Visiting the Wounded

[dreissig]

Yesterday I went with a dozen fellow Vietnam veterans to visit the wounded in Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington. The trip was non-political: as veterans ourselves, we wanted to offer these young soldiers our support.

The Army medical staff were very supportive. They divided our group into teams, each with our own escort. Before we met each wounded soldier, we were briefed on the nature of the wounds and the soldier's home town.

I thought it was going to be awkward, but it wasn't. The soldiers knew we had come up from New York just to wish them well. We'd enter the room and engage the patient with small jokes and banter about sports and the Army. The soldiers seemed to welcome us, and we were glad to cheer them up.

We were impressed by their high morale. One guy who'd been shot in the throat wasn't able to talk, but he did participate in the conversation. Knowing he was from Cleveland, we talked about the rock and roll hall of fame, the Indians and the Browns. He enjoyed the laughter.

I'm still sorting out my feelings. The war is wrong, but the Army is treating the wounded with care and compassion. I'd expected Walter Reed Hospital to be a place of defeat and misery but the mood is very upbeat. America is getting some of it right. Our wounded are well cared for.

[TheDalaiMama]

1. Did you ask why you needed an escort? The soldiers could have

given you information on where they were from etc.

I am sure they are happy to be alive even without limbs and eyes and voices.

Don't mistake their upbeat behavior for anything other than happiness to be out of that hell hole (Iraq) and for being alive. The hard work will come when they go home and have to live their lives.

While the shrub goes off to enjoy his federal pension. Come on karma work your magic.

dalia

[underpants]

2. Good for you

:thumbsup:

[tom_paine]

3. That's a wonderful thing you did

As a veteran also (not Vietnam, though), I think it's great.

The soldiers did not ask for the Old Republic to be destroyed. It's not their fault they have been misused by the Emperor.

You did a good thing, pal, but you don't need me to tell you that.

[TheDalaiMama]

4. You indeed did a good thing dreissig.....my anger about the

rethuglicans and the war got in the way of my commom sense.

These guys need our support more than ever.

dalai