Politics
16:36, 19-Mar-2018
Official list of wounded hides the true impact on US troops who served in Iraq, Afghanistan
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Nearly 7,000 US troops and civilians have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and the larger so-called war on terror, while more than 50,000 have been wounded in action, according to the US Department of Defense.
But that wounded figure does not reflect the true impact on the US troops who served.
According to Brown University, more than 2.5 million US troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan. At least 970,000 of those have registered disability claims with the US Veterans Administration. Disability claims cover everything from severe injuries like the loss of a limb to more modest injuries like ongoing back pain or hearing loss.
US military personnels arrive prior to the start of a live-fire exercise for Iraqi soldiers under the surveillance of US-led coalition forces at Baghdad, Iraqi, on January 27, 2016.
US military personnels arrive prior to the start of a live-fire exercise for Iraqi soldiers under the surveillance of US-led coalition forces at Baghdad, Iraqi, on January 27, 2016.
Many veterans have also dealt with mental health issues.
According to a 2015 report from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service more than 138,000 who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and related conflicts, have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while more than 300,000 have suffered from traumatic brain injuries. Many will need care for life.
"In addition to the immediate cost, the thousands of American soldiers dead and wounded, come the long term cost of taking care of them and taking care of their families for literally generations to come," said John Nagl, a researcher at the Center for a New American Security.
And many veterans are paying a price impossible to measure in dollars and cents. According to Brown University, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan face elevated rates of mental illness, drug addiction and homelessness.