Which Way, L.A.?
The Soldiers Who Are Making It Home
The ultimate medical cost for Iraq and Afghan war veterans may run to $900 billion. Why so high and unpredictable? We hear about the financial and human consequences.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readThe ultimate medical cost for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may range between $600 and $900 billion. Why so high and so unpredictable? Combat lasted much longer than the government ever expected, and medical science has been able to treat wounded soldiers who would have died during previous conflicts. We hear about the financial and human consequences. Also, Congress presses for missing war records, and Arlington National Cemetery wants to expand, but there’s controversy. Would providing space for future casualties destroy a historic, surrounding environment?
Banner image: US Marine Corps
In this episode
3 storiesCongress Presses for Missing War Records
The history of wars and the benefits for those who fight them depend on field records: after-action write-ups, intelligence reports and day to day accounts of what happened. Now Congressmen of both parties want Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to explain why so many are missing.
Read the story7 minThe Soldiers Who Are Making It Home
On Memorial Day, Americans honor those who have died serving their country, but what about those who've survived? The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have the lowest casualty rates of all American conflicts. More than 95% of the wounded are coming home.
Read the story31 minArlington National Cemetery Is Filling Up
Arlington National Cemetery goes back to the Revolution. Four million people visit it each year. A few years ago, there was a scandal involving unmarked or mismarked graves, and urns unearthed and dumped in a dirt pile. That's been resolved and digitized records now allow visitors to look up grave sites on-line.
Read the story9 min
