Brigadier General Says Iraq, Afghanistan Vets Suffering Inordinately

Speaking to a Veterans' Day Commemoration at , Brigadier General Don Packard, U.S. Army (Retired), described the hardships of troops in and veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. 

"There are 1.7 million veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or about one percent of the U.S. population," he said.  "These veterans and their families are suffering inordinately."

"The suicide total in recent months has exceeded the combat casualties, and this is totally unacceptable," he said. "It is deplorable."

More than 200 people gathered in Greenspring Chapel, and hundreds more watched from their apartments on closed circuit television to musical presentations and the Brigadier General's keynote address.

Greenspring resident Bob Zikowitz, U.S. Army retired, served as Master of Ceremonies. "We're gathering to honor all the people who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and those who are serving now," he said.

Packard began his remarks honoring the World War II generation.  "What you all accomplished is almost unbelievable, and it cannot be underestimated," he said.  "You are in fact the [first] greatest generation."

The Brigadier General went on to declare the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan the new greatest generation.

Packard said survival rates have increased over the last ten years due to medical advances and how quickly soldiers can be evacuated from the field. Still, he estimated some 16,000 veterans have returned with devastating injuries. He said during the past three years alone, 420 soldiers have lost an arm, leg or hand, and 170 have lost two limbs.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is prevalent.  "Twenty percent of our 1.7 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, about 340,000 soldiers, are suffering from PTSD," he said.

Stress is huge for our troops.  "The relatively small size of the Marine Corp and the Army means we have to rotate commands through the war zones more frequently," he said.  In the past, larger service corps meant soldiers could rotate out, into a safer and quieter place to recoup for a while.  "The size of the army and the geography of the war zones makes this impossible," he said. 

"Some units have deployed three, four, five, six, seven times," said Packard.  "This places incredible stress not only on the soldiers, but on the spouses and children as well."

Packard said in addition time between deployments is not restful.  "Commanders want soldiers to process their last deployment and train on new equipment before they return to the field," he said.

Packard said modern communication also contributes to stress and depression.  Whereas mail was slow to arrive, technology enables quicker and more frequent communication.  "There's now too much communication," said Packard.  "A soldier becomes so aware of the problems at home and incredibly frustrated that they cannot solve those problems.  It's degrading to them."

"A veteran recently told me, 'We don't need pats on the back, we need jobs,'" said Packard.  I hope our country can renew the patriotism of World War II as we together face the economic and security problems of our country."  He said there is much to be done to help our vets.

"As was said of the Royal Air Force in WWII, I say of our veterans today: Never in history have so many owed so much to so few."