. . .a recurring theme
Judge Sol Wachtler's reflections on Memorial Day in 2007, ""When the Scars of Battle Haven't Healed," are as relevant this Memorial Day as they were three years ago when they first appeared on MIWatch. Wachtler describes Memorial Day from the lens of a prison hospital in 1994 filled mostly with Vietnam vets, but where he was also receiving treatment. Most of the Vietnam vets still wore the signs of battle in Southeast Asia, as well as at home where substance abuse, homelessness, and the recurring symptoms of PTSD continued to haunt their broken lives. Although traumatic battle scars were first identified during World War I, during the Vietnam era they were brought to public attention during congressional hearings. Our leaders took insufficient notice.
Today, while the United States wages two wars, there is no reason our nation should have been ill-prepared for the ramifications of war. Sadly, we have had to rush programs quickly to address PTSD, depression, substance use, suicide, family breakup, and homelessness that follows without vigorous, persistent and respectful attention to the mental health crisis in the military.
Wachtler's essay is a reminder of that toll.
Today, as we have before, MIWatch encourages readers to read, or to re-read, Wachtler's moving and memorable piece.
