Wounded Warriors And Caregivers

David Wood, the veteran combat reporter and author of a new 10-part series for The Huffington Post titled: “Beyond the Battlefield,” examined some of the challenges and setbacks our wounded warriors face returning home from war. Please see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-wood for David’s full biography.

On Thursday Wood told National Public Radio’s Fresh Air‘s Terry Gross that…

            Fewer U.S. troops die outright on the battlefield — because of protective equipment and better medical care. But more Americans are being wounded, and their injuries are more “severe and complex.” The number of American soldiers who lost at least one limb doubled from 2009 to   2010, and the number of triple amputees has nearly doubled, he says. Almost all of the severely injured troops return to the U.S. with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

This author has been researching the physical and moral courage our veteran’s display during their difficult slog back to civilian life after having had severe injuries. I am especially amazed of their courage during their long and painful rehabilitation. Not only has David’s excellent series done us a great service for he makes the point that “people who ware wounded in war are wounded forever;” but also Wood shines a light on the essential role of the care givers to the wounded. More support needs to be provided to the Crystal Nicely’s, Dahlia Constantine’s and many other spouses of our wounded warriors who perform so many essential support roles.

Although I am not a regular reader of the Huffington Post nor am I a frequent listener of National Public Radio, I do wish to thank them both for bringing greater attention to the plight not only of our wounded warriors but also their caregivers.