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Casualty of War: Incarcerated Veterans Not Just a Statistic

By VVAW

The United States government and most of the general public at large do recognize the obvious casualties of the Vietnam Conflict (War). This includes such casualties as the over 58,000 Vietnam veterans who lost their lives, and the hundreds of thousands who were either wounded or disabled during the Vietnam War. However, there are numerous other casualties of the war that tend to be only recognized by the Vietnam veterans and families of Vietnam veterans. The VVAW and other veterans' organizations are in constant struggle to make the general public and our government aware of these casualties and to take action to deal with the problems.

Take for instance the over 2,400 POW/MIA's still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, as well as in Russia, if the information we have recently obtained is true. Then you have the families of these POW/MIA's who live in constant emotional upheaval, as they wonder and worry daily if their loved ones are still alive and suffering somewhere in Southeast Asian and/or Russia.

Of course there are the families who will never be able to fill the void left behind by the loved ones who gave their lives in Vietnam.

How about the Vietnam veterans and their offspring who have been adversely affected by Agent Orange. Some of whom have already died. Drug and alcohol abuse run rampant and are common among Vietnam veterans. Some acquired their habits while still in Southeast Asia. Almost all Vietnam veterans suffer from PTSD in one form or another. Those who suffer severely with PTSD either end up being hospitalized or in extensive psycho-therapy programs. Then there are those who seem to have adjusted to their re-entry to society quite well on the outside, yet are haunted daily by ghosts and experiences they encountered while in Vietnam.

You have homeless veterans, not only from the Vietnam era but World War II, Korean Conflict (War), Panama Conflict and even Desert Storm, who for whatever reason find themselves in appalling conditions and circumstances. This is shocking as this is the richest and most powerful nation in the world. These men fought so very hard in far away lands, that the people of those countries would not have to endure what they now find themselves having to endure right here in the United States of America.

I believe with all my heart that the incarcerated Vietnam veterans are as much casualties of the Vietnam War, as are the POW/MIA's. You must always remember they gave all they had once for all of us.

Reprinted from The "Charlie Mike" Newsletter