MR. WILLIAMS
SOMETIMES, NO, MOST TIMES, THOSE WHO WRITE ARTICLES ABOUT THOSE WOUNDED IN BATTLE, CONCENTRATE ON THE DR. AND NURSES, GIVING THE APPEARANCE THAT THEY ALONE, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTCOME OF THOSE INJURED. THIS IS A FALSE IMPRESSION!! WHY IS IT, YOU FORGET THE FRONT LINE MEDIC, THE ONE WHO IS FIRST TO THE INJURED, THE JUNIOR ENLISTED PERSON, THE ONE WHO SETS UP THE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT DICTATE THE OUTCOME OF THOSE INJURED??? THERE WAS NO OOPS FACTOR AS THOSE IN A NICE, CLEAN HOSPITAL HAVE. YES, IN 1965-66, I WAS A MEDIC IN VIET NAM. WE TREATED OURS, THEIRS AND, THE INNOCENT. AS RICHARD (LTC, U S ARMY) STATES IN HIS COMMENTS, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO REPORT, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE COURTESY OF ADDING TO HIS COMMENT, PLEASE, DO NOT FORGET THE JUNIOR ENLISTED INDIVIDUAL WHO IS WILLING TO RISK THEIR LIFE SO OTHERS MAY LIVE. THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE MILITARY, BESIDES OFFICERS! THANK YOU, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VENT MY FRUSTRATION.

How easy is for all of us to give our opinions about this war. Have you notice something in common with everybody else, here in the USA? What about freedom of speech, what about freedom to insult your president, and all the soliders fighting for YOUR FREEDOM ? ? Have you all notice that we can do everything we want? THAT IS CALL FREEDOM, like eveybody say Freedom isnt Free, of course not. To many lives are going down FOR YOU ! and this is the way you pay back.
The worst enemy this Country can have, it's is own people. It is hard to call them citizens, because they are not.
They expect everything, but they dont give anything.
They blame everybody else including the president ant the goverment for their own irresponsable actions.
Our solidiers are fighting over there to keep this Country HERE clean and safe. Didnt you know that?
For all of you out ther, the "crying" people in this Country, why dont you do something to keep our freedom here safe? Start defending your country for a change. The Freedom that we have, is being abuse by all the crazy big mouths ready to blame the president, or goverment; but I bet, they are living under some kind of wellfare (giving by the goverment).
It hurts to see that there are so few people in this Country that are recognizing, admiring and even thanking our soldiers and their families, because they are the real CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. They are the true heroes.
They gave up all their comforts to protect this country while some....other people here are sitting down infront of a tv drinking beer and watching a game.... Isnt that a pretty picture....
It hurts too much.

Heartbreaking. And what makes it even more tragic is that it's for nothing. There's simply no good reason we're in this war. The devotion and sacrifice of the soldiers stands in stark contrast to their swaggering and incompetent commander in chief, who not only skipped out of the Vietnam War, but now has involved us in a senseless, hugely expensive, counterproductive war of choice. Let Bush be tried and found guilty by the court of history. Let him be tried and found guilt in a court of law.

I find it hard to read articles like this.
I agonize about the suffering of our Military Forces wounded in service for our country. They are defending our freedom, because freedom is not free. I support the Members of our Armed Forces, and the Foreign Policy established by our Government, because as a Citizen that is what I need to do.
I additionally hope that Mr. Bush and Mr. Gates review daily the names of Military Forces wounded, died from wounds, and killed in the service of our country, because the members of our Military Forces contribute to the support our Country and it Policies and ultimately sacrifice for all of our Freedoms.
“Tonight God make the suffering less for individuals suffering from wounds, help a Medic, Nurse or Doctor make the right decisions and preserve my Country.”

I light a candle at church and say prayers for each and every one of our solider's. The sacrifice each is making is beyond words. Just stay safe and come home soon.
Each and everyone of you is a hero to all of us.
May God bless you and your families.

its not tjust the soldiers who are on the front lines. lets not forget the ones who are here in the states who train the Soldiers before they go to Iraq. the logistics Soldiers who make sure that what equipment is available gets to Iraq. and the numerous others who go nameless supporting there friends who are on the front lines.

I AGREE WITH ALL THE OTHER E-MAILS IN THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK OF WAR IS THAT YOU NEVER FORGET WHO IS OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM,BECAUSE THE CURRENT WARS ARE FOR A REASON 9/11 AND SECURITY.

Wow!! Im so thankful for our soldiers and what they do for us! Its really sad when one of them is hurt or killed!

What's really twisted about this and similar stories is that they could have been prevented. I have a son in Iraq. His second tour of duty. He reported to his sister about the IED's and RPG's used against them regularly and the troops KNOW that the Israeli's have developed and deployed systems that detect and counter them. Those systems could be retrofitted on our existing vehicles, including HumVees for about $200,00 each. The Pentagon and Bush's reaction to this good news? They farmed out a contract to a big corporation that donates lots of money to them and actually have forbidden the military from using those systems! Most of the weapons issued to our troops simply don't work. The range of the M16 is too short and they will not penetrate walls behind which enemy combatants hide. Body armor is substandard but the same firms making this junk keep getting the contracts. This "war" is all about the corporate ghouls in a feeding fenzy for which our troops, MY son and the sons and daughters of others, are sacrificed.

Of course I support our troops more than I can express, but it's time to get them home and instead of throwing our money into this war, put it toward more useful things such as eradicating global poverty. We've spent over $300 billion in Iraq, and it only costs $19 billion annually to eradicate global hunger.

To my nephew, my son in law, my ex brother in law and to all of our service personnel a million thank yous. Come home safe. We are VERY proud of you.

God Bless all those serving abroad for what you are doing in order to make and keep our Country here in the United States safe. My Prayers are with each one and may I say Thank you and God Bless America!

Lucky man! The best this country has to offer and too precious to be sacrificed for bad, politico twisted "intelligence", and worse policy.

My heart goes out to this and all the young men and women fighting in Iraq and Afganistan and their families. I am extremely proud of you all. God Bless America

I attended a funeral this morning for one of our soldiers killed in a helicopter that crashed in Iraq earlier this month. I thank you for keeping this story live and these men real. I'm thankful that this soldier is still alive.

There is never enough we can do or say to thank our precious soldiers, sailors and airmen for holding us in their care and protection. The sacrifices they make for us cannot be measured.

Love and prayers to each and everyone.

It,s now, it's real, it's necessary! World history in the making. I thank our soldiers and news media for serving this world peace mission.

A profound thank you to all of our men and women who sacrifice life and limb to preserve freedom. Without you most of us would eventually be forced into relgious slavery or beheaded.

Our troops are ALL heroes to me and I wish them all a speedy return home where they all belong.

I was at Ibn Sina for a year (2004) and witnessed all you are sharing. The men and women of the Air Force and Army Medical Corps are absolute heroes. They save lives day in and day out. They are also inclined to offer the same assistance to injured combatants (enemy). This is where the true nature of the medical professional shows through the smoke and haze. They must put on the blinders and treat each individual as a patient, regardless of their situation in the battlefield.

The one thing nobody seems to want to discuss, however, is the future. It is great that we give the wounded so much attention now - while the war rages on - and it is on our minds day in and day out. But what about 20 years from now when OIF and OEF are well in the past? Who is going to remember where the gentleman or lady sitting in the diner with no legs, or face, or arms, got the injuries? How many more disabled vets will be waiting in the lobby of the VA Hospitals for hours and hours waiting to get their colostomy bags replaced? How many of the wives and children of the injured will have forgotten why their loved one is missing body parts?

We need a dialogue in this country and a plan to provide for these people that have given so much for this useless war. Those that have paid the ultimate price can at least rest in peace, the ones that have paid with body parts and and long term health may never have a good nights sleep again. We owe them so much more.

Thank you for your reporting.

How about our GREAT men and women of OUR armed forces!!!They are a true mark of how great our country is and the people that live here. Our guys and gals are so well trained and have so much heart it is almost unbelieveable. I too; am thankful for all of them and may God bless them all and God Bless America. Great article about a great solider. I am proud and honered to be an American!jim

I double the thanks for keeping the soldiers in the news, and trying to heighten awareness of what is going on with our soldiers in Iraq. As a wife of a deployed Army Sgt. any news is helpful. I still believe this war really truly hasnt affected the hearts of Americans, the people that surround me daily have no fathomable idea of the conditions and state of fear my husband is living in, and the real question is, what is it all for?

Glad he's alive. Please be careful. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for keeping the stories of these soldiers in the news. It is easy to forget that they are individuals that have real lives & families. Whether you are for or against the war, it is important to separate that and remember that our soldiers are only doing their job. My son is a medic that has done two tours in Iraq, one of them in Balad the other at an aide station in Baquba and I am grateful for his safe return. He has told me wonderful stories about the soldiers he has cared for as well as the doctors, nurses & medics. I am impressed by the skill and care these young men & women have and am grateful that they have chosen to serve our Country.