4,000 U.S. Non-Combat Evacuations in Iraq

Published on Saturday, October 4, 2003 by UPI
by Mark Benjamin

WASHINGTON -- Nearly 4,000 U.S. troops have been medically evacuated from Operation Iraqi Freedom for non-combat reasons -- with more than one in five of those for psychiatric or neurological problems, according to Pentagon data.

A total of 3,915 evacuations from the region have been for non-combat medical problems. A combination of what the Pentagon is calling evacuations for "psychiatric" and "neurological" problems make up 22 percent of the total, with 478 and 387 evacuations, respectively.

Another 544 evacuations have been for "general surgery," 290 for gynecological reasons and 118 for orthopedic problems.

Army Surgeon General spokeswoman Virginia Stephanakis, who supplied the data, said on Friday that she had few details, but that the Pentagon had not detected any "red flags" indicating troubling or unexpected health patterns.

Some of the evacuations were for accidental injuries, she said, adding that orthopedic, or bone, problems might reflect vehicle accidents.


:wtf:
the Pentagon had not detected any "red flags" indicating troubling or unexpected health patterns.
Is this normal???? What the hell is going on? Exposure to depleted uranium perhaps?

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1004-07.htm

I'm very concerned. What will they face when they come back to America? will they be OK?...Although I disagree with this war, we have to find a way so that they can have a better assimilation into society.

I am willing to bet the service hospitals are filling up. Will there be a blowback on this?

...to a military hospital in Germany and the nearby town where evacuated US troops were undergoing triage in a public school gymnasium. I fear the casualty numbers are much, much higher than we fear.

England also as it is in papers. What is wrong with this country? Families would like to see this but I guess Bush does not like things like this, Right?He has always turned his back after he has made a mess of things. The endless cheerleader of his own third rateness, if that is a word.

its penatgon policy not to report non combat injuries.

and THAT is precisely the problem.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=125&topic_id=538