War Pact - If my genitals are blown off - let me die!

[Hash (imported)]

If your genitals were blown off and you were still alive, would you want to live?

http://news.yahoo.com/troops-amputation ... 21230.html

The task force was looking into what the doctors called "dismounted complex blast injuries" — dismounted meaning those suffered by troops on foot and complex in that they produce a pattern of wounds. It involves amputation of at least one leg, severe injury or loss of a second extremity and wounding of the pelvis, abdomen or urinary tract and genitals. The report said that these devastating types of injuries "took their toll on unit morale.

"To some, the resultant burden on their family and loved ones seemed too much to accept, and, anecdotally, some actually developed 'do not resuscitate' pacts with their battle buddies in the event of this type of injury," it said.

Two military doctors this year have said publicly that they had heard talk among young Marines that some didn't want to go on living — and had made such agreements — for cases in which they might sustain loss of their genitals. The agreement reportedly was that if they were so injured on the battlefield, their buddy would not apply a tourniquet. One doctor later said he knew of no instance where this actually took place and the other never offered any specifics on the talk that went around in the field.

[Hash (imported)]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 1030504659

Imagine waking up in Germany, not remembering what had happened, and then checking yourself out only to find that your legs are gone and so are your testicles and in some cases, your penis too! I can't imagine what these poor soldiers go through mentally and emotionally, sad. Who could blame them for wanting to die. I wonder if it's ever happened to a female soldier?

Medical staff at Landstuhl also noticed a rise in severe genital injuries last fall. "In my 21/2 years here, it's just started," intensive-care unit nurse Kathryn Gillespie said in late October. Most critically injured soldiers arrive at Landstuhl unconscious or heavily sedated. Some regain consciousness for the first time since the battlefield during their two- or three-day stay. Gillespie described a typical awakening.

"The first thing we let them know is they're in Germany. We tell them, 'You're hurt, but you're okay.' Then they want to do a scan of their body. They ask, 'Is my junk all together?' They want to check their 'package.' Then they check their arms and legs. This all happens probably within 15 minutes of being off sedation."

Many patients, minds clouded by illness and medication, "discover" their injuries more than once during the stay. Each time, they ask nurses and doctors to explain what happened and what lies ahead.

[Hash (imported)]

One last thing, if your genitals were blown off, I'm not sure I'd want to receive testosterone supplementation. Testosterone would revive some mental desire for sex, but with nothing to use for sexual relations, wouldn't it drive you insane?

The best thing that we can do for these soldiers is to provide them with some genital protection when they have to hoof in overland. But for those who've already lost their genitals, the only hope is genital transplantation or regeneration technology. If you could regrow your penis and testicles, that would at least help you cope with not having legs or feet.

[Eddie (imported)]

I sure hope one day they find EA so all of us may give them support.

[dualballs (imported)]

I was at the airport this weekend. I noticed a soldier there with his wife. (Both wearing rings). It appears he was saying goodby to her.

She was drop dead beautiful. I thought of this new uptick in genital injuries due to IEDs. I thought of how his life would change should he

come back with no penis and/or balls. How could he cope being with her, sleeping with her minus his manhood? How would she deal with being a

very sexual woman being with a man that could not perform his sexual duties. It seems in sutuations like this the woman will stay with her man for a

while, but the emotional pressure on both husband and wife takes it's toll and the seperate.

[poorpupnoballs (imported)]

Another parallel to Viet Nam.

[SplitDik (imported)]

Another parallel to Viet Nam.

Actually, the point is that it is "worse" now. The medical treatment is better and more immediate. So wounds that a guy would have died from (genitals or limbs blown off somewhere in the jungle) are now survivable. The ratio of amputees is much higher now.

In the end, I think surviving as an amputee is still better than dying, since I think all life is precious. But who am I to say since I've never experienced such loss?

[Hash (imported)]

I have several thoughts about this, first, our government spends billions on defense, but they can't devise something to protect a soldiers genitals? Second, our government spends billions and the military is so high-tech, do we really need to put soldiers in harms way? I was a grunt, I served with the Army, 3rd Infantry, so I'm experienced with what the foot soldier endures.

As for the soldiers, most all are young, sex and sexuality mean everything to them. Going home to a young wife or girlfriend without your genitals is worst then dying for them. It's sad, but that's the reality and so who can blame them for wanting to die if they lose them.

[dualballs (imported)]

I watched a movie several years ago called "Dead Presidents". It was about the exploits of some Vietnam Veterans after the war.

In one flashback there was a scene where a young GI was captured by the Viet Cong. He was found still alive but they had

not only disembowled him but he also had his dick & balls cut off and shoved in his mouth. The Medic was carrying him but the

soldier was begging him to kill him. Finally, as an act of mercy, he was given an overdose of morphine. Sad, but I wonder how many

times this has replayed during and since the Vietnam war.

[henderson (imported)]

It's a sad state of affairs. Bad enough that the news often overlooks the climbing death toll, but even more so that we lack the infrastructure to really take care of our war wounded- those who stepped out to in to the battlefield in the first place. I'm often reminded of the scene in "Born on the Fourth of July"... except for the whole Tom Cruise is crazy part.