Iraq Veterans and PTSD

Letter sent to Senator Bond 12/14/2006 6:50 AM

Thank you for your recent request for the Department of Defense to look into the denial of treatment for soldiers that may have PTSD. This is an important issue that cuts across party lines.

A year ago I sent you a letter, disappointed with your stance on torture. I felt that this position could only be blind support for the President in defiance of what is right or wrong (I still do). What politicians do not understand is that there are stances on issues that are right or wrong independent of party affiliation or who supported a candidate to get elected. Most Americans have a pretty good sense of these issues and when politicians' actions seem to be dictated by political expedience rather than what that politician values, the people are sorely disappointed in their leaders.

Whether a citizen agrees with the war or not, the tools we use to fight this war are flesh and blood people, and this country owes its highest debt to those that risk harm in order to serve for the good of the country. The thought that we would ever do anything less than honor and support them is a wrong that must be eradicated immediately.

The sad truth is that war uses people up. The things we require soldiers to do in combat situations harm the soldiers' psychological well-being. This is not a weakness or anything to be ashamed of, it's a fact that we ignore at great peril. PTSD counseling should be mandatory for all returning troops, and command imperatives should be crafted to remove the stigma from this condition. We do so well crafting our service members into a "Band of Brothers" when we send them off to war, and we honor the bonds they form through their trials. Why should these brothers, our nation's brothers, not be treated as true brothers in their time of need? They need our help and understanding to restore their minds and souls after the sacrifice they make for our country.


Please continue this good effort and see it through. It is far too important to ignore.