A story today on the front page of the Wall Street Journal tells the story of Chad Wade, a US marine who was sweeping an area with a metal detector searching for land mines, of war.
He lost his life – and the shock to his friends is being used as a case study to treat post traumatic stress disorder in the field – as soldier’s have a much higher rate of returning to combat, if they are encouraged to plough on, in duty in such moments by “not succumbing to loss and fear” the story notes.
It’s understandable that training soldiers is expensive and that keeping soldiers with training investment monies in the field, not only gives experienced platoons the war capitol to stay on the battlefield, rather than needing expensive treatment later. Currently, 1 in 10 Americans is registered as a veteran of war, so stories like this ask the question – what can we do to help? The story is penned by Michael M Phillips. Go here to read that.
Last year the average cost of war to America divided by the amount of military personnel in Afghanistan averaged out to $1 million per soldier a year. War is an expensive business and keeping soldiers alive and mentally well is of prime importance to the US. Land mines and soldiers is an issue we can pray for. Something simple like a karakia (prayer) can be effective and has gotta help these soldiers, a lot.
They’re normal people doing the best they can in such conditions where land mines are obviously located and are active.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 4.2.11~