By Christine M. Haas, Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center Spokane, WA Photo support by Bret Bowers, Public Affairs Officer

Military Background  Military Branches Army Navy Air Force Marines Coast Guard Reservist or National Guard Member Merchant Marines during WWII

War Era or Period of Service  Word War I (4/6/17 to 11/11/18)  World War II (12/7/41 to 12/31/46)  Korea (6/27/50 to 1/31/55)  Cold War  Vietnam (8/5/64 to 5/7/75)  Gulf War (8/2/90 to 11/11/98)  Global War on Terror (OEF/OIF/OND )  Peace Time

Washington State Veteran Population Total Population607,501 Wartime Veterans464,340 Gulf War196,265 Vietnam Era209,476 Korea Conflict50,790 World War II33,736 Peacetime143,161 Female67,282 Male540,219 Veteran Population as of 9/30/2012 Reference:

Veterans do not forget… that they are Veterans and they are Americans!

World War II December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946 Total who served in all Armed Forces: 16,112,566 Battle Deaths: 291,557 Wounded: : 671,846 Medals of Honor: 433 Reference:

World War II  Fighting occurred on the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa and in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans  Service was carried out under serve winter conditions, in the harshest of deserts, and in the hottest, most humid tropical climates  Those who joined up or were drafted were in the military for the duration Reference:

World War II Unique Health Risks  Cold Injury  Prisoners of War  Chemical Warfare Agent Experiments  Exposure to Nuclear Weapons (Including Testing or Cleanup) Reference:

Cold War  Cold War generally refers to the period of tension between the U.S. and its allies and the Soviet bloc from the end of World War II in 1945 until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.  A major fear of the Cold War was nuclear war with associated health concerns about exposure to ionizing radiation. Reference:

Cold War  Approximately 200,000 US service personnel performed occupation duties in Hiroshima and Nagasaki following the atomic bombing of Japan  Similar number of service members participated in atmospheric nuclear weapons tests from 1945 to 1962 Reference:

Cold War Unique Health Risks  Nuclear Weapons Testing (Atomic Veterans) Reference:

Korean War June 25, July 27, 1953 Total who served in all Armed Forces: 5,720,000 Battle Deaths: 33,741 Other Deaths (In Theatre): 2,833 Wounded: 103,284 Medals of Honor: 131 Reference:

Korean War  Cold injuries including frostbite and immersion (trench) foot constituted a major medical problem for U.S. service person  Cold accounted for 16% of Army non- battle injuries requiring admission  Over 5000 U.S. casualties of cold injury required evacuation from Korea during the winter of Reference:

Korean War Unique Health Risks  Agent Orange Exposure  Cold Injury Chemical Warfare Agent Experiments  Exposure to Nuclear Weapons (Including Testing or Cleanup) Reference:

Vietnam War August 4, January 27, 1975 Total who served in all Armed Forces: 8,744,000 Deployed to Southeast Asia: 3,403,000 Battle Deaths: 47,424 Other Deaths (In Theatre): 10,785 Wounded: 153,303 Medals of Honor: 238 Reference:

Vietnam War  Vietnam Veterans now 50 to 75 years old  By 2014, 60% of Veterans over the age 65 will be Vietnam Veterans Reference:

Vietnam War Unique Health Risks  Agent Orange Exposure  Hepatitis C Reference:

It’s important as Americans to Remember and Honor our Military Veterans! The best way to thank a Veteran is to simply say… “Thank You”.

Gulf War Those how served on active duty in Europe, the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean) and provided support from the Far East and Pacific August 2, 1990 – November 11, 1998 Reference:

Gulf War Unique Health Risks  Chemical or Biological Agents  Depleted Uranium (DU)  Dermatologic Issues  Exposures to Smoke  Immunizations  Infectious Diseases (i.e. Leishmaniasis)  Reproductive Health Issues Reference:

OEF/OIF/OND Unique Health Risks  Animal Bites/Rabies  Combined Penetrating,  Blunt Trauma, and Burn Injuries (Blast Injuries)  Dermatologic Issues  Embedded Fragments (shrapnel)  Leishmaniasis  Mental Health Issues  Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter  Reproductive Health Issues  Traumatic Amputation  Traumatic Brain or Spinal Cord Injury  Vision Loss and Hearing Loss Reference:

Veterans are Adults with Unique Experiences!