By Tod Ensign Tod Ensign documents the ways that American soldiers have been exposed to poisonous chemicals since World War II. He details today's risks of depleted uranium to soldiers in Iraq.
Many also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and drug and alcohol abuse. Ensign uses data, interviews with veterans and government officials to show that these invisible injuries can be as deadly as a gunshot.
"Iraq vet Matthew Sepi fired on two strangers in Las Vegas, killing one of them. Sepi told police that his Iraq experiences influenced his response to what he thought was an ambush. Sepi's family said that he seemed different after Iraq. He talked about the 'weird noises' children make when they're dying. His request for psychiatric help from the VA had not yet been granted at the time of the shooting."
Tod Ensign, an attorney, is director of Citizen Soldier, a non-profit GI and veterans rights advocacy organization founded during the Vietnam war. His most recent book is America's Military Today. He has written two other books and numerous magazine and newspaper articles discussing various problems faced by active duty GIs and military veterans.