War veterans deserve help long after return from Iraq

Pantagraph Editorial080605

USA ::August 5, 2005

It is hard to believe that U.S. military authorities are surprised that 30 percent of 1,000 surveyed troops returning from the Iraq war could have stress-related mental problems three or four months later.

We're surprised that more of them don't have problems. War memories are not something you turn on and off like a light bulb. The fact that the stress is showing up months later shouldn't be surprising. There may be a bit of pent-up bravado at their home military bases that disappears when they can relax and be themselves among family at their real homes.

After all, many of these are 18- to 24-year-olds thousands of miles from home for the first time.

They endure heat and barren conditions most never see back home. And they read and hear about the random bombings that have killed thousands -- including many innocent Iraqis.

The enemy doesn't wear uniforms in Iraq. Any Iraqi could be the one trying to take your life as he shakes your hand, or even approaches your vehicle with a smile.

Our service personnel live with the constant threat of death or dismemberment. Many of them see the deadly mayhem, the bodies.

If that doesn't raise a person's stress level, what would?

Anyone who has experienced a horrible tragedy right here in the United States could easily understand what some of these young service people must suffer when they're finally able to return home and "relax." The reality of war may be left behind, but the devastating memories linger.

Even after they return home, many of those young people have matured beyond their age because of what they witnessed in war. Family and financial pressures don't always disappear when service people, especially Guard members, return home and the abrupt return to these problems adds to their stress level.

Armed forces leaving war zones get health evaluations, but the military is just beginning follow-up screenings a few months later. The screenings determine degrees of stress-related problems, but counseling services need to be more readily available months after these people leave the service.

Bad memories aren't necessarily wiped out by discharge papers.

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