PTSD and NPR follow up: investigative reporting's results

This morning on NPR reported on an update on a report by Daniel Zwerdling made earlier this week.  In the earlier report, beautifully diaried here, and first diaried on dailykos here, shows us the potential impact of real reporting -- that exposing errors, misdeeds, crimes, or, in this case, a truly profound manner of failing to "support the troops" in a meaningful way by those in the military.

The underlying issue was not simply the dearth of timely intervention for those with PTSD returning from Iraq or Afghanistan (at Fort Carson, although the original story implied that there may well be more widespread problems), but outright obstruction by their superiors.

Among those hearing Zwerdling's original report were US Senators Barbara Boxer(D-CA), Barack Obama(D-IL), and Christopher Bond (R-MO), who made a joint request for an investigation by the DoD.  A top Pentagon official, the Assistant Secretary of Defense William Linkenwurter [sp?], was already on the case.

The trio of Senators said the quotes by lower level superiors suggesting that those claiming PTSD were "faking it" in order to avoid returning to Iraq, were "of grave concern" to them.  The Asst. Sec of Defense had heard the story himself, and had already started an inquiry.

He said, "What I heard concerned me, it really truly concerned me.  I have spoken with Lieutenant General Kevin Kylee [sp?] who is the Surgeon General of the United States Army, and I have asked him, and requested that he look very carefully into this situation at Fort Carson."

The Senators included in their letter their belief that soldiers at all military bases "deserve timely access to quality treatment with the full support of the entire chain of command of the military."

The light has been shined on this dark place.  Let's hope that an internal investigation doesn't end in sweeping it all under the rug.

Full letter from the Senators here.  

Will follow with more updates.  Gotta go see a patient myself.

•  Thank you!

  I heard this too and was so happy to hear that something was finally being done about this terrible problem.

  by jetskreemr on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 06:52:57 AM PDT

•  Audio of story here on NPR Site

  http://www.npr.org/...

  by jetskreemr on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 06:56:09 AM PDT

•  timely follow-up

  Thanks so much for the follow up and links, vome. I think this NPR investigative story really had an impact on spreading knowledge of PTSD.

  My husband is a Vietnam Vet with PTSD, and he has befriended some of the Iraq and Afghanistan War vets in our little town. Many of these men and women are seriously disturbed from their experience and need some help. They need to know they will not be accused of faking it, so they can get the treatment - therapy - that they need to readjust to civilian life.

  by CalNM on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 06:59:52 AM PDT

  •  absolutely

    They need to know they will not be accused of faking it

    This seems to be one of the biggest problems.  The "I didn't have that problem, what's wrong with you?" Their attitude sucks, and certainly those without any psychologic training shouldn't be allowed to do this.  The big test, of course, will be whether these Senators and the public will have effective follow up as to whether anything gets done -- at Fort Carson and other places.  

    by vome minnesota on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 07:38:26 AM PDT

•  Zwerdling is amazingly effective

  A couple of years ago he broke story on DHS using attack dogs on detained immigrants. Within days of its broadcast the Department announced it was halting the practice.

  He is so thorough that there is never even an attempt to claim media bias.

  by Elwood Dowd on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 07:09:42 AM PDT

  •  Kudos to NPR for this report and the follow-up,

    and I haven't felt like giving them kudos in quite a while.

    by feelingsickinMN on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 07:34:49 AM PDT

•  maybe some good will finally come to active duty

  sufferers of PTSD instead of the fuck them over and then kick them out with bad paper (discharges) so they can't get VA help ot benefits, this has been going on for far to long, since at least Nam if not longer and so far this war has not been treating them any better

  How do I know this, I have the "T shirt" for this ride and it wasn't an E ticket at Disneyland either

  by testvet6778 on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 07:29:22 AM PDT

•  Our own ilona said she is supposed to be on

  Air America Phoenix this Sunday, 11 AM, AZ time. More details in her diary:

  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  You can listen to the show here on Sunday:

  http://www.1480kphx.com/

  by operculum on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 08:13:09 AM PDT

  •  My bad... she is TAPING on Sunday...

    program to be broadcast at a later time.

    by operculum on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 10:16:44 AM PDT

•  I'll be damned

  surprised if anything of significance comes of it. The military has a way of blaming the lowest guy in the chain they can dump it on. And, Congress just goes along.

  by RustyBrown on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 08:47:25 AM PDT

  •  I'm not holding my breath, but

    if the 3 Senators and the public can keep that fire under their collective butts lit, maybe there's hope.  But I agree.  The sergeants in the original piece will probably be the ones to get it.

    by vome minnesota on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 09:08:27 AM PDT