20,000 vets' brain injuries not listed in Pentagon tally

clipped from www.usatoday.com At least 20,000 U.S. troops who were not classified as wounded during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have been found with signs of brain injuries, according to military and veterans records compiled by USA TODAY. The data, provided by the Army, Navy and Department of Veterans Affairs, show that about five times as many troops sustained brain trauma as the 4,471 officially listed by the Pentagon through Sept. 30. These cases also are not reflected in the Pentagon's official tally of wounded, which stands at 30,327. Fort Hood, Texas, home of the 4th Infantry Division, which returned from a second Iraq combat tour late last year. At least 2,700 soldiers suffered a combat brain injury Fort Carson, Colo., where more than 2,100 soldiers screened were found to have suffered a brain injury Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where 1,737 Marines were found to have suffered a brain injury More than 150,000 troops may have suffered head injuries in combat Marine didn't recognize signs of brain injury

Homeless Vets on Rise

We should be ashamed of ourselves.

clipped from blogs.wsj.com More evidence shows that U.S. soldiers are falling through the cracks when they get back home. Military veterans are also more likely than others to become homeless. Four hundred vets who served in Afghanistan or Iraq are are now homeless, the New York Times, Associated Press and others reports. Veterans account for more than 25% of the homeless in the U.S., even though they are less than 10% of the general population, according to a report released today by the non-profit group, the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The figures come from Veterans Affairs and Census Bureau databases. To stem the tide, the Alliance to End Homelessness suggests making available 20,000 housing vouchers for vets (to help with living costs) plus 5,000 housing units over 5 years. Post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries are two possible factors that contribute to homelessness.