Poll: Half of 9/11-Era Vets Know Someone Who Died in Action

Roughly half of all veterans who served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, know someone who died in action, according to a 2011 poll conducted by the non-partisan Pew Research Center. Sixteen percent served with someone who was seriously injured; 60 percent served with someone who was badly injured; and 66 percent were exposed to casualties. Those respondents who were injured themselves, or saw comrades be seriously or badly injured, are twice as likely to say they experienced emotionally traumatic or distressing events, according to the Pew poll.