North Texas Daily

Caroline Basile / Contributing Writer

Over the past decade, American troops have been fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

March 19, 2013, marked the 10-year anniversary of the U.S. beginning military strikes on Iraq. While the Iraq War officially ended in December 2011, U.S. troops continue to fight in Afghanistan.

What is the toll? Tens of thousands of United States military personnel returning home face a multitude of challenges as they adjust to civilian life.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense’s casualty status, 4,488 U.S. troops died in the Iraq War and more than 32,000 were wounded. The U.S. casualty total in Afghanistan as of March 22 was 2,181 dead and 18,348 wounded.

Thousands of veterans have returned home to the North Texas region, attempting to reintegrate into society and live “normal” lives. But many are faced with issues such as injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, memory loss, depression, financial burden and unemployment.

Veterans aren’t the only ones who struggle to adjust after returning to the U.S. Family members, friends and colleagues have to adjust with them, providing them support through any of the obstacles they face.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan were also killed and wounded as a result of the wars.

Over the next few weeks, students from the Mayborn School of Journalism will be publishing a series of articles documenting the different struggles the wars have caused.

Readers can check the North Texas Daily, and its website, www.ntdaily.com, for updated stories, videos, and multimedia on this topic that is still a relevant subject in our lives.