We've seen the numbers - 4,487 dead, and 32,226 wounded. But 'wounded' is defined as 'wounded in action'; i.e., they have "incurred an injury due to an external agent or cause." Any other wounds, whether physical or emotional, are excluded. And we do know that there have been a considerable number of 'other wounds', especially those related to PTSD.
The Pentagon's Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center reports having diagnosed 229,106 cases of mild to severe traumatic brain injury from 2000 to the third quarter of 2011, including both Iraq and Afghan vets. Studies by Rand Corporation and others have found that almost a third of the veterans examined had some major problems. Apply one-third to the 1,500,000 veterans and you wind up with casualties of 500,000.
I'm indebted to Dan Froomkin for these numbers.
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