August 29, 2007 - The first of a two-panel newspaper cartoon shows a stocky, elderly man waving an American flag. On the front of his T-shirt are the words “Support Our Troops.” In the second panel, on the back of the same T-shirt are the questions “Veterans? What veterans?” Sadly, too many of us support the troops, but forget about them once they come home.

As of Aug. 18, 3,707 American soldiers had been killed in Iraq. Multiples of that number are injured for every fatality. The official count of wounded by the Department of Defense is 27,409 but that number is probably higher when we count those injured in service-related accidents and disease. It also does not include the toll taken by post-combat suicides. A report by the Associated Press on Aug. 20 reveals that Army personnel committed suicide last year at the highest rate in 26 years.

Wounds of our soldiers include losses of arms, legs, faces. They often suffer damage to their brains from the impact of the improvised explosive devices used so often in this conflict. Others come home with unfamiliar diseases of the Middle East, such as leishmaniasis, a nasty infection transmitted by the bite of a sand flea. Many have health problems caused by radiation from depleted uranium weapons.

Of course, our country gives wounded warriors the best medical treatment possible, sparing no expense. Doesn’t it? We wish! Although most of us believe they are entitled to the best care a grateful nation can provide, they are not getting it. The VA has admitted that 33,858 more Iraq war vets showed up in the first three months of 2006 than were expected for the entire year. The shameful treatment of soldiers returning from Iraq came to public attention when reports of substandard conditions at Walter Reed Hospital hit the news. But the scandal at this once excellent facility is just the tip of the iceberg. Inadequate medical treatment for too many of our injured soldiers is the norm right now.

How can that be? You may well ask.

The Veterans Administration is badly under-funded. A former Republican National Committeeman presently heads the Department of Veterans Affairs and, together with VA political appointees, opposed increasing the funds needed for our wounded fighters’ health care. Waving the banner of lower taxes and smaller government, they testified that more money wasn’t needed, because the agency has increased “management efficiency.” That the VA is inefficient is disputed by the Government Accountability Office. The VA is quite efficient and its care conforms to the highest standards of medical services. It is a system that works.

Perhaps it works too well to suit those who would like to privatize it. Privatization would be profitable for those corporations that want to take over the VA’s mission of providing medical care and administering disability claims for veterans. Politicians who want to privatize every service government provides never give up, do they?

We should be ashamed that our political leaders look away from the myriad problems so many of our injured vets bring home with them from war. Disabilities, unemployment, homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder. The list is long.

“Support Our Troops” magnets on vehicles are everywhere. Sooner or later those troops become veterans. Veterans, especially those injured in body, mind and spirit, need all the support we can give them. We hope readers will offer assistance to the organizations that are working to provide services veterans need, services our government neglects to offer them. A good place to start would be Swords to Plowshares in San Francisco. Their phone number is (415) 252-4788. Or check them out online at www.swords-to-plowshares.org. They can also provide information about other such organizations.

Beth Grimes is a 37-year resident of Petaluma who formerly worked as an accountant. She is the co-founder of Advocates for Equality and a member of Veterans for Peace.