Military Releases High Casualty Figures

Department Of Defense's Latest Numbers: 31,590 Troops Wounded On Battle Field

(CBS)  CBS News investigative producer Pia Malbran wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

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The Department of Defense has released its latest American military casualty numbers for those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the figures reveal non-fatal casualties that go well beyond the more than 4,000 U.S. troops who have died so far.

As of April 5, a total of 36,082 members of the U.S. military have been wounded in action and killed in Iraq, since the beginning of the war in March 2003, and in Afghanistan, where the war there began in October 2001. The 36,082 number breaks down to 4,492 deaths and 31,590 wounded. According to the same DoD "casualty" counts, an additional 38,631 U.S. military personnel have also been removed from the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan for "non-hostile-related medical air transports."

"That's a tremendous number," said Paul Sullivan, the executive director of the advocate group Veterans for Common Sense, who believes these latest figures paint a more realistic picture of the true cost of the Iraq and Afghan wars. He is concerned troop casualties, including those who have been wounded, killed and medically transported, is now nearing 75,000.

Defense Department spokesperson Cynthia Smith, however, told CBS News the numbers must be carefully interpreted. Smith said the 38,631 "non-hostile-related medical air transports" are not casualties of war even though they are listed in the DoD's "casualty" documents because, she says, they were for "injuries not related to service, they were unrelated to combat."

Smith described the "non-hostile-related" injuries as the types that "could happen to any civilian on the street."

"Our main focus is severe trauma care in the theater," she said. For example, "if a woman needs her annual check up, we don't have the capability of doing that [on the ground in Iraq] so we would air transport her out." According to Smith, the 36,082 tally is a more "accurate" reflection how many military service men and women have been fatal and non-fatal casualties in connection to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as of April 5.

Sullivan points out that the military's casualty reports also exclude the "enormous number [of new veterans] flooding the VA," often with medical problems developed due to the war. A January report by the Department of Veterans Affairs showed 299,585 veterans who recently served in the Middle East had been treated by the VA since 2002. Forty percent (120,049) of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who sought care from the VA did so for mental health disorders.

[ranger1948]

If they receive an injury while on active duty that was not there when they enlisted and are medicaly discharged for this condition , then they are entitled to be evaluated bby the va and then it is determined if compensation is warranted. I was exposed to agent orange in Vietnam, became diabetic with neuropathy and eventually developed stage I renal kidney failure. I was told at that point i was 100% disabled and should no longer try to work as the strain would cause me to die very soon. It was ironic that i received my 100% disability rating th same month i finished my college degree.

[skyk-2009]

If they receive an injury while on active duty that was not there when they enlisted and are medicaly discharged for this condition , then they are entitled to be evaluated bby the va and then it is determined if compensation is warranted. I was exposed to agent orange in Vietnam, became diabetic with neuropathy and eventually developed stage I renal kidney failure. I was told at that point i was 100% disabled and should no longer try to work as the strain would cause me to die very soon. It was ironic that i received my 100% disability rating th same month i finished my college degree.




Posted by ranger1948 at 06:48 AM : Apr 14, 2008
+ report abuse

Your statement is true in SOME cases but with THIS Administration and THIS Defense Department, I sincerely doubt it. My thoughts is that they are USING this as a dumping ground for Troops who have been harmed in Combat and can be shifted to these rolls. Regardless those ARE people who we must now make allowances in a situation where we have RECORD Deficits and RECORD Debt hanging over us.

[bgwinnett]

Thank God god for more advanced battle field medicine and surgery techniques since the Vietnam War, otherwise there would a more more than 4000 dead.

[pattipace7]

How can our government propose to give amnesty to 20 million low-wage earning illegals, all of whom will then be eligible for free government welfare programs, when they can not help just a few hundred thousand Veterans, many who just need proper medical care or are truly homeless, or unemployed? While our troops are bravely fighting for freedom in the Middle East, at home it appears freedom is free for illegals as they invade our great Nation. The Democrats advocating for amnesty are saying that citizenship for illegals will cost them each a $5,000 dollar fee. In reality what these politicians are saying; is that the lives of the brave heroes we lost in this war on terror are each only worth five thousand dollars?

I watched Senator Kennedy (D-Mass) on C-Span this past week showing on his charts how 7 million US citizens are presently unemployed. He also showed how presently there are only 4 million jobs available in the United States. How can Democrats push for the amnesty of 20 million illegal aliens, while providing us with the best evidence against it? Now even if the four million jobs available in the US are all jobs American don%u2019t want to do, and so we then give amnesty to 20 million low wage earning illegals to fill up these 4 million available jobs, what about the 7 million unemployed Americans and the other 16 million (then) naturalized citizens?? Amnesty would make an already bad situation much worst.

[babooph]

If we had a real news agency & real journalists,this would have been shown all along-our propagandists clean it up nicely for our lowgrade cowardly failed leaders-in other nations journlists are murdered at a regular rate. Our propgandists are VERY safe.

[prinzowhales]

The last paragraph suggests that around 120,000 have sought VA help for mental health problems...that is the "catch all" for symptoms that doen''t fit into the established categories. Psychological problems have their basis in real biochemical and/or physiological changes.

[parrot123-2009]

Almost 75000 is a really high crazy number - why is this now coming out ? I thought besides the dead, we''ve been told not to worry about more casualties. Just SAD !

[parrot123-2009]

How can Democrats push for the amnesty of 20 million illegal aliens, while providing us with the best evidence against it? Now even if the four million jobs available in the US are all jobs American don%u2019t want to do, and so we then give amnesty to 20 million low wage earning illegals to fill up these 4 million available jobs, what about the 7 million unemployed Americans and the other 16 million (then) naturalized citizens?? Amnesty would make an already bad situation much worst.
Posted by pattipace7 at 08:03 AM : Apr 14, 2008

You already incorrectly broke this down along party lines instead of understanding what the scope of the problem really is - these illegals are already here and it''ll cost much more than we can afford or need to spend to get them out, than to prevent others from coming in and absolving those already here through programs that allow growth ..... You site the low number of jobs, that''s a big responsibility of government, providing the necessary support and encouraging job production - we''ve had an unprecedented number of American jobs gone overseas and this is just in the last 7years (all under Repugs) ..... You''d recall that things have also never been this bad until Dumbya. From your posting, are you implying that the Repugs in support of this amnesty (Huckstar, McSame e.t.c) are now dems ??? Besides, this article is about the casualties from a war of Choice - i hope these clears up any cobwebs for you. Cheers!

[hungry1968]

According to the same DoD "casualty" counts, an additional 38,631 U.S. military personnel have also been removed from the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan for "non-hostile-related medical air transports."




Is this the accounting where if they''re shot from the "front" it''s a "hostile action, and if it''s from the back it''s not "battle related"?

[joyous88]

the democrats are not pushing for amnesty you liar

parrot is just that a right wing tool spouting out

the republicon spin machines Lies.

get real loser

no one wants you guns

no one wants to make your kid gay

no one wants to force you to have an abortion

republicon lies , that is how you poor fools elected

the criminal in the white house

mcbushcain four more years of criminal government

[ramos937]

The war in Iraq and illegal immigration are two seperate and distinct issues. There is no relationship whatsover.

It comes down to the American electorate. Vote for McCain and we continue to pay this terrible price for generations to come. Vote for the Democratic nominee, and we end the Iraq nightmare within 24 months by withdrawing. The Iraqis will then have to sink or swim on their own. As it should be.

[swwils]

I already knew that their are many troops coming home messed up physically,and or mentally.I go to the VA hospital myself for treatment,and I see many of our military from this war.They show the figures of the dead coalition forces,but not the other casualties of this war.One dead soldier( I say soldier because I was in the Army)this means any branch,is too many.We do have a purpose other than oil for being in Iraq,and I understand this.We wouldn''t need to suffer their,or the families here, if we lived in a perfect world,but we don''t.

[forthepeopl1]

Sullivan points out that the military''s causality reports also exclude the "enormous number [of new veterans] flooding the VA," often with medical problems developed due to the war. A January report by the Department of Veterans Affairs showed 299,585 veterans who recently served in the Middle East had been treated by the VA since 2002. Forty percent (120,049) of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who sought care from the VA did so for mental health disorders.

but 300,000 thousend dont count..right bush thats 300,000 americans, now have a mental disability..

bush need to be put right on the front line

[mjr123451]

Embarrassing, totally embarrassing.

[lochlan-2009]

"He is concerned troop casualties, including those who have been wounded, killed and medically transported, is now nearing 75,000."

Yeah, but Bush/Cheney and friend war profiteers made billions and billions and billions of $$$$$$!!!!

Was it worth it?

I guess that depends on who you''re asking.

[antoniof123]

What a mess and it is only going to get worst because the neo con party is so determined to prove that they are the deciders.

I hope they enjoy what little time they have left.

The economy, failed by neo cons.
Health care, failed by neo cons.
Iraq, Falied by neo cons.

And the list goes on and on.

What a mess the master race made of things.

[fornicario]

So, with these figures, does that mean that instead of lining the pockets of BushCheneyCo, can we actually start spending this money on the soldiers that we sent into this war? or is it that one dollar is worth more than one American soldier''s life?

[johnens]

how many ground troops are there...75000 out of how many? Wow, that''s about half of the force over there getting wounded or killed...

terrible...

[inventagod]

so, the surge is working?

Bu$h must believe the US public is really stupid...

and they are.

[grim56z]

The Coalition is complacent and mistaken about this war. A move against Al Mazri would prevent a massive slaughter of American Soldiers. Iraq is not a fabled fairy tale on a post card. The defense of Iraq requires quick, decisive attacks to reduce Al Qada Iraq''s numbers. Bin Laden has placed his every belief in Al Mazri for victory.

[klifton2-2009]

The cost of misdeeds, lies, and deceptions by Bush and company. What is more aggravating is the fact that Bush and Cheney were draft dodgers, meaning COWARDS when they could have served their country. One got creative the other had better things to do! These are the sort of men the American public in all its wisdom put into power. The fact that they are still unaccountable and impeached is an eighth wonder of the world.

[blackwater66-2009]

Brothers everywhere - raise your hands into the air
We''re warriors, warriors of the world
Like thunder from the sky - sworn to fight and die
We''re warriors, warriors of the world

God Bless them and their love ones for their service in these trying times !!!

[bm6005]

God Bless the troops, God Da mn this administration!!!

[parrot123-2009]

the democrats are not pushing for amnesty you liar

parrot is just that a right wing tool spouting out

the republicon spin machines Lies.

get real loser

no one wants you guns

no one wants to make your kid gay

no one wants to force you to have an abortion

republicon lies , that is how you poor fools elected

the criminal in the white house

mcbushcain four more years of criminal government
Posted by joyous88 at 09:52 AM : Apr 14, 2008

I think you mean ''Pattipace7'' - not parrot .... try and re-read some of these posts. Cheers!

[huanaco]

GENTLEMEN ALL : I WOULD LIKE TO CRY VERY LOUDLY FOR ALL THIS NUMBERS PUBLISHED IN THE REPORT. ARE WE STUPID TO KEEP ON WATCHING THIS SLAUGTHER WITHOUT FORGETTING THE CIVILIANS KILLED TOO ? IMPEACHMENT IS THE TOOL TO REMOVE THIS MORON IN THE WHITE HOUSE. FOR MUCH LESS THEY DID IT TO CLINTON ( I MEAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY )AND HIS FAULT WAS TO BE A WOMANIZER. NOW, WHAT IS A BIGGER CRIME , TO KILL HUNDREDS, THOUNSANDS OR TO SMELL SOME ELSE PANTIES ? I LET THE CHOICE TO YOU GENTLEMEN ALL.

[fan-of-ann]

I think the number is terrible, but there is another number, an elephant in the room that everyone tiptoes around: How many Iraqi dead? Not one Iraqi invaded us. Not one planned or participated in 9/11. Many estimates put the number of Iraqi civilians who have been killed since the invasion at over one million. Some say way over, and some estimates are lower. I dont mind if you dispute the number...I just want one of these 24-hour news services to MENTION the Iraqi dead. They are too busy praising themselves for having the best team on television...and hundreds of thousands of maimed and killed Iraqis are never mentioned in our news. But the media plays a thousand times the clip of Rev. Wright saying, God *** America. God sent Jesus 2000 years ago to tell us Blessed are the peacemakers for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Where do the pre-emptive strikers go? Where are the peacemakers?

[armydog2]

These numbers are for those who were physically wounded. and unfortunately killed. They are not counting the numbers who suffer from ptsd and the debilitating effects of TBI''s which tend to go unnoticed in most cases. these are the battle wounds with no outward signs sometimes for several months or even years. They have to be counted too because both of these disabilities can ruin the rest of their lives.

[forthepeopl1]

SO EVERONE PLEASE CALL ALL THE TV STATIONS AND ASK THEM WHY THEY ARE NOT TELLING ALL AMERICA THAT WE HAVE 374,298 AMERICANS DEAD,HURT,MAINED AND MENALY INCAPABLE OF EVER WORKING AGAIN.

THATS 374,298 AMERICANS ALL THEY SAY IS 4492 DEAD AND 38631 HURT..LETS TELL THE TRUTH SO CALL THEM AND TELL THEM TO SAY THE TRUTH..

MAYBE THEY WILL SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY HIGH NUMBER.

[forthepeopl1]

LISTEN IF THEY ( CONGRESS) WOULD DO THERE JOBS WE WOULDN''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''T BE IN THIS MESS.

ANYONE THAT TOOK OUT LOANS FROM 2000 TO 2007
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THERE CREDIT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THIS MESS MOST HAVE LOST THEIR GOOD RATING.


THEY NEED TO COME OUT AND TELL ALL MORTGAGE COMPANYS

TO RE-FI EVERYONE NOW. NO EXCEPTION IF THEY HAVE A
MORTGAGE THAN TAKE 60% OFF THE BALLANCE AND RE-FI THEM AT 1 PERCENT OVER PRIME AND STOP ALL THE BLEEDING FOR ONCE..THAT IS ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE, SIMPLE,FAST,AND IT WOULD STOP ALL FORCLOSEINGS,BURNINGS OF HOMES,AND STOP 10''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''S OF MILLIONS FROM BEING ON THE STREET..

THIS IS MORE INPORTANT, THAN THIS ***.

OR HOW ABOUT REPORTING THAT WE THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THIS FROM CLINTON AND MCCAIN. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE 374,298 AMERICANS DEAD,HURT,MAIMED IN THIS WAR YOU SUPPOTED FROM THE START..HOW ABOUT ASKING THEM THIS


374,298, 374,298, 374,298 AMERICANS

[usbrit-2009]

374,298, 374,298, 374,298 AMERICANS

Posted by forthepeopl1

After the latest draw down, there will only be 140,000 troops left, so in 5 years we''ve "gone through" (horrible expression I know) 2.5 times the number of troops one way or another than we need on the ground now. Is it just me or is that incredible?

I wonder what the death toll would be with Viet-Nam era medicine would be? My guess, at least double what it is now.

During Great Britain''s less than sensible pieces of Empire building, Iraq in the ''30''s, no less than Winston Churchill called the area "an ungrateful tornado." Hasn''t changed much has it?

[ponco seno]

36,082 members of the U.S. military have been wounded in action and killed.


WOW....

[inventagod]

''He is concerned troop casualties, including those who have been wounded, killed and medically transported, is now nearing 75,000.''

OK, that''s for 5 years of Bu$hwar.

McCain''s number will be 1,400,000 when 100 years rolls around...

[givemeabr8]

They also don''t count the ones that are injured and flown out of country and then die in the total.

[spotchester]

Which tragedy is worse: 9/11 or our response to it?

[anticorp47]

Who do they think they''re fooling with all these spooled up numbers. In Viet Nam, I would look at daily casualty reports and nowhere in the news, which was limited, would I see anything like the kia, mia, or wia figures that I had transmitted back to headquarters.
It''s a shame that the greediest are running this country in all of its aspects. Let me put up just a few examples:
War
housing
taxation
outsourcing
honesty
integrity
finance
torture

I could go on this all day and still not be able to show disappointed I am in the way this country lies to its citizenry at any time.
What is the latest tale from our fearless leader?
How about We might be in a resesion or how about the great care that our vets are getting when they do return. FTA

[inventagod]

Oh, great - more guys on the corner with signs...

[cattlekate]

Someone old like me help me with this -

So about thirty years ago, Nam vets were saying Agent Orange cause all sorts of birth defects, sickness and cancers.

They were pooh-poohed away.

Denial, denial denial.

And many of them died in the denial process.

Then, slowly, the Vet Administration acknowledgesd "some" sicknesses, cancers and birth defects were indeed a result of Agent Orange.

So my question is - how many decades will it take for the Vet Administration to acknowledge depleted uranium is causing cancers and birth defects?

And how long will it take for these soldiers and marines to have their names on the casualty lists?

[joepolitico]

Is one injury or death in a war built on lies too great a loss, or are 374,298?

Our political leaders appointed, designated, and elected seem to believe and think these are acceptable numbers. They don%u2019t? Then stop making excuses and bring our troops home now. Oh, this is a complicated matter is it?

While we may not be able to end every conflict faster, we should allow our law makers and leaders to experience firsthand all the many wonderful, positive benefits and splendor war cause and create by having it made law they all must serve on the frontline for a minimum of 6 months.

How about have an amendment added to the Constitution which mandates when the number of injured and dead exceed 375,000, then immediately and without fail or exception shall every person in a political position at the state or federal level have all of their children over the age of 18 immediately cease their current standing and be required to serve on the frontline in the military or civilian sector for a minimum amount of time to be no less than, equal or greater to the amount of time of the military member who has spent the longest amount of time in harm%u2019s way.

Where upon a appointed, designated, or elected political leaders has no children, then they will fall under the same circumstances and be immediately sent to the frontlines to support the existing conflict they so willingly send our troops to address.

It may not be an ideal solution, but it sure is a great start.

[watcher269-2009]

Oh, great - more guys on the corner with signs...

Posted by Inventagod

---------------------------

It''s called Freedom of Speech - but if the Republicans get back in office like the first 6 years of Bushit - there will be no Free Speech anymore!

Just like your stupid comment here - Free Speech - although I''d like to see you in Cuba getting waterboarded for that stupid comment!

I believe that if Republicans want waterboarding - I say we waterboard every single one of them.

[aldee41]

It would have been so much cheaper in terms of money had we just bought oil rather than follow King George the Usurper''s plan to steal it from Iraq. The loss of life and crippling injury are a Stupidity Surcharge added to the cost. We also have not reaped any oil from this blundering scheme. Come November...

[tree51]

anticorp47. Question. I too noticed a time delay or buffering of casualty reports in RVN such as, the casualties from a truck convoy ambush not being reported all on one day but over a period of weeks.
Unfortunately I no longer have the details so my recall of the incident would only be classified as anecdotal.

[danofwar]

Go to Rense.com for insightful blogs and news releases.
DOD/US imputes them as a threat.
There is a great depiction of the team responsible for weapons of the masses destruction. WMD...

[venkata4--2008]

Simply saying 31,000 plus injured. How many are permanently in living vegetable state with brain injuries, have become completely blind, lost all the limbs.

Oh, well does not matter as long as Halliburton is making 2 billions net profit per quarter and when 30 year cheap crude oil supply agreement is signed with big oil companies.

[ah64mtp]

Yea, Yea, Yea,... Five pages of mostly sniviling twits who want us to leave Iraq, the central focus of AlQuida, and send them to an armpit called Darfur under the Usless Nations "Leadership." I want a number...How many will die in Darfur before you leave them to fend for themselves.

For Clinton, the number was 18 dead and 72 wounded before he ran like a ***-slapped ***. If you can''t pull the trigger and stay in the fight until every one of the *** are dead or captured, you have no business being in a leadership position as Commander in Chief. Oh, BTW one of thos 18 dead was a classmate of mine in flight school at Ft Rucker.