Chuck Mosely's The Invisible Scars Of War
Saving Our Veterans
Soldiers returning from duty who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have the highest rate of suicide among veterans in our nation’s history. The rates post 2001, the real beginning of the USA’s involvement in these conflicts, have increased significantly more for the 2 branches of military that get more up close and personal with the conflicts (Army and Marines) versus those who fight from afar (Air-Force and Navy. In 2009 the US Army suicide rate was almost double that of regular civilians. While there are programs in place to help returning veterans, the Veterans Association (VA) is unorganized, outdated, and doesn’t do nearly enough to protect the mental health of those veterans. We need a new, …show more content…
According to statistics quoted by Chuck Mosely in “The Invisible Scars of War”, an article dealing with PTSD and it effects on over 1.7 million veterans, roughly 50% of all Vietnam veterans suffered from PTSD for their entire life. In the article, the trauma that veterans suffered is compared to that of the African American slaves. The writer states that “[f]or nearly twenty years I denied the effects of my Vietnam experience.” For twenty years this man who was willing to sacrifice it all for his country had to suffer alone. For twenty years he was living in denial. For twenty years he carried this burden alone. It wasn’t until after this third divorce that he finally decided to seek professional help. This should never be the case. From day one he should have been aware of the effects that war was going to have on him. From day one he should have know that there was countless others going to suffer the same mental disorders and depression that he was going to. From day one he should have known exactly where to receive help the moment he needed it. The VA can offer all the help it wants, but if the soldier himself is in denial about what he is going through, the help will never reach him. That’s why raising awareness is so important. That’s why they needs to understand what PTSD is and how it can, and for the most part will, affect them. That’s that first step in getting these heroes what they needs and most importantly, saving
Soldiers returning from duty who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have the highest rate of suicide among veterans in our nation’s history. The rates post 2001, the real beginning of the USA’s involvement in these conflicts, have increased significantly more for the 2 branches of military that get more up close and personal with the conflicts (Army and Marines) versus those who fight from afar (Air-Force and Navy. In 2009 the US Army suicide rate was almost double that of regular civilians. While there are programs in place to help returning veterans, the Veterans Association (VA) is unorganized, outdated, and doesn’t do nearly enough to protect the mental health of those veterans. We need a new, …show more content…
According to statistics quoted by Chuck Mosely in “The Invisible Scars of War”, an article dealing with PTSD and it effects on over 1.7 million veterans, roughly 50% of all Vietnam veterans suffered from PTSD for their entire life. In the article, the trauma that veterans suffered is compared to that of the African American slaves. The writer states that “[f]or nearly twenty years I denied the effects of my Vietnam experience.” For twenty years this man who was willing to sacrifice it all for his country had to suffer alone. For twenty years he was living in denial. For twenty years he carried this burden alone. It wasn’t until after this third divorce that he finally decided to seek professional help. This should never be the case. From day one he should have been aware of the effects that war was going to have on him. From day one he should have know that there was countless others going to suffer the same mental disorders and depression that he was going to. From day one he should have known exactly where to receive help the moment he needed it. The VA can offer all the help it wants, but if the soldier himself is in denial about what he is going through, the help will never reach him. That’s why raising awareness is so important. That’s why they needs to understand what PTSD is and how it can, and for the most part will, affect them. That’s that first step in getting these heroes what they needs and most importantly, saving