grow.  Nationwide, there are at least 500,000 homeless American veterans.  Half of them - roughly 250,000 men -fought in Vietnam. This amounts to about 10 percent of American soldiers who fought in Vietnam.

9. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG ALL VETERANS UNDER AGE 25: 15 PERCENT
This figure is more than ! twice the rate for the same demographic in the general population.  In 2005, the Department of Veterans Affairs launched a program to help place veterans in jobs after they return home.  A 2004 study estimated that one in three veterans under the age of 25 lacks health insurance.

10. ANNUAL MEDICAL-BUDGET INCREASE NEEDED BY THE V.A.  TO COVER RISING MEDICAL COSTS: 13 PERCENT
This was the prediction of the VA in testimony to Congress in 2003. Congress increased the VA's medical budget by about 1 percent in 2005 and by less than 3 percent for 2006.  In June of last year, the VA stated that due to increased costs, its 2006 medical budget fell nearly $2 billion short of its immediate needs.

Ref: Iraq Coalition Casualty COunt