Ryan+M.+-+AI+-+SP12

Ryan Martin Honors American Studies January 31, 2012 = For Soldier Disfigured in War, a Way to Return to the World  = = Summary =  American troops these days are serving in a totally different war compared to the wars of their fathers. In an article by James Dao entitled __For Soldier Disfigured in War, a Way to Return to the __World, Dao writes about how American soldiers are getting severely burned and killed by roadside bombs and other types of explosions too often. Specialist Joey Paulk was a solider affected by these explosions. An underground mine exploded his humve gas tank severely burning him and caused him to go into a coma for three weeks. When he awakened from the coma, he had no fingers and his face was distorted severely. Later when he was released from the hospital, he did not go out much because he was so humiliated. He wore baggy sweatshirts, sunglasses, and a hat to hide his wounds from the world the times he did have to go outside. Then he heard of a program at the U.C.L.A. Medical Center that helped burned American troops with surgeries that would reconstruct faces that were affected by war tragedies so that they would look more acceptable. The U.C.L.A. Medical Center wanted to give back by supporting the veterans who worked so hard to keep the United States a free nation. After the surgeries, Joey Paulk had more confidence in the public and was able to start enjoying his life again. He learned how to function and even started playing baseball again.  This story is relevant to American identity because it is one example of how America supports it own troops. Troop in World War I were treated in the field and had a small change of survival, four out of every one hundred men were expected to survive their injury. This greatly changed in WWII because they could move the soldiers to a field hospital where care was better and had more evolved medicines (White). The war in the middle east the chances of survival for even the worst soldiers is high because of how fast medics can get to work on trying to save their soldiers. The soldiers can be flown back to the US for even more treatment in a short period of time making the chances even greater. Doug Rachowicz is dealing with the same problems that Paulk dealt with and was brought back to the US for surgery. Rachowicz went through surgery last Sunday, January 29, 2012. His healing process is just beginning. With help from people all around him such as his little girls, he is predicted to have a great recovery (Machak). Luckily, today veterans are treated with more respect unlike the days during the Vietnam War. During Vietnam, the veterans were spat on and treated unkindly when returning from the war (Vietnam War Veterans Problems). The injured soldiers who have scars as a result of the war in the Middle East have lost their pride from the burn scars and are being surgically improved by the U.C.L.A. Medical Center. They got involved when a professor heard a news story about a burned solider and his trouble adjusting to civilian life (A Life Worth Living). U.C.L.A. has been giving their time and money to help the wounded and burned soldiers that have returned from war. They do the procedures for free; however, it cost them approximately $500,000 just for Specialist Joey Paulk alone (Dao, 2). This shows that America has the courage and heart to help war veterans by treating them with great respect and by giving them hope. Countries around the world do not go to these lengths to help their struggling war veterans regain hope and their sense of identity as humans, as well as their pride as a veteran of the United States of America.  American troops have been going to war since the 1700’s and taking pride in fighting to keep the American people free. People have been helping the American troops since then. This example shows how the troops returning from war are being cared for and supported by the people they serve to protect and risk their lives daily. The military is helping the men who have been severely burned by providing surgery; however, they only operate to the extent that the soldier is able to live a decent lifestyle. Why doesn’t the military take full responsibility in repairing its broken soldiers? In civilian life it’s done. Also, why does the government ask their soldiers to protect the American identity, and yet they won’t repair their own soldiers when their identity is lost? U.C.L.A takes a large step in helping the men that give so much to defend this country. This is a great idea because everyone cannot go to war and fight, so others can help in whatever capacity they’re able. America is a great country because there are no drafts any longer. The drafts occurred from 1948-1973; however, America is now an all-volunteer military(History of the Draft).  Next, the article explains how recovery for the soldiers is so difficult. The wounded warriors’ project helps wounded and burned soldiers get back their civilian life. The government has little to no help in this area and, once again, lets the civilian programs help soldiers returning home from war.
 * Relevance **
 * Evaluation **
 * Questions **
 * 1) Should army humves have more armor placed on them to make them stronger to stop more soldiers from getting injured?
 * 2) How can we prevent soldiers from getting burned to this severity in the first place?
 * 3) Is there some way to create a shield of some type to protect their face which is their main identity?
 * 4) Should the government have restrictive surgery for burned soldiers?
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Should the government fully cover the expenses of the total reconstructive surgery and not just enough to get by?
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">From the civilian standpoint who know and appreciate soldiers for all they do, realize that the government doesn’t fully care for our American soldiers?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">“A Life Worth Living: UCLA Gives Severely Burned Soldiers New Faces." //Huffington Post// 11 Nov. 2011: //nwitimes.com//. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Dao, James. "For Soldier Disfigured in War, a Way to Return to the World." //New York Times// 30 Jan. 2012: //nytimes.com//. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"History of the Draft." //United States Military Information//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2012. <http://usmilitary.about.com/od/deploymentsconflicts/l/bldrafthistory.htm>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Machak, Lindsay. "Injured soldier makes steps in recovery." //Harrmond Community// 29 Jan. 2012: //nwitimes.com//. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">White, David, and Daniel P. Murphy Phd.. "Battlefield Injuries and Medicine - World War II." //Netplaces//. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2012. <http://www.netplaces.com/world-war-ii/the-horrors-of-war/battlefield-injuries-and-medicine.htm>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Vietnam War Veterans Problems." //Military Information HQ//. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. <http://olive-drab.com/od_history_vietnam_veterans.php>.