Amputations Surge as IEDs Spike in Afghanistan

Veterans face a grueling struggle back home

Although troops are slowly leaving Afghanistan, improvised explosive device (IED) blasts in June have increased on June last year, leading to a spike in amputations and other severe wounds.

During the 11-year war in Afghanistan, more than 1653 limbs have been amputated. Five soldiers have survived losing all four limbs to IEDs, including Travis Mills (above), who was almost killed in an explosion in April. They need tremendous courage to rehabilitate back home, illustrated in the video below, about Tyler Southern, a triple amputee who says "crying ain't going to grow anything back."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvWpujcNpeQ

Major amputations have tripled since April, though the rate has falled since its peak in 2011, partly because there are now fewer troops on the ground. Because of breakthroughs in battlefield care, many now survive who would have died of wounds in previous wars.

The Huffington Post has a list of organizations you can donate to that help severely wounded veterans.

Via David Wood at The Huffington Post.

Should the media give more coverage to severely wounded veterans?

[Wilberhum]

The are victims of a war that failed because Bush decided to start another one.

[ir0nw0lfe]

To what end? We should recognize and honor their sacrifice but if this coverage us merely a tool to push an agenda by a partisan MSM then does that not cheapen their sacrifice? My hope us that this wave of disabled vets will spur research that perfect cybernetics and prosthetics.

[wild_turkey6]

I am in complete agreement that we not forget these troops and hopeful that advances in prosthetics can give them as complete recovery as possible. I really don't see this a partisan, it just is. You can spin it anyway you want. This article didn't really seem that partisan to me.

[Wilberhum]

Why do you assume that I don't recognize and honor their sacrifice?
Of course I do. Doesn't change the fact that they are Bush's victims.

[ir0nw0lfe]

Wilber, I wasn't making this about you. Also, I didn't say this was partisan I was questioning the possible reasons for more coverage. It assumes what? We forgot?

[Souljah]

tbh honest.. regardless of the reason they covered it, the American people NEED to be reminded that these little freedoms we whine about having or not having would not be ours if not for REAL people who sacrifice for us EVERYDAY even in a war that is supposed to be over...God Bless the Troops!!

[Keyjo]

" Because of breakthroughs in battlefield care, many now survive who would have died of wounds in previous wars."
Exactly, and we must assure that our V.A. system is adequately funded and absolutely able to provide the very best care and rehabilitation possible. We provided them the tools to march courageously into war and now we must provide them with the tools to march through life, productively. This includes giving employers incentives to hire these brave, wounded warriors.

[spytheweb]

The art of war says not to kill a soldier, because a dead soldier requires no aid. But a wounded soldier requires 4, 5 or 6 bodies that are tied up.

These are boobytraps.

[autiger]

They have the Lakeshore Foundation here in B'ham Al. They have accommodations for families who's spouse was injured in the war. It's a special facility for special people. Very neat!

[marine1]

There should be no limits for those who fought for this country,regardless of why they were sent. They did not make the decision, they made the commitment.

[FollowTheMoney]

We don't need Medea coverage. The government simply needs to hold true to their promises. If we would bomb the crap out of the nearest town to each IED explosion, We wouldn't have so many IED's . Hence, less amputations.

[Synthesis]

We should pour more money into IED detection systems. Maybe open source it to the public, the Internet community is a really strong muscle they should use. $500,000 for a good legitimate idea.

[ST_Louie_Sue]

And if it was up to the idiots that want to cut defense spending think how many more will die without proper equipment in the future.

[mimi57]

Yes, I think the Wounded Warrior project is fantastic and helps the Vets and their families. Veterans should have first priority when it comes to government funding. But, private donors can and should help as well. It is the least we can do for those putting their lives, limbs, mental health, and families on the line for us. Many of these soldiers will never be the same...they gave it all, and we should give at least a little...