Are the U.S. media and public ready to deal with the troops severely wounded in the Iraq war?
Steve Hammons
October 30, 2005
It seems like a long time ago. When the Iraq war was just getting started.
Ted Koppel and the "Nightline" program faced some criticism and some support for the decision to show the photos, names and information about U.S. military personnel killed, at that point, in Iraq.
The Sinclair Broadcast Group, a large TV station company, chose to boycott the Nightline program on troops' deaths and forbid its stations to carry the program.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona criticized Sinclair for their position about the Nightline show, and indicated publicly that honoring the troops and recognizing the tremendous sacrifice they and their loved ones have made was honorable.
McCain had also stated that photos of flag-draped coffins arriving from the war at Dover Air Force Base was also something the American public had a right and responsibility to witness.
Discussion in the media and political circles raged for a few days about if it was anti-war propaganda to acknowledge the war fatalities in this way, or was it respecting and honoring them as well as understanding this ultimate sacrifice.
Koppel and Nightline weren't the first or only ones to do this.
News organizations have carried the photos, names and information about fallen troops on their Web sites.
The respected Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) nightly news show "The News Hour" with former U.S. Marine anchorman Jim Lehrer has been broadcasting photos, names and information about troops killed since the beginning of the war.
They showed them at the end of the news program, in silence.
SEVERELY WOUNDED TROOPS
This same discussion might apply to media coverage of the troops seriously and severely injured in Iraq.
Are we ready as individuals and as a society to take a closer look at the severely injured troops?
There have been few stories in the media about the amputees, the multiple amputees, the troops with shrapnel in their bodies and heads, the troops with terrible burns and many other injuries. Are the media and our citizens squeamish about this?
The unique nature of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) creates unique problems protecting the troops on the ground and corresponding medical problems.
The blasts typically come up from the ground. Shrapnel and the explosive force shoot up under the soldiers' helmets, causing face, eye and brain injuries that the helmet does not protect against.
Many of the soldiers with these head and brain injuries are now on life support. For some, parts of their brains have been damaged and they may never be the same again.
This is similar to the issue of troops' protective vests in a way, for the soldiers that have them. The vests may protect the main torso, but arms and legs are vulnerable.
Severe blasts may not kill them, but traumatic amputations of legs and feet, arms and hands from the blasts, or amputation later in surgery, are not uncommon.
NOW, A "NIGHTLINE" ON SEVERELY WOUNDED
Are we ready for a Nightline on severely injured troops? It would be a long, long program. Thousands have been wounded.
Would such a program hold the interest of an American TV audience?
Would Sinclair Broadcast Group boycott it?
Would Sen. McCain endorse it?
How would you feel about it?
The program might go something like this:
Sgt. Bob L. Smith, Indiana National Guard, age 23, amputated left leg above the knee
Gunnery Sgt. Larry Washington, Marine Reserves, age 25, amputated right arm and right leg below the knee
Specialist James G. McKay, Army Reserve, age 19, severe third degree burns over 45 percent of his body
First Lt. Michael Lopez, Army, age 26, amputated left hand. Blinded in left eye. Extensive facial trauma
Captain Thomas B. OŽNeil, Marines, age 28, shrapnel to face and brain, currently in coma and on life support in Germany
Warrant Officer Jack Thomas, Nebraska National Guard, age 24, amputated left and right leg below the knees
Specialist Mary Kay Lawrence, Ohio National Guard, age 20, extensive shrapnel and third degree burn injuries to face and upper body. Blinded in both eyes
A very long list.
Would Ted Koppel ever get the authority for an extended Nightline doing the same type of story on the severely injured troops?
It would probably last well over one hour. Maybe a four or five hour show. Maybe longer. And getting longer every day.
AUTHOR NOTE TO READERS: Please visit my Joint Recon Study Group blog.
Ted Koppel and the "Nightline" program faced some criticism and some support for the decision to show the photos, names and information about U.S. military personnel killed, at that point, in Iraq.
The Sinclair Broadcast Group, a large TV station company, chose to boycott the Nightline program on troops' deaths and forbid its stations to carry the program.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona criticized Sinclair for their position about the Nightline show, and indicated publicly that honoring the troops and recognizing the tremendous sacrifice they and their loved ones have made was honorable.
McCain had also stated that photos of flag-draped coffins arriving from the war at Dover Air Force Base was also something the American public had a right and responsibility to witness.
Discussion in the media and political circles raged for a few days about if it was anti-war propaganda to acknowledge the war fatalities in this way, or was it respecting and honoring them as well as understanding this ultimate sacrifice.
Koppel and Nightline weren't the first or only ones to do this.
News organizations have carried the photos, names and information about fallen troops on their Web sites.
The respected Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) nightly news show "The News Hour" with former U.S. Marine anchorman Jim Lehrer has been broadcasting photos, names and information about troops killed since the beginning of the war.
They showed them at the end of the news program, in silence.
SEVERELY WOUNDED TROOPS
This same discussion might apply to media coverage of the troops seriously and severely injured in Iraq.
Are we ready as individuals and as a society to take a closer look at the severely injured troops?
There have been few stories in the media about the amputees, the multiple amputees, the troops with shrapnel in their bodies and heads, the troops with terrible burns and many other injuries. Are the media and our citizens squeamish about this?
The unique nature of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) creates unique problems protecting the troops on the ground and corresponding medical problems.
The blasts typically come up from the ground. Shrapnel and the explosive force shoot up under the soldiers' helmets, causing face, eye and brain injuries that the helmet does not protect against.
Many of the soldiers with these head and brain injuries are now on life support. For some, parts of their brains have been damaged and they may never be the same again.
This is similar to the issue of troops' protective vests in a way, for the soldiers that have them. The vests may protect the main torso, but arms and legs are vulnerable.
Severe blasts may not kill them, but traumatic amputations of legs and feet, arms and hands from the blasts, or amputation later in surgery, are not uncommon.
NOW, A "NIGHTLINE" ON SEVERELY WOUNDED
Are we ready for a Nightline on severely injured troops? It would be a long, long program. Thousands have been wounded.
Would such a program hold the interest of an American TV audience?
Would Sinclair Broadcast Group boycott it?
Would Sen. McCain endorse it?
How would you feel about it?
The program might go something like this:
Sgt. Bob L. Smith, Indiana National Guard, age 23, amputated left leg above the knee
Gunnery Sgt. Larry Washington, Marine Reserves, age 25, amputated right arm and right leg below the knee
Specialist James G. McKay, Army Reserve, age 19, severe third degree burns over 45 percent of his body
First Lt. Michael Lopez, Army, age 26, amputated left hand. Blinded in left eye. Extensive facial trauma
Captain Thomas B. OŽNeil, Marines, age 28, shrapnel to face and brain, currently in coma and on life support in Germany
Warrant Officer Jack Thomas, Nebraska National Guard, age 24, amputated left and right leg below the knees
Specialist Mary Kay Lawrence, Ohio National Guard, age 20, extensive shrapnel and third degree burn injuries to face and upper body. Blinded in both eyes
A very long list.
Would Ted Koppel ever get the authority for an extended Nightline doing the same type of story on the severely injured troops?
It would probably last well over one hour. Maybe a four or five hour show. Maybe longer. And getting longer every day.
AUTHOR NOTE TO READERS: Please visit my Joint Recon Study Group blog.