Civilian Contractors Are the 'Vietnam Vets' of Our Time

Workers injured in war zones are the hidden cost of Iraq, Afghanistan wars

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 7, 2009 7:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Thousands of Americans have come home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who are veterans in all but name, writes T. Christian Miller—and the benefits afforded veterans. The military's unprecedented reliance on civilian contractors has left thousands injured and disabled with no safety net or public gratitude. Whether they were motivated by money, patriotism, or both, they faced many of the same dangers as American troops, and suffered many of the same injuries.

For contractors, "the normal support that you would get if you were injured in the line of duty as a police officer or if you were injured in the military just doesn't exist," one psychologist tells ProPublica, which takes takes an in-depth look at the case of a KBR truck driver left severely disabled after an RPG attack in Iraq. His family, left to struggle with private insurance companies for his treatment, say the 60-year-old's sacrifice has never been recognized either by his country or his company.

[Images (2)]

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Civilian contractors uparmor heavy equipment vehicles January 14, 2005 at Camp Anaconda, Iraq. (Getty Images)

Kidnapped contractor Paul Johnson Reuben from Buffalo, Minnesota, is seen in this image taken from a video released in 2007. His body was found the following year. (AP Photo/Via AP Television)

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These guys are like the Vietnam vets of this generation.
- Lee Frederiksen, a psychologist who works with war zone workers

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 13 comments

Netstorm2k10

Oct 7, 2009 12:57 PM CDT

Does Blackwater count? If so, fuck 'em.

wwwonderer

Oct 7, 2009 7:13 AM CDT

That is very valid. Tim, I almost feel funny agreeing with you. "The 60-year-old's sacrifice has never been recognized either by his country or his company", is what one family said. Funny, was his 'sacrifice' recognized by his bank account? How about the car note or mortgage. I'm not saying we should be insensitive to the damages of war and conflict on the human soul. But they CHOSE to do this didn't they? The BIGGER danger to me is all these civilians coming back with PTSD that won't get help or attention. If and when they snap there may be a long time before any relation to involvement in the middle east affected behavior.

skeptik

Oct 7, 2009 5:26 AM CDT

If the civilians who work for these companies become injured/disabled while working, it should be the the responsibility of those corporations to help them........sorry boys, go talk to Uncle Dick & his nephew Erik - they have made plenty of $$ from their greedy war profiteering businesses & I'm sure they will be glad to help. Oh, and good luck- you're going to need it.

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veterans • veterans' benefits • Iraq contractors • KBR • Afghanistan veterans • Iraq war • military contractors

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Civilian Contractors Are the 'Vietnam Vets' of Our Time