Compelling and disturbing analysis of war casualty figures in Monday’s edition of Slate. The upshot is that if you factor in such things as recent improvements in medical technology (battle wounds are fatal at a much lower rate than even 10 years ago), tactics (medical teams are now positioned much closer to the combat zone than ever before), and the number of troops deployed (Vietnam 1966: 385,000; Iraq 2004: 142,000), American soldiers are dying at almost the same rate in Iraq over the past year as in Vietnam in 1966.
“The casualty statistics make clear that our nation is involved in a war whose intensity on the ground matches that of previous American wars. Indeed, the proportional burden on the infantryman is at its highest level since World War I.”
This is just another piece of bad news that keeps filtering home from the warfront. While the Vietnam War took a number of years to turn sour in the hearts and minds of many Americans, the omnipresent 24/7 news cycle – which really became a mainstay during the first Gulf War, and now includes the Internet and its new universe of the blogosphere – has not until now had a protracted and deadly US occupation to sink its teeth into.
Is it just a matter of time before the calls to end the Iraq War become louder? Will elections, planned to take place next month under the shakiest of circumstances, do anything to bolster confidence in the Iraqi-led government both within Iraq and amongst worried observers in the US?
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - JR
In World War II, 30 percent of wounds proved deadly. In Korea, Vietnam, and the first Gulf War, this rate hovered between 24 percent and 25 percent. But due to better medical technology, doctrinal changes that push surgical teams closer to the front lines, and individual armor protection for soldiers, this rate has dropped to 10 percent for Operation Iraqi Freedom for all wounds.
Wow, just between Bush Sr. and Bush Jr., that rate dropped from 25% to 10%. What kind of a President could have presided over such a vast improvement in our military?
2 - andy marsh
Don't eve go there JR, I was in the navy the entire time your boy bill was in office, he didn't do a damn thing for the military!
3 - Eric Berlin
In an attempt to stay even-handed here, I'll say the following:
I think the decrease in mortality rates from battlefield wounds has much more to do with the general (and vast) improvements in medical technology over the past decade than with actual military improvements. Now, I'm someone who wishes Bill Clinton could have run for as many terms as he wished, but unless you want to go with the 'Clinton presided over the dot-com/high tech Golden Age' argument, I think it's difficult to politicize this particular element.
That being said, I do think that Clinton helped to modernize the military, and I believe it's been well established that improvements in weapons systems and fighting vehicles helped to contribute to the great successes of the war/invasion phases in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Finally, Andy, as a military man, what is your take on the current situation in Iraq, especially in light of this latest analysis of the situation on the ground?
Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com
4 - MCH
Here's what General Merrill "Tony" McPeak, Air Force Chief of Staff from 1990-94, had to say:
"There is one sense in which the parallel between Vietnam and Iraq is valid. The American people were told back then that to win the Cold War we had to win Vietnam. But we now know that Vietnam was not only a diversion from winning the Cold War, but probably delayed our winning it and made it cost more to win. Iraq is a diversion to the war on terror in exactly the same way Vietnam was a diversion to the Cold War."
General McPeak retired in 1994 after a 37 year career in the Air Force (1957-94). He served three tours in Vietnam, from 1968-70, as an F-100 Super Sabre tactical fighter pilot with the 37th and 31st Tactical Fighter Wings. McPeak flew 269 combat missions while "In-Country" in Vietnam in roles as an attack pilot and high-speed forward air controller.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/_/id/6593163?pageid
"Some gave all...all gave some" (VVA)
- MCH, Vietnam era vet
5 - Eric Berlin
MCH - Thanks for the outstanding quote from a distinguished American.
And, thanks for your service.
~ Eric B.
6 - andy marsh
I won't make any disparaging remarks toward a decorated war hero like Gen McPeak. He's allowed to have his opinion. It's wrong, but he's allowed to have it.
What the General failed to point out was the way the politicians went about fighting in Vietnam. I've heard it said by many Vietnam vets, that they never lost a battle, but they lost the war.
Let's hope that this group of politicians decides to win the war.
7 - Eric Berlin
Andy - What would you have the politicians do at this point in time? Send more troops, work on Europe or the UN harder for a foreign contingent, or simply Stay the Course for no matter how long it takes?
Not an easy question, I know...
8 - Z.Z.Bachman
Eric, compelling article.
We try to stay somewhat neutral on our site, but admit a bias creeps in every so often and I find myself shifting to one side or the other. Reading the comments from MCH and the quotes from Gen. Merill above should give one pause unless they are already intrenched in one point of view. Flexibility in thought is important.
There does seem to be a parallel here, and the wise listen to the lessons of history and adjust their plans while keep they focus on their objectives. My fear is that our leadership, on both sides of the aisle, will fail to be flexible enough to come together on the issues that really matter. Because both sides paint themselves into a corner, when flexibility in thinking is demanded, it will never appear on their radar screen until the damage is done.
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9 - Eric Berlin
I fear that one (of many) dangers in Iraq is an inflexibility in the actions and policy of the US government. Even Bush's strongest supporters would admit that fortitude and resoluteness are amongst his strongest traits. But the flip-side is an inability to change and adapt to shifting circumstances.
10 - Shark
Um, sorry Eric, but the Presidential election is over and Americans (especially Bush/right-wing Iraqi invasion supporters) DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IRAQ.
Okay? Please don't post your liberal negative reality checks and interfere with our blind, patriotic ignorance. 'Kay?
Good, 'cause when it comes to the "I" word (that Middle Eastern country we 'liberated') -- It's all over...
but the dying.
No debate. No cheering crowds. No hearts and minds.
Just memories of Abu Ghraib and an eternal conga line of American GIs with big bull's eye targets painted on their backs.
Iraq? Vietnam? Whaaa?
Tell it to the troops, um, I mean the "cannon fodder". They're apparently the only ones with any stake in this hellhole.
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"You break it -- You own it." --- Colin Powell to George Bush re. Iraq
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"...and how 'bout them football predictions of RJ's?"
11 - Eric Berlin
Shark ~
My apologies. Onward to the football picks!
~ Eric B.
12 - MCH
Eric B., hope you don't mind but am taking the liberty to remind your readers that today marks the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.
From Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan. 28, 1945, our soldiers engaged in the biggest land battle the United States was involved in during World War II. The battle was comprised of over 1.1 million men; 600,000 Americans, 500,000 Germans and 55,000 British. The event was also the costliest for us in terms of loss, as America sustained 81,000 casualties, including 19,000 killed in action and 23,500 taken prisoner. The Germans amassed 100,000 total casualties - killed, wounded and captured.
For six weeks the battles raged along the German-Belgian border, in sub-zero temperatures and two-feet of snow in the Ardennes Forest. The German thrust was 50-miles wide and 75-miles deep, creating a "bulge" back into Belgium and Luxembourg. Many American GIs were holed-up in frozen foxholes for 2-3 weeks without hot food - thousands lost toes and fingers to frostbite.
The doughboys were able to repel Hitler's last gasp, breaking the back of the Third Reich and forcing the Nazis into a flat-out retreat from Bastogne by Jan. 28, 1945.
We owe a debt of gratitude to these courageous men (and women) of action, who believed that the best way to "support" a war was to serve in that war. If you happen to know a WWII veteran, make sure you take a minute to give them a call and THANK them for the sacrifices they made to insure our liberties, including the freedom of speech.
And thanx to both Erics, for permitting me the use of your forum.
- MCH, Vietnam era vet
13 - Eric Berlin
MCH - I don't mind at all. I was hoping to do a post on this myself, but of course 30 other ideas and 40 other "critical" things I had to do came up in the interim.
I'm an avid history buff, and especially of the WWII era. I actually didn't know that the Battle of the Bulge was the "biggest" battle of the war for the US.
For anyone who has never seen it / read it: make a point of reading Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers or watch the 10-part HBO mini-series executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Both are great, but the mini-series, which is really like a 10-part movie, brings the reality, horror, and camaraderie of war out like nothing I have ever seen. It should really be mandatory viewing for students of a certain age.
Not to take a thing away from the vets of any other war, but the guys in Bastogne helped to repel -- pre WMDs -- the largest threat the modern world has ever known in the Nazi menace.
14 - MCH
Eric B.,
I actually live in the same town in central Montana where Stephen Ambrose resided half-time. Two of his children still live and work here.
I met him once at the Montana Historical Society Museum - he was leaving as I was entering. A genuinely humble, down-to-earth guy.
I write a column about local veterans for the city paper, and many of the WWII soldiers I've profiled got to know Ambrose pretty well before he passed away.
Speaking of our greatest Americans (from the recent Blogcritics debate), I think Stephen Ambrose should get consideration someplace in the rankings, maybe not the top 10 but perhaps in the top 25. Think of the tens-of-thousands of families he uplifted with his books, movies and D-Day Memorial, by bringing recognition to the brave warriors who saved the world in World War II.
15 - MCH
...of course, I might be a little partial...
16 - Temple Stark
I thought Ambrose was caught pretty much making up and plagariazing shit? A lot of it.
Not a great person though maybe a nice one.
PS Thanks for the Battle of the Bulge rememberance. If I remember I'll post an article i wrote on my blog from an officer there at the time.
Aaaaaand - what newspaper do you write the column.
17 - MCH
Eric B.,
Just a reminder to your readers that last Saturday was the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Iwo Jima. On Feb. 19, 1945, 100,000 Marines of the 5th Amphibous Division (3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions) hit the beaches of the eight square mile island of Iwo Jima in an effort to overcome 21,000 Japanese soldiers and secure the island's landing fields for our boys who were making the bombing runs over Tokyo.
What took place from from Feb. 19-Mar. 25, 1945, has been described as the deadliest battle in world history. The American generals in charge anticipated that it would take three days to defeat the Japanese and we might lose 600 killed. But the intense battle raged for 36 days, with 6,800 marines, soldiers and sailors dead - over 23,000 total casulaties. Almost all 21,000 Japanese were killed, making it the only battle in history where the invading forces suffered more casulaties than the occupiers.
In spite of heavy bombing to soften the Imperial forces, the Marines faced absolutely murderous fire on D-Day. The Japanese were entrenched in underground tunnels and spider caves. The Iwo veterans I interviewed to said the entire battle was close-combat fighting under horrendous conditions, with no such thing as a "safe area;" and that sleep came at no longer than 2 hours at-a-time intervals.
On D-Day Plus Three, our brave warriors raised the flag on Mt. Suribachi in a scene which became one of the most famous photographs of World War II.
There were 27 Congressional Medals of Honor awarded after Iwo, the most of any single battle during WWII. Admiral Chester Nimitz wrote, "Uncommon valor was a common virtue on Iwo Jima."
And although the men who took Iwo Jima may have been a cut above most warriors (many were collegiate All-Americans), they shared one thing in common with all combat soldiers, believing that the best way to "support a war" is to serve in that war.
18 - Eric Berlin
Temple - I missed your comment from last month, my apologies. Ambrose was accused of plagiarism, but it was on a minor scale and likely due to the massive amount of pop history he was churning out near the end of his life. That's no excuse, but it should not take away from his contribution to historical study and American history.
Aaaaaand - what newspaper do you write the column.
Not sure what you're asking there (or who).
19 - Eric Berlin
Thanks very much, MCH. I think the Battle of the Pacific sometimes gets overshadowed by the European front when looking back at WWII. Amazing, the global scale and stakes of that conflict.
Cheers to all the vets who put it on the line and made it count when it was time to stand up and be counted.
20 - MCH
Eric B;
Just a reminder that today marks the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Okinawa. The Battle of Okinawa, which raged for 82 days from April 1 to June 21, 1945, was the labeled the bloodiest battle of the Pacific Theater.
"Okinawa was the largest amphibeous operation of the Pacific Theater and the last major battle of the Pacific campaign during World War II," according to www.globalsecurity.org. "There were more ships used, more troops put ashore, more supplies transported, more bombs dropped and more naval guns fired against shore targets than any other operation in the Pacific. More people died during the Battle of Okinawa than all those killed due to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki."
There were over 1350,000 Japanese soldiers on Okinawa, most of them entrenched in caves and tunnels in the interior of the island. The American invading force was comprised of 1,300 ships (including 365 amphibeous ships), with 60,000 marines and soldiers hitting the beaches on April 1. Eventually the ground forces totaled 182,000 men. The navy bombarded the coastline with 3,800 tons of shells in the first 24 hours, but the Japanese put up very little resistance, their strategy being to fight the Americans inland and attack the naval forces with bombers and kamikaze planes.
All-told, 107,500 Imperial soldiers were killed or committed suicide, another 23,700 were sealed in caves or buried by the enemy themselves, and 10,700 were captured. The Japanese lost 7,800 aircraft and 16 combat ships. There were at least 42,000 Okinawa civilians killed.
The U.S. casualties numbered 12,000 killed and 36,000 wounded; with 34 American ships being sunk and 760 airplanes lost.
Don't forget to thank a vet today...
21 - Eric Berlin
Thanks MCH, and thank you.
You should consider doing some stand-alone posts of your own so that this great and important info gets a higher degree of visibility.
22 - MCH
Thanx E.B.,
Actually I have a pretty full plate...I do write a column for the city paper here, recognizing local veterans...but I appreciate the comment, and also the opportunity of using your venue.
23 - Eric Berlin
You're always welcome, MCH.
24 - MCH
With the recent passing of Col. David Hackworth (1930-2005), America has lost a true patriot and a genuine hero.
He was a man's man, who led by example.
At the time of his passing recently due to cancer, "Hack," 74, who served in three wars, was the U.S. Artmy's most decorated soldier. In 8 years of combat (2 in Korea and 5 in Vietnam), he earned 10 Silver Stars, 8 Bronze Stars and 8 Purple Hearts.
Hack was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times (but receiving none), perhaps the most courageous occurring with the 4/39 Infantry Battalion in the Mekong Delta. "Col. Hackworth led from the front, at one point getting out on the strut of a helicopter, landing on top of a Vietcong position and hauling to safety the point elements of a company pinned down and facing certain death."
(by the Estate of Col. David Hackworth)
Near the end of World War II, Hack, then 14, lied about his age and enlisted in the Merchant Marines, and then joined the Army in 1945 at the age of 15. He served for 26 years, resigning after openly opposing the policy in Vietnam. "This is a bad war...it can't be won and we need to get out," Col. Hackworth correctly predicted in 1971.
After retiring to an Australian farm, Hack was awarded the United Nations Medal for Peace, for his work as a leading spokesman with the anti-nuclear movement.
Always an ambassador for the combat G.I.'s who do the fighting and dying on the front lines, Hackworth predicted that American soldiers "might be stuck in Iraq up to 30 years" at a "cost of $6 billion a month to the U.S. taxpayer;" and publicly stated "Donald Rumsfeld is an asshole who misunderstood the whole war."
Hackworth would know, after all, he'd been there...
25 - Eric Berlin
Wow -- that's an amazing story about an amazing soldier.
Are there any books written about Hackworth? I imagine it would be a fascinating read.
It strikes me over and over again that those that have been on the front lines are usually the most cautious about sending young men and women to war, and are usually the strongest proponents of diplomacy.
Thanks very much for sharing this, MCH.