Returned Soldiers

If the humanity of a nation can be measured by the way it looks after its soldiers returning from war, then the United States has been found seriously wanting.

With a military tradition that stretches back to the Civil War, it beggars belief that after each conflict, lessons have to be relearned about the mental trauma of war – not only how it affects soldiers and their families, but society as a whole.

In 2007, I travelled to the US to report for SBS television show Dateline on America’s forgotten soldiers – men and women deeply troubled by post-traumatic stress who were slipping through the cracks of a bureaucracy failing to provide the support they needed to adjust to life away from the battlefield.

Latest 2 of 31 comments

View all comments
 
  • Carol says:

    11:05am | 27/04/12

    Al @ 26/4, Just what do any of your puerile comments have to do with this issue? I’ll ask again what % of ADF personnell face gun fire? For that matter what % leave these shores? Just how does the minimum wage get into this discussion? I’d go so far… Read more »

  • Al says:

    06:29pm | 26/04/12

    Carol “Surely you both have missed the real point.” If everyone else is in step and you are not, you’re the individual that has missed the point. “These people made their own choice, that get paid for what they do.” So you would do it for the minimum wage would… Read more »

 

Facebook Recommendations

Read all about it

Punch live

Up to the minute Twitter chatter

ToryShepherd

@Cmdr_Hadfield @mattpturner Hope you have sweet views while you heal

Lucy Kippist

RT @HeatherSmithAU: Can living in another country change your life for the better? by @lucyjk on @newscomau f. moi http://t.co/E5Ma3kBut2

David Penberthy

@mooks83 sophisticated response. Think the kids parents saw it differently

David Penberthy

More class from 9's footy show, lampooning a baby that allegedly looks like Sterlo with a pic swiped from Facebook http://t.co/BGoYP6Pn68

Recent posts

The latest and greatest

The Punch is moving house

The Punch is moving house

Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…

Nosebleed Section

choice ringside rantings

From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go

Tim says:

They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]

From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go

Kel says:

If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]

Gentle jabs to the ribs

Superman needs saving

Superman needs saving

Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more

28 comments

Newsletter

Read all about it

Sign up to the free News.com.au newsletter