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"Why are they being injured like that? For what reason?"
While I was standing in line at the checkout counter, a young and very pretty African American woman was standing behind me talking to someone on her cell phone. She was about 25 years old. I turned around thinking that she was talking to me and saw that she was wearing a black fleece pullover sweater with Water Reed Army Hospital logo on it and another logo that said "Cardiac Unit". I waited for her phone conversation to end and asked her politely if she worked at Walter Reed. She smiled at me and said "Yes. I work in the Cardiac Unit and my patients are mostly older retired Army people." I took her to be a nurse, but I could be wrong. She continued "I am not military. I am a civilian worker there." I then told her that I was retired Coast Guard and a disabled veteran and that I write for Veterans Today web site. I then asked her, "Are there still plenty of young people coming into Walter Reed with massive injuries?" She was a bit surprised that I was so blunt, but then after a second or two, she said, "Yes. I don’t see them all day. They are all on a different floor than the one where I work. But they keep coming in." Then she said, "There is a big push on right now to do what we can for the PTSD people. That is the real emphasis now. But there are certainly many severely injured soldiers still coming in." We talked for about a few more seconds about that and then she looked at me sincerely and said, "I see a lot of young people that are still pretty much teenagers coming into the hospital with arms and legs blown off. Why are they being injured like that? For what reason? I saw a nineteen year old boy last week with all of his limbs missing. Why?" I swallowed hard. I could not answer the question. I checked out my food, turned to her and said, "Thank you for what you do at Walter Reed." She smiled at me and I took my cart full of groceries out to the car. As I sit here at home after unloading groceries and putting them away I cannot but help think of her question to me. "Why are they being injured like that? For what reason?" I do not know either. CWO3 Tom Barnes, USCG (Ret.)
I live by myself in a condo in Alexandria, Virginia not all that far from Washington D.C. I am a totally disabled veteran (IU) so I do not work. I am also retired from the Smithsonian Institution and the Coast Guard. My kids are grown and live out of state so I have a lot of time to myself. I decided to go grocery shopping today at about 2:30 pm and something happened that I want to share with you.
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Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=9197
Posted by Veterans Today on Oct 30 2009, With 0 Reads, Filed under AfPak. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Here in Madison, Wisconsin, I was at a steak joint with my mother this summer. She excused hereself from our table after we ordered and I was staring into space and my eyes reflexively came upon a 19-ish, blonde girl a few tables over so I sort of looked right (to not stare too much) and there was this kid (about 19, likely the girl’s boyfriend) wearing something like an Army t-shirt and on his leg well he was missing one leg past the femur bone.
About two weeks ago, my girlfreind and I were at a Chinesse restaurant and another kid walks by our table missing most of one arm.
The dude delivering Pizza [from Picaso’s reastaurant in Fitchburg, Wisconsin–good stuff) a couple of days ago is a Marine just back from Iraq, he told me. "Good job, glad you’re home," I said. This guy is young, a cocky fucker, but he has all his limbs. Has a big white pick-up he got for some bonus. Good for him.
It’s a crap shoot if these guys make it home in one piece. Like you say, no reason to play that game.
Tom, There are many of us who wish we had the answer…very sad,but true !
Palistine has nukes. Pull out of Afganistan and all those fighters are free to attack Palistine and get the Nukes.
I do think we need to let the Afgans live by themslefs and not try to reuild. We should set up air bases 100 miles out in the desert. Enemy motor teams would have to go 97 miles in the open desert to fire there first shot and then run back and hide.
These air bases would be top duty statons. Bowling allys, swimming pools, air conditoned barricks, best of food, everything an american base would have. It would be defensibel, mission abel, and would not risk american lives. Recurtment and retenton would be higher. I also would let those troops get some well needed sleep.
Terry
This is a sadistic joke, Terry, because I know you couldn’t possibly believe this. Palestinians had only Quassam rockets made of old pipe, not much more effective than a large firecracker. They cannot be directed precisely or even closely to any specific target and have been known to reverse course and injure or kill Palestinians.
Palestinians have no bombs, no nuclear weapons (Israel is the only country in the Middle East which has nuclear weapons and many WMD). Israel used white phosphorus against the civilian population in Gaza, and other weapons such as DIME.
It was Israel which breached the truce it had with Hamas and not Hamas who breached. Israel was not responding to years of rockets, because the rockets were no more when it entered Gaza killing 4 Palestinians. Today, it continues to enter, to bomb, to destroy all farms and all tunnels which are the principal source of food and animals and medicine for the Palestinians. And you want to Nuke Palestine?!!!
Dear Elizabeth. India and Pakistan have both set off nukes in there own country and have them for a war. As far as the fireworks issue. Its more then fire works that are blowing up our men in Afganistan. Pakistan Afgan border is a highway for insurgents and weapons.. We are using preditors to fly over the Pakistan boarder and are fireing its weapons. I pray for the innocent who are killed. I hate that is happening to Pakistan people.
Terry
As an American living in London I am exposed to a very different media than the MSM of the US. Jimmy Carter armed Pakistan to depose the Shah of Iran and help usher in Khomeni, radical Islam into Iran. Saudi Arabia is a hotbed of radicals who want us all dead in this world through their brand of Islam; the royal family is the only thing that stands between us and them – that’s limited in time. The entire Middle East is waiting to go off. Israel has been bombed for 8 years, would you just take that? Suicide bombers and rockets destroyed schools, synagogues, and hospitals; they have lived in 8 years of shelling in their neighborhoods. Under Clinton Americans were killed by terrorists every 8 months in attacks. He spoke big but did nothing, so it escalated to 9/11. Now we have a huge mess. Obama sends in 10s of thousands of troops and then does not give them what they need when they ask. Either support them or get them out. But he’s never supported the military. One doesn’t need 4 months to make this decision while he tends to other things and our kids are crippled or die.
I have 2 kids in the military. They are there because they have chosen to be, they believe in the defense of freedom. But to have a commander-in-chief who does not support them and is “uncomfortable with victory” is shameful.
Pakistan is well armed as is every country over there. Israel is one of our only true allies in that mess, and we are turning against them as well.
Turning against our allies worldwide and embracing our enemies who think we are now weak..that’s what the TV and papers talk about over here. It is a very different view.
God bless our kids that serve. I wouldn’t be typing this or your reading it without them.
Why are they being injured like that? Go look at the profit margins of the WAR PROFITEERS. The Bush-Friends & Family investments in Carlyle Group paid off well, just to name ONE.
Then there are the drug profits. Have you ever noticed that the drugs on America’s streets come from the countries in which the CIA (Daddy Bush was Boss) is most active? Golden Triangle heroin when the CIA was paying Mercs in Northern Viet Nam. Cocaine when the CIA was “gaming” in South/Central America. Now Afghan heroin as the CIA …………………..
I will stick with the subject matter: Why are they being injured?
It’s simple! We have the latest in all kinds of technology, take for instance, robots to precede conveys. Are they using them? Do they even have enough of them over there? How about outfitting our guys & gals with proper defence equipment, guns…etc? How about rules of engagement? Drones?
I, as you, are SICK to DEATH upon hearing how many we are losing in Afghanistan not to mention the many who loose their leg limbs, eyes, hands faces, etc.. only to come back
If you’re not going to FIGHT to WIN a WAR and USE all that you have such as ELIMINATING THE ENEMY BEFORE HE ELIMINATES YOU, then bring them HOME! BRING THEM HOME AT ONCE! This will scare the pants of PELOSI!
I don’t mince words!!!!!!! This so called President has caused me to become ill with his rhetoric, (skill in the effective use of speech.
( type or mode of language or speech also insincere or grandiloquent language). He is an EMPTY SUIT and is taking this, MY COUNTRY down a very evil slope. His administration is full of CORRUPT PEOPLE HELL BENT ON DESTROYING ALL THAT AMERICA STANDS FOR! (Soros is the head)
How many more days does he need for a decision that even I could make? Disgusting, downright disgusting!!! I hope everyone in the Military remembers WHAT he is doing!!!!!!
ISREAL!4b5f22
Why?
Some people will try and justify anything. Many Palestinians after having their land stolen from them are living on onions and being bombed with white phosphorous. If you haven’t been keeping up, the Goldstone paper is calling it a war crime.
http://kennysideshow.blogspot.com/2009/10/voices-against-war-and-lies.html
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=theme&themeId=1
http://www.sott.net/
http://kennysideshow.blogspot.com/2009/11/hillary-clintons-traitor-tour-reaches.html
http://kennysideshow.blogspot.com/2009/10/parallels-vietnam-and.html
http://irish4palestine.blogspot.com/
I will make it simple for you.
There are these bad guys. Right? And these people that are getting injured are our military who volunteered to defend us. So the military guys go there and defend us by killing or capturing the bad guys. Occasionally, the military guys get hurt, and they go to the hospital.
http://historylist.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/10-deadliest-battles-in-american-history/
Go to the website and look at the numbers 26K to ~3k. These were just battles from 3 major wars WW1, WW2 and Civil War.
http://historylist.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/10-deadliest-natural-disasters-in-us-history/
Website again check it out. These are disasters that lasted a few days or hours. 15k to 1.5k
Humans are frail. The wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan have been going on for the past 8+ years and it is averaging out to ~1k a year. Do you know how many people died last year on motorcycles in the US? Over 5k in one year! So you could say you are 5 times safer going to a warzone than riding a motorcycle.
But why is she seeing so many come back with injuries? Wars causes lots of death. Humans die easily. Yet soldiers are more likely to go to the hospital than die. Why is that?
Medicine has gotten soooo much better over the years.
T-Bone:
When I was a kid, my grandfather called me T-Bone, so that being the case, I will make this simple for you. I owe you that much.
We are the bad guys!
Our people got sent to Iraq and Afghanistan on manipulated information by an intelligence community bent on war, ideologically predisposed to it, just like you seem to be. Wake up T-Bone and help end this nightmare for our people and for those we are "soldiering" over in western Asia. We could use your help, not your sarcasm.
Get informed, stay informed.
CWO3 Tom Barnes, USCG (Ret.)
You totally missed my point. People die no matter what. Guess what you live life just to die. These guys in these caskets died with honor as warriors as opposed a natural disaster, motorcycle accident or some other random everyday occurrence. They chose their destiny when they took the oath. No one forced them.
How are we the bad guys?
We over to Afganistan in effort to stop the free reign of terrorist in a country that has been a safe haven for terrorist activity. Not to mention all the oppressed people that are now free to be…FREE. Their oppressors were not negotiable. And lets be realistic; you cant negotiate with someone that thinks that looking at a woman while you are alive is bad, but if you blow yourself up you will get 70+ virgins to have your way with when you die. Do ghosts have sex?
Why do you think Arabs are so pissed off in general? Sexual frustration. That is why they rape little danging boys. Ever heard of Bacha Bazi?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/26/ctw.afghanistan.sex.trade/index.html Dont be so selfish.
You can argue all you want that Iraq was an unjust war, but the TRUTH is WMD’s were found in Iraq. Yes, chemical weapons were found. How did we know they were there? We sold them to Saddam.
Regardless of why we were there, Iraq became a focal point of terrorist activity. And guess what. I would rather a terrorist meet someone who volunteered to be a soldier, seaman(hehehe), airmen or marine that is trained in the basics of combat and is armed with a weapon that knows he/she is in a combat zone than have that same terrorist walk into a crowded mall the day after Turkey day and massacre hundreds of innocent early morning shoppers. We have seen what the terrorist are capable of already time and time again.
Why do they focus on Iraq? A centralized location in the Middles East maybe?
Im glad the people that WERE leading the country had the foresight to see the big picture and were willing sacrifice a few brave warriors to preserve tens of thousands of people. Every coffin that comes back is 1 person giving their life for thousands! They are doing their job which is supporting and defending the Constitution against foreign enemies.
Israeli ‘thought Police’ Declare All Out War On The Web
Rona Kuperboim slams Foreign Ministry’s plan to hire pro-Israel talkbackers
The Foreign Ministry unveiled a new plan this week: Paying talkbackers to post pro-Israel responses on websites worldwide. A total of NIS 600,000 (roughly $150,000) will be earmarked to the establishment of an “Internet warfare” squad.
The Foreign Ministry intends to hire young people who speak at least one language and who study communication, political science, or law – or alternately, Israelis with military experience gained at units dealing with information analysis.
Beyond the fact that these job requirements reveal a basic lack of understanding in respect to the dynamics of the online discourse – the project’s manager argued that “adults don’t know how to blog” – they are not too relevant either. An effective talkbacker does not need a law degree or military experience. He merely needs to care about the subject he writes about.
The sad truth is that had Israeli citizens believed that their State is doing the right thing, they would have made sure to explain it out of their own accord. Without being paid.
Foreign Ministry officials are fighting what they see as a terrible and scary monster: the Palestinian public relations monster. Yet nothing can be done to defeat it, regardless of how many foolish inventions will be introduced and how many bright communication students will be hired.
The reason is that good PR cannot make the reality in the occupied territories prettier. Children are being killed, homes are being bombed, and families are starved. Yet nonetheless, the Foreign Ministry wants to try to change the situation. And they have willing partners. “Where do I submit a CV?” wrote one respondent. “I’m fluent in several languages and I’m able to spew forth bullshit for hours on end.”
Anti-democratic initiative
Any attempt to plant talkbacks online must fail. Especially if the State is behind it. Not only because it’s easy to identify responses made on behalf of someone, but also because it’s anti-democratic. When the Israel Electric Company or other companies do it, it’s annoying. Yet when the State does it, it’s dangerous.
Imposters on behalf of the government are threatening free discourse even if they only wander through the virtual space. The Internet was meant to serve as an open platform for dialogue between people, rather than as a propaganda means.
Something worrisome is happening here lately. We see the accumulation of silencing attempts. The Nakba Law, the bill calling for a ban on protests outside the homes of politicians, Lieberman’s Loyalty Law, and the biometric information database. The free speech hunting season is on.
Thankfully we have the Internet, and it enables us to identify processes, discuss them, warn about them, and join forces against them. We can assume that soon we’ll see the establishment of a website opposed to this new initiative, unless such site already exists. Perhaps even a group on Facebook. I wonder whether all its members will be Foreign Ministry agents, or whether it will also include some real people.
This is not a police state: This is a thought-police state.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6c8_1247454118
I notice you didn’t call yourself hambone!
Any way you look at it, doesn’t matter who, for what reason, for who’s lie, for what money or what to cover up I just think we all should visualize something, please visualize that AirForce Cargo plane’s cargo bay loaded with flag draped coffins lined in a row taking that final ride home! If all those men (and women) could hear one last message on that quite flight to their place of rest………What words would you say to them that could eaze their minds as to WHY they had to die?
I couldn’t make that ride with them, because they now know the truth as to why they die and why more will also die.
Instead of greating the fallen when they return to Dover, maybe he should be there to say goodbye when they ship out!
I have silent tears for those who died and will die……..Why do they have to die?
“Why do they have to die?”
Everyone dies.
T-Bone:
Did you ever serve in uniform? You don’t sound like you ever did.
I served in the military, and Tom, when you say we are the bad guys, well that’s the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard. Thinks for shoveling that into the internet.
And, the thought-police. Let’s at least try to be relevant to the topic…
Countries that have the strength and ability to help other people in need, should help. It’s sad that anyone has to die, but the terrorists would have us die for no good reason. And, it takes good soldiers to stop the terrorists.