- Expected US Casualties From War
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- A Commentary by Dr. Doug Rokke
- Former US Army's DU team health physicist
- Former US Army's DU Project Director
- 10-14-2
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- The upcoming battle Gulf War II will result in casualties
that include:
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- * killed in action
- * wounded in action
- * killed in accidents
- * and additional casualties that do not show up until
after the completion of hostilities.
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- During the Gulf War between 1990 and 1991 the United
States military incurred: 467 individuals wounded in action, 148 killed
in battle, and 145 killed in other than battle (i.e. accidents). Therefore,
the total number of US Gulf War casualties was 760 at the time of redeployment.
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- The United States Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans
Benefit Administration Office of Performance Analysis and Integrity Data
and Information Services Gulf War Veterans Information System report that
was just published (May 2002) states that as of May 2002: 696,778 individuals
had served during the Gulf War with 572,833 individuals now eligible for
Department of Veterans Affairs benefits to include lifetime medical care,
financial compensation, and a lifetime pension.
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- The difference of 123,945 individuals includes Desert
Storm veterans who are still on active duty, who already received a disability
rating directly from the military, and those who are ineligible for benefits
for various reasons.
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- As of May 2002, 206,861 veterans had filed claims for
benefits based on service-connected injuries and illnesses caused by Gulf
War combat related duties. Department of Veterans Affairs officials have
processed 183,249 claims for medical care, compensation, and pension, determining
that for 159,238 veterans their injuries and illnesses are service connected,
caused by Gulf War exposures and injuries. Consequently they have been
awarded lifetime medical care, compensation, and pensions based on the
extent of their medical problems.
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- The VA still has claims from 23,612 individuals pending
while they have denied benefits to 24,011 veterans.
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- SINCE THE CESSATION OF GULF WAR HOSTILITIES IN 1991;
AN ADDITIONAL 8013 VETERANS HAVE DIED FROM SERVICE CONNECTED INJURIES AND
EXPOSURES INCURRED DURING OPERATION DESERT SHIELD AND OPERATION DESERT
STORM.
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- The implications of this official report are staggering!
As of May 2002, the Gulf War casualties include 8306 veterans dead and
159705 veterans injured or ill as a consequence of wartime service to our
nation. The official May 2002 Department of Veteran Affairs report classifies
168011 individuals as "disabled veterans". That reflects a staggering
casualty rate of 29.3% for combat related duties between 1990 and 1991.
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- We still know that many sick veterans have not submitted
claims. We also know that some veterans have received disability benefits
directly from the military. Thus the actual casualty rate from combat during
1990-1991 is probably higher than the 29.3% rate the new VA report verifies.
However, combat activities did not stop in 1991. Therefore, since August
1991 a cumulative total of 1,127,458 individuals have been deployed to
the Gulf with 851480 veterans now eligible for veterans benefits.
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- Consequently the VA officially recognizes in the May
2002 report that a total of 262,586 individuals are "disabled veterans"
due to duty in the Gulf and that 10,617 veterans have died of combat related
injuries or illnesses since the initiation of the Gulf War during August
1990. That gives us a verified casualty rate of 30.8%. If we are to initiate
Gulf War II we had better be ready for the possible casualties.
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- GIVEN THAT: (a) OUR MEDICAL SUPPORT SYSTEM IS INEFFECTIVE,
(b) OUR PERSONAL
- PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO DEFEND AGAINST POSSIBLE USE OF
WEAPONS OF MASS
- DESTRUCTION ARE DEFECTIVE, (c) COMBAT READINESS IS QUESTIONABLE,
AND (d) A
- VERIFIED IRAQI THREAT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN; THE CITIZENS
AND LEADERS OF OUR
- NATION WOULD BE CRAZY TO AUTHORIZE A PREEMPTIVE ATTACK
AGAINST IRAQ.
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-
- Traprock Peace Center
- 103A Keets Road, Woolman Hill
- Deerfield, MA 01342
-
- Phone 413 773-7427
- Fax 413 773-7507<mailto:traprock@crocker.com>
- contact by email
-
- Comment
- From Stewart Berg
- stew575221@scottsbluff.net
- 10-14-2
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- Dear Sirs:
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- I read the article, "Gulf War Casualties" by
Dr. Doug Rokke on your web site. The numbers quoted in the article are
quite impressive as laid out. They are sure to influence people that operate
on feelings alone. To the analytical thinker the article shows a lack of
both subject matter knowledge and adequate research. Since Dr. Rokke has
served in the Army he should know the facts. I can only assume from his
presentation of the information that he has his own agenda.
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- All Military Members who served honorably during specific
time frames are eligible for Veterans Benefits. These benefits are for
the most part are not casualty related and include such things as VA Home
Loan guarantees and educational benefits.
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- The military awards members a disability percentage such
as 20% disabled. This is only awarded to members who cannot continue to
serve. They are medically retired at that time. The benefit is that the
percentage of disability they received is the percent of their retired
pay that is not taxed. The disability if forfeited when the member receives
a disability VA. Every dollar VA is deducted from the military retired.
VA medical only covers service connected conditions. Members pay for any
other treatment and the rate is usually higher than going to your local
clinic.
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- The VA study Dr. Rokke uses was produced by the VA to
convince Congress and the Administration the government could not afford
to pay both VA disability benefits and full military retired pay for those
qualifying.
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- The VA report does not build a case to prove that the
given at the bottom of the article. VA is not representative of medical
support systems. The analysis of VA claims has no relationship to protective
gear issued to the services (it works the hazards for which it was designed).
The VA numbers do show military preparedness. (In 1990 we were told we
are not ready and expect 100,000 body bags in the first six months; we
had 293and it was over in 100 hours.) Last, the VA numbers cannot clearly
address the Iraqi threat.
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- I hope that my meager explanations, which are a matter
of public record and readily available, will help you as you address these
issues in the future. I encourage you to contact the Disabled American
Veterans, the American Legion, the Veterans Administration and the military
services directly for more information and clarification.
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- Sincerely,
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- Stewart P. Berg
- Sergeant Major, USA, (Ret)
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