Pat Murphy's column regarding veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with mental injuries raises an important issue. But I am incredulous at the aspect he chooses to focus on. Murphy, as usual, is caught up in the emotional and misses the practical. The important point is that the care for these and all wounded veterans is woefully underfunded and inadequate. I'm quite sure if you asked a returning vet with a mental injury, which is more important, a Purple Heart or better post-combat care, the overwhelming majority would opt for the latter.
It is disgraceful that the men and women who fight for Murphy's right to pen his relentless, unrealistic view of the world are so poorly cared for upon leaving the armed forces. It is a total indictment on our current leaders in government that an illegal alien who doesn't pay taxes can get much more economic aid than a returning vet. I don't care what party you belong to, this is wrong and needs to be fixed. We owe our collective safety to these people and need to take care of them.
Jerry Graham
Sun Valley