Another soldier turns against the war

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15752580&BRD=2212&PAG=461&dept_id=465812&rfi=6

Almost killed, a new view of the war
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM
The Associated Press

(snip)

Knowles, a tank gunner, just barely got out alive.

On May 4, 2004, he was riding in an M1 Abrams tank that was ambushed. A rocket-propelled grenade hit the top of the tank. Since the hatch was open, Knowles was hit with shrapnel that entered his back and went out his shoulder. His helmet was also blown off.

As he waited for a medical helicopter, he could feel himself going into shock; he thought about his German-born wife and their infant daughter. Doctors later told him that fragments had come within 1 millimeter of his heart and 2 millimeters of his lung. But he would be OK.

Knowles left the service in October 2004. He suffers from occasional shoulder pain but otherwise has a normal life. He's now a train conductor for Norfolk Southern. He has since come to oppose the war. "After seeing friends die and almost dying myself, I think American soldiers are, I wouldn't say dying for nothing, but it's needless and I think we need to bring everybody home."

...more...

[Pachamama]

1. I bet the number of soldiers opposed to this war are astounding! I hope

more brave soldiers like Knowles come forward and speak out...I wish the countless wounded and maimed at the various Vet Hospitals and those that have finally gone home start to be seen publicly speaking out against a war that should never have begun.

[Divernan]

2. I think many soldiers who have been severely wounded/maimed cannot

bear the additional psychological pain of facing the fact that they died for Bush's lies and the blood-soaked profits of Cheney's corporate cronies. About the only way to bear losing all your hopes and dreams of a normal life is to believe you made a sacrifice for a noble cause. I saw this dramatized on an episode of ER, where a severly scarred, wounded vet told the doctors, we gave a lot of people freedom. Over time, as they adjust to their drastically altered lives, if they CAN face the reality of the Iraq War, I think they will be very strong and effective advocates against political and corporate warmongers.

They need a very high level of medical and psychological support and care. I hope the Congress can be shamed into beefing up the VA programs, but it hasn't happened yet.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. The GOP has no shame. They'll underfund our vets every chance they get but

of course they'll pass tax cuts for themselves and all their rich cronies.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. I'm glad more are speaking out