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Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Uncounted Casualties of War

Posted by Will Moredock on Sun, Feb 7, 2010 at 3:02 PM

We all know that one of the costs of war is the damage done to our soldiers who come home, whole on the outside, but severely damaged on the inside. The business of killing and being shot at by those who wish us dead is fundamentally at odds with what most of us have experienced or been taught. Is it any wonder that normal young men and women, taken from quiet, stable families and thrown into the hell of war often come back permanently damaged? Some can be treated with therapy and understanding. Others, like 23-year-old Miles Bigham of Columbia, S.C., were either too damaged or not diagnosed with depression or PTSD in time to same them. Bigham committed suicide last October. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the suicide rate for veterans between the ages of 18 and 29 has gone up 26 percent from 2005 to 2007.

Here is the story of how Bigham's family has dealt with their loss. See the whole account in The State newspaper at
www.thestate.com/local/story/1138263.html



Mills Bigham was a 19-year-old Marine in Iraq when he made his first kill.

While on a foot patrol, someone hurled a grenade at Bigham's squad. Bigham, who was at the point, turned and fired.

"I pulled the trigger quickly, twice. Pop ... pop," the Columbia Marine wrote in his journal.

Two bullets hit the attacker's chest, knocking him to the ground. Within minutes, he was dead. The grenade was a dud.

Bigham checked the attacker's identification.

He was 12.

Less than four years later on Oct. 19, Lance Cpl. Mills Palmer Bigham sat in his red Chevy Tahoe, put a .410-gauge shotgun to his forehead and pulled the trigger one last time.

He was 23.

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It's terrible. I must take issue with your particular turn of phrase, however. "taken from quiet, stable families and thrown into the hell of war" is a tad off the mark, as military service in the United States is not mandatory; still an all volunteer operation.

It is good of you to recognize their efforts and the ultimate price many pay. Thank you.

Posted by catswiththumbs on February 7, 2010 at 6:22 PM | Report this comment

I think the phrase he used is fine. There's nothing about the words "taken from quiet, stable families" that necessarily implies a draft. And people who join the military oftentimes join for the money, the GI bill, or other reason completely unrelated to a desire to kill our enemies...so being a volunteer won't make it easier to kill someone.

Posted by Jason Usry on February 7, 2010 at 6:47 PM | Report this comment

"so being a volunteer won't make it easier to kill someone."

Then it would be best not to volunteer, as a part of the required duties may or may not involve killing.

I know of no one in recent history who has been "taken" from their home to serve in the U.S. military - all who serve join and "give" their service freely.

Also, "quiet, stable families" is a bit of a sweeping generalization - I am unsure how many currently serving would describe their family life as "quiet and stable" or "raucous and stressful;" it is superfluous verbiage.

I am glad the author of the post took the time to recognize the trauma our men and women in uniform have to deal with; my only issue was with the imprecise language usage.

Posted by catswiththumbs on February 7, 2010 at 8:52 PM | Report this comment

"Bigham checked the attacker's identification. He was 12."

So, 12 year old Iraqi insurgents carry picture ID's on their person, but SC voters would be disenfranchised by having to show the same before entering the ballot box?

Posted by I P Yuengling on February 9, 2010 at 12:29 PM | Report this comment

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