Remember debt owed to our warriors Published Nov. 9, 2012 By Col. L. Josephine Almonte 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- What comes to mind when you think, "Veteran"? For some of us it's the stereotypical picture of a World War II or Korean War vet; old, cap-studded with (Veterans of Foreign Wars) campaign pins, saluting the flag during a July 4th parade. Or perhaps a Vietnam Vet, inevitably pictured with long hair, wearing an olive drab field jacket, protesting some injustice. Yet for a whole new generation of Americans, WWII, Korea and Vietnam are ancient history. For them, a veteran is a contemporary: a classmate or friend returning from a first, or fourth, deployment to the Middle East. There is broad support across the nation for these warriors, and even if they are not all celebrated as heroes, they are at least deeply respected. But Americans have a rather short attention span, and the nation is tired of war. Triage was invented in World War I to process effectively the huge numbers of battle casualties. Large numbers of veterans returned home with injuries that prompted the development of rehabilitation programs that became models for industrial accidents. Now, with a decadelong experience at war, medical advances have transformed a 60 percent or 80 percent survival rate to one where 95 percent of wounded soldiers reaching care in the first hour return home to their families. And therein lies the rub. Just as in WWI, we have thousands of injured veterans coming home; only now to a civilian populace that is thankful for their return, but tired of the war. Some Americans may be disinclined to support the cost of the lifelong care that some of our veterans will require. Be a Citizen Airman. Our veterans, active and Reserve, came when called no matter what the consequence. Use your unique point of view and your ties to the community to help our civilian counterparts remember the debt that is owed to our warriors. Whom do you think of on Veterans Day? Check out past leadership commentaries below: PME: Does it ever end? Truly humbled: my transition from enlistee to Air Force officer Why Family Care Plans are important It's all about the people What is your excuse? A great year lived; a great year forward
