Transcript Document

By Christine M. Haas,
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
Spokane, WA
Photo support by Bret Bowers, Public Affairs Officer
Military Background

Military Branches
 Army
 Navy
 Air Force
 Marines
 Coast Guard
 Reservist or National Guard Member
 Merchant Marines during WWII
War Era or Period of Service
Word War I (4/6/17 to 11/11/18)
 World War II (12/7/41 to 12/31/46)
 Korea (6/27/50 to 1/31/55)
 Cold War
 Vietnam (8/5/64 to 5/7/75)
 Gulf War (8/2/90 to 11/11/98)
 Global War on Terror (OEF/OIF/OND 2001- )
 Peace Time

Washington State Veteran
Population
Total Population
607,501
Wartime Veterans
464,340
Gulf War
196,265
Vietnam Era
209,476
Korea Conflict
50,790
World War II
33,736
Peacetime
143,161
Female
67,282
Male
540,219
Veteran Population as of 9/30/2012
Reference: http://www1.va.gov/vetdata/Veteran_Population.asp
Veterans do not forget…
that they are Veterans and they are Americans!
World War II
December 7, 1941 –
December 31, 1946
Total who served in all Armed Forces:
16,112,566
Battle Deaths: 291,557
Wounded: : 671,846
Medals of Honor: 433
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/worldwar.asp
World War II
Fighting occurred on the continents of
Europe, Asia, and Africa and in the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
 Service was carried out under serve
winter conditions, in the harshest of
deserts, and in the hottest, most humid
tropical climates
 Those who joined up or were drafted
were in the military for the duration

Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/worldwar.asp
World War II
Unique Health Risks
 Cold Injury
 Prisoners of War
 Chemical Warfare Agent Experiments
 Exposure to Nuclear Weapons (Including
Testing or Cleanup)
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/worldwar.asp
Cold War
Cold War generally refers to the period
of tension between the U.S. and its
allies and the Soviet bloc from the end
of World War II in 1945 until the collapse
of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.
 A major fear of the Cold War was
nuclear war with associated health
concerns about exposure to ionizing
radiation.

Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/coldwar.asp
Cold War
Approximately 200,000 US service
personnel performed occupation duties
in Hiroshima and Nagasaki following the
atomic bombing of Japan
 Similar number of service members
participated in atmospheric nuclear
weapons tests from 1945 to 1962

Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/coldwar.asp
Cold War
Unique Health Risks
 Nuclear Weapons
Testing (Atomic
Veterans)
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/coldwar.asp
Korean War
June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953
Total who served in all Armed
Forces: 5,720,000
Battle Deaths: 33,741
Other Deaths (In Theatre): 2,833
Wounded: 103,284
Medals of Honor: 131
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/korea.asp
Korean War
Cold injuries including frostbite and
immersion (trench) foot constituted a
major medical problem for U.S. service
person
 Cold accounted for 16% of Army nonbattle injuries requiring admission
 Over 5000 U.S. casualties of cold injury
required evacuation from Korea during
the winter of 1950-1951

Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/korea.asp
Korean War
Unique Health Risks
 Agent Orange Exposure
 Cold Injury Chemical Warfare Agent
Experiments
 Exposure to Nuclear Weapons
(Including Testing or Cleanup)
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/korea.asp
Vietnam War
August 4, 1964 - January 27, 1975
Total who served in all Armed Forces:
8,744,000
Deployed to Southeast Asia: 3,403,000
Battle Deaths: 47,424
Other Deaths (In Theatre): 10,785
Wounded: 153,303
Medals of Honor: 238
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/vietnam.asp
Vietnam War
Vietnam Veterans now 50 to 75 years
old
 By 2014, 60% of Veterans over the age
65 will be Vietnam Veterans

Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/vietnam.asp
Vietnam War
Unique Health Risks
 Agent Orange Exposure
 Hepatitis C
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/vietnam.asp
It’s important as
Americans to
Remember and
Honor our Military
Veterans!
The best way to
thank a Veteran is
to simply say…
“Thank You”.
Gulf War
Those how served on active duty in
Europe, the Middle East (Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey, Persian Gulf,
Indian Ocean) and provided support
from the Far East and Pacific
August 2, 1990 – November 11, 1998
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/gulfwar.asp
Gulf War
Unique Health Risks
 Chemical or Biological Agents
 Depleted Uranium (DU)
 Dermatologic Issues
 Exposures to Smoke
 Immunizations
 Infectious Diseases
(i.e. Leishmaniasis)
 Reproductive Health Issues
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/gulfwar.asp
OEF/OIF/OND
Unique Health Risks
 Animal Bites/Rabies
 Combined Penetrating,
 Blunt Trauma, and Burn Injuries (Blast Injuries)
 Dermatologic Issues
 Embedded Fragments (shrapnel)
 Leishmaniasis
 Mental Health Issues
 Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter
 Reproductive Health Issues
 Traumatic Amputation
 Traumatic Brain or Spinal Cord Injury
 Vision Loss and Hearing Loss
Reference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/oefoif.asp
Veterans are
Adults with Unique
Experiences!