Some of you young men think that war is all glamour and glory but let me tell you boys, it is all hell! —Major General William Tecumseh Sherman
Editor-in-Chief, Chester ‘Trip’ Buckenmaier III, MD, COL, MC, USA.
The famous phrase, “War is hell,” is attributed to General Sherman, who likely knew this subject better than most based on his exploits during the Civil War. In September 1864, he directed the inhabitants of the city of Atlanta to be evacuated before his army entered the city to burn it.
He ordered this despite the pleas of Atlanta citizens to spare the city which contained the elderly and infirm whom it would be perilous to move. In his response letter Sherman stated: “You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out.”
One of the clearest indications that war is no less harsh and cruel today as it was in Sherman’s time is the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in our veterans. This condition is certainly not unique to the present conflicts. Termed “shellshock” during World War I, “battle fatigue” following World War II, and occasionally combat stress today, this anxiety disorder is likely as old as the existence of man.
This malady can be extremely debilitating for our returning veterans who experience nightmares and frightening thoughts, lose interest in activities, have strong feelings of guilt or worry, and can generally be tense or irritable. These are just a few of the symptoms listed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in their description of PTSD. read more
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF U. S. MEDICINE
Health Reform Impacts Research Funding, Focus BETHESDA, MD—While most of the Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act‚ the 2,000 page health care reform bill signed into law by President Obama in March‚ is centered on ensuring all Americans have access to health insurance, there are a number of implications for clinicians, federal and private, and for clinical researchers. read more
VA Needs to Bolster Staff, Image WASHINGTON, DC—Last month legislators heard from veterans’ advocates on the major deficiencies in caring for the physical injuries of the nation’s newest veterans. read more
Senate Committee Questions Administration Nominee to Lead MHS WASHINGTON, DC—Jonathan Woodson, MD, the president’s nominee for assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, told a Senate committee last month that if he is confirmed he would draw upon his career experience to “engage others, set the vision, and motivate and inspire others to work for a common goal.” read more
Federal Officials Explain Meaningful Use Requirements to Congress WASHINGTON, DC—Federal officials sought to reassure a House subcommittee that guidelines issued by the federal government to promote widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) strike the right balance. read more
CAP Gives Servicemembers, Veterans the Technology to Keep Working This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program, also known as CAP, which began in 1990 as the Defense Department’s centralized program to provide assistive technology solutions for employees with disabilities. read more
