Wounded in War: The Women Serving in Iraq

[Up2Late]

(This is a very sad story in RealAudio from today's show)

<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4534450>

Audio for this story will be available at approx. 7:30 p.m. ET

by Linda Wertheimer

All Things Considered, March 14, 2005 · More than 1,500 U.S. military personnel have died in Iraq since the U.S. invasion began two years ago, but nearly four times as many have been wounded in combat too seriously to return to duty.

For the first time in American history, a substantial number of the combat wounded are women -- in part because the front lines in this war can be anywhere.

As part of our Span of War series marking the two-year anniversary of the war in Iraq, NPR's National Correspondent Linda Wertheimer visited with some of the women who are recovering from severe wounds at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

By the Numbers: Women in the Military

Women have served unofficially as support personnel, spies and soldiers throughout American history. Women gained an official role in the U.S. military with the formation of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901 and Navy Nurse Corps in 1908. The first women to enlist in the U.S. military joined the Navy and Marines during World War I.

(more at link above)

[Up2Late]

1. The Audio is now available, it's worth a listen

The Audio is available in both Real Audio and with the Windows Media Player, It's 12 Minutes and 48 Seconds long(12:48) You owe these Brave Women at least that much reverence.

[Just Me]

2. I must confess, I have heard little to nothing about the wounded women.

Other than the spectacular fiction surrounding Jessica (and I sincerely mean no disrespect for fabulously wholesome young woman but rather rebuke those who USED her for their war-mongering propagandizing purposes), I honestly cannot think of any reports concerning our wounded women in uniform.

[Up2Late]

3. This one is one of the best and most heart wrenching I've heard

And they are all back in the U.S. and recovering from their injuries.

They sound like just average people. One is a 43 year old Medic, One a 40 year old mother of 2, and the other is a 23 year old from N.C.:grouphug:

[Up2Late]

4. Kick n/t

:kick: