The implications of this official report are staggering! As of May 2002, the Gulf War casualties include 8306 veterans dead and 159,705 veterans injured or ill as a consequence of wartime service to our nation. The official May 2002 Department of Veteran Affairs report classifies 168,011 individuals as "disabled veterans". That reflects a staggering casualty rate of 29.3% for combat related duties between 1990 and 1991.
We still know that many sick veterans have not submitted claims. We also know that some veterans have received disability benefits directly from the military. Thus the actual casualty rate from combat during 1990-1991 is probably higher than the 29.3% rate the new VA report verifies. However, combat activities did not stop in 1991. Therefore, since August 1991 a cumulative total of 1,127,458 individuals have been deployed to the Gulf with 851480 veterans now eligible for veterans benefits.
Consequently, the VA officially recognizes in the May 2002 report that a total of 262,586 individuals are "disabled veterans" due to duty in the Gulf and that 10,617 veterans have died of combat related injuries or illnesses since the initiation of the Gulf War during August 1990. That gives us a verified casualty rate of 30.8%. If we are to initiate Gulf War II we had better be ready for the possible casualties.
We still know that many sick veterans have not submitted claims. We also know that some veterans have received disability benefits directly from the military. Thus the actual casualty rate from combat during 1990-1991 is probably higher than the 29.3% rate the new VA report verifies. However, combat activities did not stop in 1991. Therefore, since August 1991 a cumulative total of 1,127,458 individuals have been deployed to the Gulf with 851480 veterans now eligible for veterans benefits.
Consequently, the VA officially recognizes in the May 2002 report that a total of 262,586 individuals are "disabled veterans" due to duty in the Gulf and that 10,617 veterans have died of combat related injuries or illnesses since the initiation of the Gulf War during August 1990. That gives us a verified casualty rate of 30.8%. If we are to initiate Gulf War II we had better be ready for the possible casualties.