Building 18 - A National Shame

There’s little doubt that the most popular bumper sticker in the country for the last several years has been one of a hundred different ways of saying “Support the Troops”. No matter how controversial or unpopular the war in Iraq may be, or may become, there is essentially universal support for the men and women in uniform who are fulfilling their duty day after day with honor, courage and commitment without regard to the political debate or the public division of opinion.

It’s clear that the country has learned from the mistakes made during Vietnam War when supporting the troops got twisted up and confused with supporting the war. Now, when our servicemen and servicewomen are mentioned even briefly at any public event there is a spontaneous outburst of cheers and applause. These brave men and women indisputably have the respect and appreciation of a grateful nation.

Unbelievably, the treatment being given to some of our most severely wounded troops may belie the “support” being professed for them on the rear end of Fords and Chevys all around the country. Today The Washington Post is running a story about the conditions the wounded are suffering under while hospitalized at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center just five miles from the White House.

Rather than trying to repeat or digest the disturbing conditions revealed in this article, I will provide the link and urge everyone to read it. The article is at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021701172.html. Anyone who believes that s/he supports our service members should read this article and then write the president, the secretary of defense and their congressional representatives to express their dismay in the strongest terms.

The article focuses on Walter Reed with one critical side reference to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. I don’t know if the Navy has the same problems at Bethesda that the Army has at Walter Reed, but if it’s only half as bad at Bethesda then it’s something that must be addressed as well. When my son returned to the states after being seriously wounded in Fallujah in May 2004 he spent a few days in the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany before passing through Andrews AFB for one night on his way to the Naval Medical Center San Diego. While he wasn’t impressed with his experience in the Army hospital in Germany, he was never in Walter Reed. His treatment in San Diego and the condition of the medical facilities there seemed very good.

We can’t just honor the troops with bumper stickers, flags, parades and applause at public gatherings; and we can’t just honor those who continue to serve in good health or those who have been killed in action. We must honor those men and women who have been wounded to the extent that they can’t return to full duty – those who have lost arms and legs; those who have been paralyzed; those who have lost sight or hearing; those who have been seriously burned; those who have suffered brain injuries; and those who struggle with debilitating post-traumatic stress. We cannot forget or fail to support any of these courageous men and women who have served in our behalf.

We owe them far better than Building 18 at Walter Reed. We owe them a debt that equals or exceeds what they have sacrificed for us. Anything less is a national shame.