Hidden cost of war

Dear editor:

I have a dream. Someday the United States will refrain from going to war every 10, 20 or 30 years. (You know. Like most other countries.) No more sending our youths into "harm's way."

Without war you'd think we'd be rolling in dough. Not so. There is a hidden and ugly cost of war no one seems to be aware of that just goes on and on. It's the disability pensions given to the grievously wounded and injured members of the military. The expense this year is $45 billion, triple the $15 billion we spent before our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is anticipated that payments will rise to $57 billion next year ... $570 billion in 10 years. There isn't enough room in this article for the trillions if all disabled veterans live to a ripe old age. Remember, pensions are still being received by living veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. They say many of the "old soldiers will just fade away," so the cost will fade away as well. But the United States has always found a way of adding new "old soldiers" to the list.

So how much do we pay a veteran who is 100 percent disabled? Full disability rate is $2,769 a month. Veterans with families generally receive larger benefits. Those who have lost a limb, eyesight or worse are eligible to receive an extra $99 up to $8,000. We should pause, shed a tear for anyone so unfortunate they get that last amount.

And how has this loss of treasure inconvenienced us? Afghanistan ... there went fixing our rusty bridges. Iraq ... there went highway repairs and our hope for transcontinental high-speed rail. Syria? Iran? Sorry, teachers. No raises. You'll have to get in line. The till is empty. Just sit back and savor all the good we've done in the Middle East.

I sometimes feel I must apologize for the small disability pension I have received for the past 70 years. It was for shrapnel wounds to my back, arm and head I received on Okinawa in World War II. I was lucky. The soldier next to me was killed.

My dream, a new "Morning in America." Where people will rise up and go off to work instead of going off to war.

Gene Forsyth

Hot Springs