Mood:
don't askTopic: "Ah ah ah Stayin' Alive"
It begins in a place called Camp Anaconda, in a country once known as Iraq. This is the most frequently attacked military installation in the war zone. The chief nurse and those who work there every day call it "Mortaritaville." From here wounded soldiers start the long trek to recovery. The road eventually will take them to Germany, and then to the United States.
Frodo has learned that at least as many US troops have been injured during the Iraq War as in either the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, or the first five years of Vietnam (1961-1965). 13,769 troops have been wounded, and survive. Another 1,823 represent the official death count. This translates to a rather interesting statistic, in that approximately 10% of those wounded have died. This compares to a figure of 24% for both the "Gulf War" and for Vietnam.
"MASH," and "China Beach" were two television shows that captured the pathos of war through the eyes of medical personnel. Frodo can almost cite dialogue from memory. No matter what those actors will or have done with the rest of their lives, Frodo will always be grateful for the message that they brought into our home.
Which brings us to the point of what needs to be said. Frodo extends his personal gratitude to the men and women who work at Camp Anaconda, and at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and at Walter Reed. For all the enmity in Frodo's heart for those who initiated this waste of our most precious resource, he is very proud to be able to look up to those who work to save and to rebuild.
None of them are taking the month of August off.
Posted by loveysdaddyga
at 8:48 PM EDT
