After President Donald Trump stated he did not believe the concussive injuries sustained by U.S. service members in the Iranian missile strike were "serious injuries," the co-chair and founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force has asked the Department of Defense "reiterate its commitment to the seriousness of brain injuries on the battlefield and elsewhere."
This week, Central Command confirmed additional U.S. troops were being flown out of Iraq for injuries sustained during the Jan. 8 missile strike. This is in addition to the 11 U.S. service members CENTCOM confirmed last week sustained concussive injuries. So far, the number of total injuries has not been disclosed, but the Deputy Commander of Operations and Intelligence for Operation Inherent Resolve Maj. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich said he would estimate the number not to exceed 20.
Additional troops flown out of Iraq for injuries from the Iran missile strike
"I would characterize it as being in the teens. I actually don't know the exact number," Grynkewich said at a press briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday. "As many of you know, when you have a situation where we have a fair amount of high explosive go off on Al-Asad Air Base, it takes some time to figure out who was near where the explosions were, what bunkers were most at risk. It also takes some time for some of those symptoms of a concussion or potentially worse injuries to manifest."
That being said, these injuries were not communicated after the initial attack — through official statements or from the president's office.
“I’m pleased to inform you the American people should be extremely grateful and happy. No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime,” Trump stated on Jan. 8.
When asked why he initially declined to share information regarding the injuries to U.S. service members, Trump said he didn't believe the injuries were "serious."
Trump says he didn't mention injuries of US troops because they weren't 'serious'
Now, Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., co-chair and founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is asking the Department of Defense Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness and the Assistant Secretary of Defense Health Affairs for more information on the extent of U.S. servicemember injuries resulting from Iran’s attack. He also wants the Pentagon to reiterate its commitment to the seriousness of brain injuries.
“As the co-chair and founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, the comments of the Commander-in-Chief are concerning and show a clear lack of understanding of the devastating impacts of brain injury,” Pascrell wrote. “TBI is recognized as the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, 383,000 men and women deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan sustained a brain injury while in the line of duty between 2000 and 2018.”
It is estimated that the cost of treating traumatic brain injury for veterans tops $1 billion annually. According to Pascrell's office, between 3.2 million and 5.3 million people, including civilians, veterans, and service members, live with a TBI-related disability in the United States. Veterans suffering from TBIs experience "poorer long-term outcomes" than those with no TBIs including cases of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and recurrent symptoms with no known root cause, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Pascrell's letter specifically asks, "in light of Mr. Trump's comments," that the Pentagon provides information regarding how many U.S. service members sustained brain injuries in the Iranian attack, whether all service members on Al-Asad were screened for injuries and concussions, and the DoD's commitment to understanding the long-term impacts of concussions.
According to Grynkewich, the commanders on the ground with OIR is "absolutely committed."
"My bottom line commitment as a commander in the field with CJTF-OIR is we're absolutely committed to the health and safety of our service members," Grynkewich said. "We'll do everything we can to make sure they get the treatment that they need."
“Brain injuries are serious and can often be life-altering. Working in concert with Congress, the Department of Defense has been right to change its policies and make the investments treat concussions and traumatic brain injuries with the gravity warranted. We cannot and must not go backwards. It is critical that the Department of Defense strongly affirm its commitment to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and research regarding concussion and brain injury,” Pascrell’s letter concludes.
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