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We owe wounded a lifetime of support

On Memorial Day, like every day of the year, we are inspired by the courage, competence and sacrifice of the men and women in our armed forces as well as their families.

Fighting for our freedoms and to give others a chance at theirs is the noblest of missions. And when these troops are wounded, become ill or are injured doing their duty, they trust our nation will respond with the same sense of duty.

The question then becomes, “What is that duty? What do we owe those who have borne the brunt of battle?”

Behind the grim statistics of eight years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan that total nearly 5,000 deaths and 35,000 wounded lie the real lives and vibrant dreams of people: citizens, like anyone else, who distinguish themselves by their willingness to volunteer and serve a cause greater than themselves.

These Americans have had their lives suddenly — and in most cases permanently — changed, by battle wounds, serious injury or illness. Our duty to them and their families is to do everything we can to assist in this transition, a transition that has no time limits.

We cannot leave them. Our duty to them is for life.

There have been great improvements over the past few years within the Physical Disability Evaluation System, but we believe the time is right for a national-level dialogue to design a new system — one that places individuals at the center.

We believe there are three vital parts of such a system. First, our focus needs to be on rehabilitation and transition, rather than disability and compensation, without the loss of any entitlements or perhaps even enhancements to those entitlements.

While monetary assistance is an important aspect of adjusting altered lives, compensation alone does not meet the totality of their needs. The emotional recovery and rehabilitation that go on simultaneously with the physical rehabilitation and recovery from such a wound, illness or injury cause life-changing and most often permanent adjustments that each service member and family member must work through at their own pace.

This is an enormous challenge. But there remain limits to what the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments can do. Often, the most effective care lies outside the government, in American hometowns and communities.

That brings us to our second point. Once our veterans leave service, they leave a support structure that defined a formative part of their lives. They become disconnected from the military regimen that has long brought a sense of order and purpose. We must find ways to reach them.

Finally, many communities already are working hard to fill the gaps that exist between programs and people. It’s hard to miss the sea of good will that washes over America — a multitude of people, places and programs — all eagerly seeking and serving those in need.

The challenge, however, lies in connecting these programs and these people, not only to those who need help, but to one another, in a way that multiplies their effect. This will take leadership at the local level — grass-roots clearinghouses that connect our returning wounded and families with those who can help.

A national system involving community-based organizations can be effective only through a well-integrated triad linking the Defense Department, VA and a robust community-based support structure. And it will likely require veterans to lead and to educate their fellow citizens, who may not understand the true potential of their good will.

The lives of our wounded, their families and survivors of our fallen have been changed forever. They have done their duty. Now, let us do ours — by providing a lifetime of care.

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Adm. Mike Mullen is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Retired Army Gen. Fred Franks is a Vietnam War amputee who remained on active duty and commanded VII Corps in Operation Desert Storm.