Editors’ note: This story was initially published on Jan. 26, 2020, and has been republished to correct an error in its metadata.
The influential veterans group the VFW, saying it cannot stand idly by as President Donald Trump minimizes the severity of the injuries suffered by a reported 34 U.S. military service members after Iran launched a retaliatory strike this month on a base in Iraq housing U.S. troops, is calling on Trump to apologize.
“The VFW expects an apology from the president to our service men and women for his misguided remarks,” William “Doc” Schmitz, the Veterans of Foreign Wars national commander, said, according to a Friday statement from the 1.6 million–member organization.
“And, we ask that he and the White House join with us in our efforts to educate Americans of the dangers [traumatic brain injury] has on these heroes as they protect our great nation in these trying times. Our warriors require our full support more than ever in this challenging environment.”
In the immediate aftermath of the Iranian missile attack on Jan. 8 on an Iraqi military installation housing U.S. troops, which came in response to the U.S.’s targeted killing five days earlier of the leading Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani in Iraq, Trump said there had been no U.S. casualties. Late this week, the Pentagon said 34 service members had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries sustained in the attack by Iran.
Asked during a press conference in Davos, Switzerland, about the severity of the troops’ injuries, Trump, according to a White House transcript, described them as “headaches, and a couple of other things” and added that they were “not serious” in comparison with other injuries sustained in war.
Previously, it had been reported that 11 service members were airlifted to Germany and Kuwait for medical treatment.
See: No hard evidence for Trump’s claim of Iranian threat against 4 U.S. embassies, Esper says
Trump spoke at the VFW’s annual convention in July 2018 in Kansas City, Mo., where the organization is headquartered. It has 6,000 posts worldwide, the military- and veterans-focused website Task & Purpose noted.
“TBI is a serious injury and one that cannot be taken lightly,” the VFW statement reads. “TBI is known to cause depression, memory loss, severe headaches, dizziness and fatigue — all injuries that come with both short- and long-term effects.”
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