Honor, Don't Exploit, Our Military Wounded

As has been infrequently reported, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan progressed, a number of members of our military became somewhat dismayed and disturbed by the almost complete lack of positive coverage printed or aired by the U.S. media.

Now, over five years into those conflicts, they have come to accept the sad reality that for much of our media, their decisive victories against the enemy, their critically important intelligence intercepts, their comrades lost in-the-line-of-fire protecting Iraqi and Afghani civilians, and the growing trust they have painstakingly cultivated with those civilian populations, has been deemed “non-newsworthy” by their own press corps. They don’t like it, but realize that the ethics, judgment, and bias of some in the media, is beyond their control.

That said, there is one element of these conflicts that Pentagon leadership wishes the media would do a better job of covering in a more positive manner. That being the exceptional medical and psychological care being offered to our “Wounded Warriors.” ...

... Years ago, many of the wounds these soldiers suffered, would have been fatal. Today, because of improvements in armor protection, battlefield medicine and the care they receive in our military hospitals, many of these young men and women not only survived, but did return to combat and their comrades. Even, I’m told, amazingly, but not surprising when you meet these remarkable young men and women, a number of amputees.

The Pentagon has a tremendous story to tell with regard to the progress being made in the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), psychological health, and personal and professional accountability. So far, they have virtually no takers.