OVERVIEW OF WHAT A
VETERAN IS By Christine M. Haas,
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
Spokane, WAPhoto support by Bret Bowers, Public Affairs Officer
Military Background
Military BranchesArmyNavyAir ForceMarinesCoast GuardReservist or National Guard MemberMerchant 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
World War IIDecember 7, 1941 –
December 31, 1946
Total who served in all Armed Forces: 16,112,566
Battle Deaths: 291,557Wounded: : 671,846Medals 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: 33,741Other Deaths (In Theatre): 2,833Wounded: 103,284Medals 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 non-battle 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: 8,744,000Deployed to Southeast Asia: 3,403,000
Battle Deaths: 47,424Other Deaths (In Theatre): 10,785Wounded: 153,303Medals of Honor: 238Reference: 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 LossReference: http://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/oefoif.asp