Afghanistan – The Wounded

Through this forum I’d like to ask all who read this to spare a thought for those wounded, and recently so, in Afghanistan….whatever ones thoughts about the campaign there.

My son (who appears in my avatar) is currently serving on the front line with the Queen’s Royal Hussars and has had more than a few interesting moments and regular contact with the Taliban.

Last week, one of his close pals lost both legs and an arm and is currently back in the UK in hospital at Birmingham. In the last 36 hours his best friend (I don’t think I can yet post his name) was badly injured when blown out of the turret of his Warthog in an IED explosion. My son should have been driving the truck, but was re-allocated another task. The driver has a broken back. Another has a fractured skull, and another a broken arm. Again, all are now back in the UK at Birmingham.

When my son comes home from his two week mid-tour R&R in February he will be driving straight to Birmingham from Brize Norton to visit them.

The thing that struck me was that the public only get to know about deaths when they occur, and we are never told about the regular and horrific injuries when they happen. Its just swept under the carpet and it seems to me, though I am biased, that to an extent the Government/MOD want to hide the awful and frequent injuries that are being sustained.

I know you will all want to spare a thought for these lads. If and when I can, I will post their names.