Dan Rather Reports

Episode Number: 230

Episode Title: Heroes at Home

Description: Two remarkable women deal with the realities of lives changed forever by war because loved ones were killed or injured fighting in Iraq. Also, the Bush administration announces a proposal for hundreds of millions of U.S. tax dollars to go to Mexico to fight the drug cartels.

Transcript:

GOOD EVENING FROM NEW YORK. TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO REVISIT TWO OR OUR RECENT REPORTS FOR WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN NEW DEVELOPMENTS TO START, WE'VE REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON THIS PROGRAM ABOUT THE VIBRANT AND VIOLENT DRUG ROUTES FROM MEXICO INTO THE UNITED STATES IN EARLY SEPTEMBER WE REPORTED TO YOU ABOUT SECRET NEGOTIATIONS TO SEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO THE MEXICAN, MILITARY AND NATIONAL POLICE THE GOAL TO STOP DRUGS FROM CROSSING THE BORDER THE CONCERN, A LONG HISTORY OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF AMERICAN INTERVENTION LAST WEEK PRESIDENT BUSH MADE IT OFFICIAL, HE ANNOUNCED HE WOULD ASK CONGRESS FOR 1.4 BILLION DOLLARS TO FUND THE PROGRAM WE TALKED TO A CONGRESSMAN WHO WAS PRIVY TO THE BACK ROOM NEGOTIATIONS WHAT DO WE DO? JUST GIVE UP AND SAY LET THE DRUG CARTELS WIN? I'M THE TYPE TO SAY NO. HENRY CUELLAR (KWEY-AARON), A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN FROM A DISTRICT ON THE TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER. HE SAYS THAT THE REALITIES OF THE SECURITY SITUATION DEMANDS ACTION. IN YOUR ASSESSMENT, WHAT IS THE SITUATION INSIDE MEXICO? CIVIL SOCIETY, IN MY OPINION, IS BEING ATTACKED BY THESE DRUG CARTELS. AND THAT CONCERNS ME, NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF MEXICO, BUT ALSO THE SPILL OVER TO THE UNITED STATES DRUG VIOLENCE IS OUT OF CONTROL IN MEXICO. AS WE'VE REPORTED ON THIS BROADCAST, MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE WERE KILLED LAST YEAR IN WHAT HAS BECOME A WAR BETWEEN THE DRUG CARTELS AND EVERYONE ELSE. AND THE CARTELS ARE WINNING. POLICE, POLITICIANS AND JOURNALISTS ARE COMMON TARGETS. THE SITUATION WAS PARTICULARLY GRUESOME IN THE BEACH RESORT TOWN OF ACAPULCO WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE FOUND BEHEADED. THE CARTELS WERE TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE. AND IT WAS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR BY THE TOURISM INDUSTRY HOTELS OCCUPANCY IS DOWN AND FRIGHTENED TOURISTS STAY AWAY. THE SITUATION FOR AMERICANS VISITING MEXICO IS HARROWING DOZENS OF U-S CITIZENS HAVE VANISHED FROM THE STREETS NEVER TO BE HEARD FROM AGAIN. THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED AN ADVISORY WARNING AMERICANS WHO TRAVEL TO MEXICO TO BE VIGILANT CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR SAYS HE HAS SPOKEN TO LEADERS ON BOTH SIDES U.S.& MEXICO GOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE AID PACKAGE IT'S NOT BAGS OF MONEY COMING OVER. BUT YOU WILL SEE EQUIPMENT, YOU'LL SEE TRAINING, YOU'LL SEE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL BE TRANSFERRED OVER. BUT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS AND SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY? WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS BACK IN APRIL THEY CERTAINLY WANT HELICOPTERS, AIRCRAFT FOR SURVEILLANCE PURPOSES AND THE TRAINING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS NEW AID PACKAGE, WOULD IT OR WOULD IT NOT INCLUDE AMERICAN TROOPS, SPECIAL FORCES, OR SOMETHING OF THAT SORT? IN MY OPINION, I DON'T THINK IT WILL INCLUDE ANY MILITARY AT ALL. BUT YOU HAVE AN INCREASE OF FBI, ICE, WHICH IS THE CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DEA OFFICERS. IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT DEA, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT OPENING UP NEW OFFICES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF MEXICO WELL, EVEN THAT REPRESENTS A SHIFT, DOES IT, OR DOES IT NOT, THAT THE DEA WILL HAVE SOME INCREASED PRESENCE IN MEXICO? AND THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYING. THERE IS A HISTORIC SHIFT IN THINKING FROM THE MEXICAN SIDE, AND HAVING MORE PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS FROM THE U.S. SIDE. AND I THINK THE MEXICANS ARE SEEING THIS. THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO WIN THE WAR AGAINST THEIR DRUG CARTELS, THEIR NECESSITY IS TO COOPERATE WITH THE UNITED STATES. FELIPE CALDERON WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MEXICO LAST YEAR. HE HAS VOWED TO CLEAN UP THE SECURITY SITUATION BY DEPLOYING THOUSANDS OF MEXICAN TROOPS TO TAKE CONTROL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS. YOU'VE GOT INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE CROSSFIRE, BEING KILLED. YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT PEOPLE, FIRST AND FOREMOST. YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A GOVERNMENT PRESENCE WITH ITS OWN SECURITY THERE. THAT SAIDM, THE PROBLEM GOES FAR DEEPER THAN THAT. ADAM ISAAKSON IS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY. HE BELIEVES THAT WHILE THE SECURITY SITUATION IN MEXICO IS DETERIORATING, THERE ARE REASONS FOR PAUSE BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SHOULD AGREE TO FUNNEL LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, WEAPONS, AND SUPPORT TO THE MEXICAN MILITARY. IN MEXICO, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ARE ROUTINELY DOCUMENTING NEW ABUSES. RIGHT NOW, NOW THAT THE MILITARY'S OUT ON THE STREETS, A LOT OF THEM ARE PROCEDURAL. THINGS LIKE MASS ARRESTS, DETENTIONS WITHOUT CAUSE. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE MEXICAN MILITARY, ONCE THEY HAVE THEIR FOOT IN THE DOOR, ONCE THEY'RE OUT THERE ON THE STREETS OF MEXICO'S CITIES THAT ARE ALONG THE BORDER, AND GIVEN THIS MISSION, THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SUDDENLY GO BACK TO THEIR BARRACKS, ONCE THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. THIS MAY BE CREATING A GENERATIONAL, HISTORICAL CHANGE IN THE WAY MEXICO DOES CIVIL- MILITARY RELATIONS. THE WAY CIVILIAN CONTROL OF THE MILITARY HAPPENS IN MEXICO. THE WAY THE MILITARY INTERACTS WITH MEXICAN CITIZENS. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO GET THAT GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE. EARLIER THIS YEAR, FOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WROTE A LETTER TO SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE CITING EXAMPLES OF ILLEGAL DETENTION, RAPE AND TORTURE COMMITTED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE MEXICAN MILITARY AND NATIONAL POLICE. LET'S STALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES BEING CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN MEXICO. BY THE MILITARY, BY THE FEDERAL POLICE. YEAH, WITHOUT A DOUBT. I MEAN, THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS. THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FORMER MILITARY FOLKS NOW BECOMING PART OF THE DRUG CARTELS, THE ENFORCEMENT PART OF IT. ACCORDING TO MY REPORTING THAT'S A FACT.... THOSE ARE CONCERNS AND THIS IS WHY AS WE PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE I THINK THE UNITED STATES HAS TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS TO HOW WE PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE SO WE RUSH IN WITH AN AID PACKAGE. AND WHO DO WE GO TO? WHAT INSTITUTION CAN WE EVEN BE GIVING THESE HELICOPTERS AND THESE LISTENING DEVICES, AND WIRETAPPING, AND INTELLIGENCE TRAINING. WHO ARE WE GOING TO GIVE THEM TO? THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, IS SAYING, THE ONLY ONE YOU CAN GO TO IS THE ARMY. BUT ARE WE SURE THAT THE ARMY ITSELF ISN'T GOING TO BE JUST AS EASILY CORRUPTED? WELL, IT IS A CONCERN THAT WE'LL FUNNEL ALL THIS MONEY WITHOUT CHECK AND BALANCES ON THE HUMAN ABUSES, THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. WELL, I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THAT CAN BE A CONCERN. BUT I THINK UNDER THE NEW CONGRESS, THE NEW OVERSIGHT THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL ABOUT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING YOUR TIME

COMING UP, HEROES AT HOME, CASUALTIES OF THE IRAQ WAR FAR FROM THE BATTLEFIELD

WE HAVE REPORTED BEFORE ON THIS BROADCAST ABOUT THE VETERANS WHO HAVE COME HOME FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY CHANGED BY THE EXPERIENCE. TONIGHT WE UPDATE YOU ON A STORY THAT FOCUSED ON HOW THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA OF THE FALLEN SOLDIER GOES FAR BEYOND THE BATTLEFIELD AND THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM. IT'S A MOTHER'S STORY AND A WIFE'S STORY TWO REMARKABLE WOMEN WHO WERE CHALLENGED BY THE PAIN OF WAR AND WHO EMERGED WITH NEWFOUND STRENGTH.

TRACY IS A SMALL COMMUNITY IN THE FERTILE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE TOWN OF JUST OVER 70,000 HAS A DEEP HISTORY OF MILITARY COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE.

BEHIND ME IS A MONUMENT TO THE PRICE THIS COMMUNITY HAS PAID. IN WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM, AND NOW IRAQ.

ONE OF THE NAMES ON THIS MONUMENT NOW IS THAT OF PATRICK MCCAFFREY WHO GAVE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN IRAQ. TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU HIS STORY AND HOW HIS MOTHER EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW HE DIED HOW IT REALLY HAPPENED. ALONG THE WAY, SHE FOUND HOW TO HONOR HER SON'S MEMORY BY HELPING OTHER SOLDIERS

WE BEING AT A MODEST HOUSE WITH A GOLD STAR ON THE FRONT DOOR THE STAR SYMBOLIZING A FAMILY MEMBER WHO DIED IN COMBAT.

THE HOUSE IS ON RUSHER STREET NAMED FOR A LOCAL MAN KILLED IN THE VIETNAM WAR. NADIA MCCAFFREY, PATRICK'S MOTHER, IS A NATIVE OF FRANCE WHO MARRIED AN AMERICAN SERVICEMAN IN 1968. THE HOUSE IS NOW A KIND OF SHRINE TO HER ONLY SON. PATRICK WAS NOT A MILITARY PERSON. HE WAS VERY MUCH ABSORBED BY LIFE THE WAY IT WAS. HE LOVED HIS FAMILY. HE LOVED EVERYTHING HE HAD. HE WAS VERY HAPPY. PATRICK WAS A 34 YEAR OLD FATHER OF TWO. HE WORKED AS A MANAGER IN AN AUTO BODY SHOP. BUT AFTER 9/11, HIS MOTHER SAYS HE CHANGED AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, HE-- WAS IN SHOCK, BASICALLY, AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING ON OUR SOIL. IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS THAT FOLLOW THAT HE KEPT SAYING: WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. I NEED TO DO SOMETHING. WE CANNOT HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN." PATRICK JOINED THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD AND WAS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ IN APRIL 2004. WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE DEPLOYED, HE HAD TO TELL ME. AND, YOU-- HE WAS MY ONLY CHILD. SO, HE TOOK ME IN HIS CAR FOR A RIDE. AND HE SAID, "MOM, I'M SOMETHING TO TELL YOU." AND THEN HE SAID IT. I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. I JUST WAS DEVASTATED.

"I MET PATRICK SHORTLY AFTER HE GOT BACK FROM BASIC TRAINING" "WE BECAME FAST FRIENDS. HE BECAME FAST FRIENDS WITH EVERYBODY. HE WAS JUST A VERY WARM AND FRIENDLY AND OUTGOING GUY." STEVE EDWARDS WAS A 13 YEAR VETERAN OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND LIKE PATRICK, IN HIS MID 30'S. THEIR UNIT - ALPHA COMPANY 579 - WAS COMBAT ENGINEERS. "HE WAS-- HE WAS A VERY STRONG PERSON PHYSICALLY AND-- AND- EMOTIONALLY CHRIS MURPHY JOINED THE GUARD AT 17 TO PAY FOR COLLEGE AND WAS IN HIS EARLY 20S WHEN HE WAS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ. HE SAYS PATRICK KIND OF TOOK HIM UNDER HIS WING LIKE A KID BROTHER. PATRICK WAS ALWAYS THERE JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE'D COME UP AND GIVE ME A SHOULDER RUB AND JUST, "HEY, MURPHY'S. IT'S CHILL MAN. WE'LL-- WE'LL WORK THINGS OUT." I'M LIKE, "YEAH." HE WAS-- HE WAS LIKE THE BROTHER I NEVER HAD REALLY. AND ME AND HIM GOT ALONG REALLY GOOD. "ONCE YOU'RE IN IRAQ, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ASSIGNMENTS THAT THE UNIT HAD? MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT WHEN I GOT THERE WAS WE DID CONVOY PROTECTION. THEY GOT US SOME ARMORED HUMVEES. AND, OUR PLATOON, OR A GOOD PORTION OF OUR PLATOON WAS ASSIGNED TO ESCORT CONVOYS FROM OUR BASE IN BALAT TO BAGHDAD, FALLUJAH, AND ALRAMADI WE'D GO OUT EVERYDAY, PATROLLING DIFFERENT AREAS AROUND THE BASE. WE DID A LOT OF-- RAIDING OF HOUSES. AND THEN WE DID-- SOME EX-- SOME EXPLOSIVE WORK. EXPLODING CACHES OF WEAPONS WE HAD FOUND OR EXPLODING UP-- ROADS-- THAT WOULD BE EASY AVENUES OF APPROACH FOR THE ENEMY. 'CAUSE WE GOT MORTARED AND ROCKETED EVERYDAY ON THAT PLACE, EVERYDAY. NADIA SAYS PATRICK WOULD CALL HOME AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE HE MADE ME UNDERSTOOD THAT-- THAT HE WAS DOING THE BEST THAT HE COULD-- WITH WHAT HE HAD UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WERE NOT GOOD. AND HE DID DESCRIBE SOME SCENE WITH-- IRAQI PEOPLE THAT HE VERY CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WERE NOT WELCOME. AND-- HE FELT VERY BAD ABOUT THAT. ALTHOUGH THE GUARD COMPANY WAS TRAINED AS COMBAT ENGINEERS, THEIR MISSION OFTEN INVOLVED MORE THAN ENGINEERING. ONE OF THEIR JOBS WAS TO TRAIN IRAQI SOLDIERS. AND THIS IS ACTUAL FOOTAGE OF PATRICK MCCAFFREY ON THE FIRING RANGE WITH IRAQI TRAINEES.

NOW, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE IRAQI SOLDIERS YOU WERE TRAINING?

FOR THE MOST PART THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE GOOD PEOPLE. THEY WEREN'T GREAT SOLDIERS. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE'D GET SHOT AT OR-- OR GUN FIRE WOULD COME DOWN, THEY WOULD REACT IN SOME CASES-- SOME OF THE PLATOONS, NOT ALL OF THEM-- BUT, SOME OF THE PLATOONS WOULD ACT INAPPROPRIATELY. THEY WOULD-- THEY WOULD COWER. SOME OF 'EM WERE COOL, BUT THERE WAS A FEW, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU YOU JUST COULDN'T COULDN'T GET THE RIGHT FEELING. AND AND ON TOP A THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE WERE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE GOIN' HOME AT NIGHT. AND SOME OF THEM WERE SETTIN' UP THE ROCKETS AND MORTARS THAT WERE COMIN' IN AND HITTIN' THE BASE. PATRICK'S MOTHER NOTICED- EVEN OVER THE PHONE- THAT THE CONSTANT ATTACKS WERE TAKING THEIR TOLL ON HER SON. PATRICK WAS ALWAYS HAPPY, OUTGOING YOU KNOW, TRYING TO KEEP US WITH A GOOD SPIRIT. AND-- GRADUALLY, I FELT HIS VOICE CHANGING. AND THIS VOICE BECAME VERY HEAVY. AND HE SAID A FEW TIMES, "MOM, IT'S NOT LIKE WE THINK. IT'S-- IT'S VERY, VERY BAD." AND HE SAID A FEW TIMES, "I HAVE TO WATCH MY BACK NIGHT AND DAY, AND I'M NOT SURE IF I'M GOING TO MAKE IT BACK." JUNE 22, 2004. THIS IS A PHOTO OF PATRICK MCCAFFREY'S UNIT ON PATROL THAT DAY WITH IRAQI TRAINEES. IT WAS HOT WITH TEMPERATURES CLIMBING TO 110 DEGREES. THESE PICTURES FROM THAT DAY SHOW PATRICK, TRAINED FOR EMERGENCY BATTLEFIELD MEDICINE GIVING AID TO SOLDIERS DOWN FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION "INSTEAD OF TAKING CARE OF HIMSELF, HE NATURALLY STARTED CARIN' FOR-- FOR MY SQUAD LEADER AND A COUPLE OF THE OTHER GUYS THAT HAD COME DOWN WITH-- SOME HEAT INJURIES" NOON WAS APPROACHING AND THE TEMPERATURE KEPT CLIMBING. THE UNIT'S LEADER, LIEUTENANT ANDRE DYSON, DECIDED TO SPLIT UP THE GROUP. PATRICK WENT WITH THE LIEUTENANT SO, THE LIEUTENANT SAYS THAT HE'S GONNA TAKE SOME OF THE GROUP-- YES. HE-- HE DECIDED-- AND FINISH THE MISSION, SO TO SPEAK. YEAH, HE DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO TAKE-- THE SECOND SQUAD FROM OUR PLATOON ALONG WITH ABOUT A SQUAD, SQUAD AND A HALF OF IRAQI SOLDIERS. HE WAS GONNA TAKE 'EM TO THE END OF THE MISSION-- POINT, AND WORK HIS WAY TOWARD THE MAIN ELEMENT WHILE WE WERE WORKING OUR WAY TOWARD HIM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT-- WE-- HEARD AK-47 FIRE, AND-- WE LOOKED DOWN THE ROAD AND-- I ACTUALLY SAW, YOU KNOW, THE DUST FROM THE BULLETS. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS WE HEARD-- TWO TO THREE DISTINCT SHOTS THAT WERE 556, WHICH WE KNEW WAS M-16 FIRE. AND-- WHAT THAT MEANT-- THERE WAS A FIRE FIGHT OR AT LEAST-- A BRIEF FIRE FIGHT. AND SO, EVERYBODY JUMPED UP, INCLUDING THE GUYS THAT WERE DOWN FROM HEAT. EVERYBODY KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AND-- A RADIO-- ONE OF THE RADIOS STARTED SQUAWKING. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOIN' ON. I RUN UP THERE, AND THE FIRST THING I SEE I RUN PAST A COUPLE TRUCKS, AND I SEE MACK ON THE GROUND. AND I GO, "HOLY SHIT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOIN' ON?" I-- I ASKED-- WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AND, THE MEDICS SAID-- THAT-- THE SQUAD HAD TAKEN SOME FIRE. AND-- THAT THE LIEUTENANT WAS KILLED. AND, I ASKED IF HE WAS SURE. AND, HE SAID, "YEAH. HE'D TAKEN TWO ROUNDS IN THE HEAD." I DIDN'T SEE LIEUTENANT TYSON ANYWHERE, I DIDN'T SEE HIM, I JUST SAW MACK..MCCAFFERTY ON THE GROUND AND HE LOOKED.. I-- I COULD TELL HE WAS OBVIOUSLY SHOT 'CAUSE HE LOOKED -- HE LOOKED VERY-- HE WAS-- HIS EYES WERE OPEN, AND-- AND--

I-- I KNEW-- I-- I-- I THINK (GETS VERY EMOTIONAL)

FOR A SECOND I KINDA BLANKED OUT. AND, I'M LIKE, "NO. PATRICK MCCAFFERTY?" THEY'RE LIKE, "YEAH, I-- I THINK SO." I'M LIKE, "NO. IT CAN'T BE." LIKE, "I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S MCCAFFERTY." I'M LIKE, "WELL, IS HE GONNA MAKE IT?" LIKE, "I-- I DON'T KNOW. HE'S HIT PRETTY BAD." AND-- AT THAT POINT, I WAS-- TRYING VERY HARD TO CHOKE DOWN A VERY LARGE LUMP IN MY THROAT. PATRICK MCCAFFERTY WAS TAKEN TO A MILITARY HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.

MY CELL PHONE RANG. IT WAS SYLVIA, MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, AND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND A WORD SHE WAS SAYING. SHE WAS TOTALLY HYSTERICAL. I VERY CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG. BUT, I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS.

SO-- I-- FINALLY SAID, "SYLVIA, PLEASE, GIVE THE PHONE TO SOMEONE. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND YOU SWEETHEART. PLEASE DO THAT" SHE PASSED IT TO A SOLDIER, AN OFFICER WHO, OF COURSE, WAS HERE. AND HE SAID TO ME, CALMLY AND REALLY COLDLY TOO-- "MA'AM, WE-- REGRET TO SAY THAT YOUR SON, PATRICK RYAN MCCAFFREY WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES AND WAS KILLED THIS MORNING AT 11:45.

THEY TOLD YOU HE HAD BEEN AMBUSHED BY INSURGENTS AND SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES? -YES THEY TELL YOU ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT? THAT WAS IT. AFTER THIS, I TRY TO-- I ASK FOR A REPORT-- OFFICIAL REPORT OF HIS DEATH, AND FOR THE AUTOPSY REPORT, VIA E-MAIL, VIA REGULAR MAIL, NOTHING. I CALLED EVERYWHERE I COULD THINK OF. I WAS PUT ON HOLD, GIVEN SOME OTHER NUMBER TO CALL TO. NEVER A STRAIGHT ANSWER. BACK IN IRAQ, PATRICK'S UNIT WAS TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT HAPPENED. LITTLE DID HIS MOTHER KNOW PATRICK HAD BEEN SHOT 8 TIMES IN THE BACK. HIS WEAPON WAS MISSING ALONG WITH HIS WATCH. ALSO MISSING - THREE IRAQI SOLDIERS THE UNIT WAS TRAINING AND, AT THAT POINT, PEOPLE'S MINDS STARTED WORKING. AND, WE STARTED SUSPECTING, HEY, MAYBE IT WAS THESE THREE. AND EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WITHIN A FEW HOURS IT WAS CONFIRMED. AND THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT IT WAS THEM. NO DOUBT IN MY MIND. WE SENT OUT PEOPLE TO THEIR HOMES TO TRY TO CAPTURE THEM. AND, OF COURSE THEY HAD FLED. BUT IT TURNS OUT ONE HAD BEEN A SNIPER IN THE REPUBLICAN GUARD. ONE HAD BEEN A DRIVER OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT ALSO IN THE REPUBLICAN GUARD. BUT, I MEAN, AFTER OUR INITIAL SHOCK, THERE WAS A LOT OF ANGER, A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. A LOT OF-- MISTRUST. AND, A GREAT DEAL OF DESIRE FOR REVENGE. DID ANYBODY ACT ON THAT DESIRE? FOR REVENGE? YES. WE WANTED IT. WE-- WE AT THAT POINT WERE LOOKING FOR A FIGHT. AND, ANY CHANCE A-- A CHECKPOINT WAS GETTING HIT, OR SOMETHING WAS GOING DOWN, WE WANTED TO BE THERE. IF WE WERE OUT THERE, WE SPED THERE AS FAST AS WE COULD. WE JUST STARTED NOT GIVIN' A S# IT. WE STARTED BURNING-- BURNING-- LIGHTING FIRES. IF ROCKET OR MORTAR CAME FROM YOUR PLACE, I DON'T CARE, WE'RE BURNIN' IT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE STARTED DOIN'. AND, YOU KNOW, THE ATTACKS ON THE BASE CAME DOWN QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY. DID THAT EVENTUALLY CALM DOWN? THE ANGER, THE ACHE FOR REVENGE? DID YOU GET BACK TO TRAINING THE IRAQI RECRUITS? YEAH. I MEAN, WE-- WE EVENTUALLY ENDED UP, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO BRING THEM OUT AGAIN AND-- AND WORK WITH THEM AGAIN. BUT, NEVER AGAIN DID WE EVER HAVE THEM BEHIND US OR NEXT TO US THEY WERE ALWAYS IN FRONT OF US FROM THEN ON. WE NEVER, EVER LET THEM GET BEHIND US. BACK IN CALIFORNIA, A STREAM OF FAMILY, VISITORS AND MEDIA WERE AT PATRICK'S HOME. PATRICK WAS THE FIRST NATIONAL GUARD TO HAVE BEEN KILLED FROM HIS UNIT SINCE KOREA. AND THAT ATTRACTED A LOT OF ATTENTION. PATRICK'S BODY WAS SENT FROM IRAQ TO SACRAMENTO AIRPORT. AND SINCE THE MEDIA WAS ALREADY AT THE HOUSE EVERYDAY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE ASK, "WOULD YOU LIKE US TO BE WITH YOU AT THE AIRPORT WHEN PATRICK'S COFFIN RETURN?" AND, OF COURSE, I KNOW ABOUT THE BAN FOR WAITING TO TAKE PICTURES OF FLAG DRAPED COFFIN. WHO TOLD YOU AND WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU ABOUT BETTER NOT TO HAVE THE PRESS THERE? THE NATIONAL GUARD-- SENT US-- ONE OF THEIR HIGH RANK OFFICIAL HERE WITH A COUPLE OTHERS. I DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THEM. TO TELL ME, YOU KNOW, "IT'S BETTER IF THE MEDIA IS NOT THERE. YOU UNDERSTAND." THAT, "IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS DONE. YOU CAN--" I THINK SOMEBODY EVEN MENTIONED IT WAS UN-AMERICAN. I THOUGHT VERY SHORTLY ABOUT IT, BECAUSE, WELL PATRICK LEFT FOR IRAQ IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. WHY WAS I GOING TO HIDE HIM COMING HOME IN A COFFIN?

IT WAS ONLY LOGICAL TO ME THAT THIS NATION WELCOME HIM HOME.

AND, YES, THE MEDIA WAS THERE. A FUNERAL FOLLOWED WITH WORDS SPOKEN ABOUT A HERO.

WE ARE HERE TODAY TO HONOR OUR SON'S MEMORY.

A GUN SALUTE CRACKED THE AIR HIS BUDDIES FROM THE NATIONAL GUARD UNIT COULDN'T ATTEND THE FUNERAL BUT PATRICK'S DEATH DEEPLY AFFECTED FRIENDS LIKE STEVE EDWARDS. WELL, HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND. I MEAN, HE BROUGHT A LOT OF-- HE BROUGHT A LOT OF LIFE TO THE UNIT AT THE PLATOON. HE-- HE WAS ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE PEOPLE THAT YOU MEET IN LIFE THAT TOUCHES YOU. AND, HERE OR NOT, THERE'S ALWAYS A PIECE OF HIM IN HERE. SO-- THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY

THAT I DON'T REMEMBER HIM.

MEANWHILE CHRIS MURPHY WROTE DOWN WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THE DAY MCCAFFREY DIED. I HAD E-MAILED IT BACK HOME TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AND THEN I GOT SOME RESPONSES BACK SAYIN', YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT GETTIN' THAT PUBLISHED. SUDDENLY SPLASHED ACROSS PAGES OF THE SACRAMENTO BEE WAS A VERSION OF EVENTS THAT CONTRADICTED WHAT THE MILITARY TOLD PATRICK'S MOTHER IT REPORTED THAT HER SON HAD BEEN SHOT BY THE VERY IRAQI SOLDIERS HE WAS TRAINING SHE WANTED TO KNOW EVERYTHING AND MET WITH STEVE EDWARDS. " NADIA EVENTUALLY ASKED ME - YOU KNOW - " TELL ME THE TRUTH. WHAT HAPPENED WITH PATRICK THAT DAY?" AND MY HEART SANK 'CAUSE I WANTED TO TELL HER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DIDN'T WANT TO HURT HER. AND I TOLD HER THAT. I SAID, "LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU BY TELLING YOU THIS. BUT, YOU KNOW-- IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, I WILL TELL YOU." AND, SHE SAID, "HE'S GONE. AND, I'M ALREADY HURT BUT, I NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH." SO, I TOLD HER. FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NADIA ASKED U.S. MILITARY BRASS TO CONFIRM WHAT CHRIS MURPHY HAD WRITTEN AND WHAT STEVE EDWARDS HAD TOLD HER YOU'RE A MOTHER. AND YOU'RE SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT HOW HE DIED. I WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, EITHER BY TELEPHONE OR BY LETTER, OR PERHAPS EVEN COME OUT AND TALKED TO YOU AND SAY, "WE NOW KNOW MORE ABOUT IT," OR, "WE NOW KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENED." UH-HMM (AFFIRM). YEAH. BUT, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN? NO, IT DIDN'T. NOBODY BOTHERED TO TALK TO ME AT ALL-- ANY OF US, AT ALL. I WAS-- BUT I DON'T QUIT. YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO KNOW AND I WAS NOT ABOUT TO QUIT. SO, TWO YEARS LATER-- TWO YEARS LATER? TWO YEARS LATER I LOST PATIENCE COMPLETELY. AND THAT'S WHEN I APPROACHED SENATOR BOXER AND ASK HER, "PLEASE, DO SOMETHING. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON

THEN WHAT OCCURRED? IMMEDIATELY SHE WROTE A LETTER TO THE PENTAGON. AND SHE SENT THE LETTER MAY 22, 2006. EXACTLY ONE MONTH AFTER THAT, I GET A PHONE CALL FROM A NATIONAL GUARD, AN OFFICER TELLING ME, "MA'AM, GENERAL HELLMAN IS COMING TO SEE YOU TO GIVE YOU DIRECTLY THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF YOUR SON'S DEATH.

GENERAL OSCAR HILLMAN, MCCAFFREY'S COMMANDER, CAME TO SEE NADIA AT THE HOUSE IN TRACY. WHEN GENERAL HELLMAN CAME HE APOLOGIZE AND HE-- YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT TALKING TO ME EARLIER-- GOING THROUGH THE REPORT WITH ME EARLIER. BUT, HE DIDN'T GIVE ANY GOOD REASONS WHATSOEVER ON-- NOT TELLING THE TRUTH IMMEDIATELY. WHY DO YOU THINK THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU THE TRUTH? THE WAY PATRICK WAS KILLED IS EMBARRASSING. WE HAVE OFFICIALS TELLING US-- THAT IRAQ IS UNDER CONTROL AT THE TIME. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT TODAY. I'M TALKING ABOUT 2004 AND SO. THAT-- YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS HOLDING ACCORDING TO PLAN, AND SO ON, AND SO ON. IN JUNE OF 2004, GENERAL DAVID PETREUS WHO NOW LEADS ALL COALITION FORCES IN IRAQ WAS IN CHARGE OF TRAINING IRAQI SOLDIERS. JUST FIVE DAYS BEFORE PATRICK MCCAFFREY WAS SHOT IN THE BACK, GENERAL PETREUS TOLD A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE THE TRAINING WAS WORKING WELL: WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ARMY-- THE IRAQI ARMY WAS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE AND READY TO TAKE OVER. NOW, IF WE BRING UP PATRICK'S DEATH, THE WAY HE WAS KILLED BY THE SAME PEOPLE THAT HE WAS TRAINING INCLUDING OFFICERS, HOW DOES THAT PROJECT THE SECURITY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS US TO BELIEVE?

WAS THIS A DELIBERATE COVER UP? OR WAS IT SIMPLY A CASE OF CONFUSION? I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, YES, QUITE A BIT. AND-- THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT, YES, IT WAS A COVER UP.

CHRIS MURPHY WAS 21 YEARS OLD WHEN HE SERVED IN IRAQ. NOW 25, HE PLAYS LEAD GUITAR AND WRITES SONGS ABOUT HIS WAR EXPERIENCES FOR HIS ROCK BAND "FADED AT FOUR."

I'M COMING BACK WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO LEAD THE F# # KED UP LIFE I'VE LIVED "THE FIRST ONE I WROTE--IT'S CALLED THEY. IT STARTS OFF WITH I'M COMING BACK WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE. NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO LEAD THE F# # KED UP LIFE I'VE LIVED. AND THE CHORUS IS LIKE THEY TRIED TO BREAK ME, BUT I'M UNBROKEN. YOU CANNOT BREAK ME. BUT CHRIS MURPHY'S EXPERIENCE IN IRAQ ALMOST DID BREAK HIM, SAYS HIS MOTHER JOANN. SHE SAY FINDING PATRICK MCCAFFREY SHOT IN THE BACK HAD A DEVASTATING EFFECT I STARTED TO NOTICE THE CHANGES IN HIM. THE LACK OF SLEEP. THE IRRITABILITY. HE WOULD BE EXTREMELY HIGH-- OR IT'S ROCK BOTTOM. AND THEN THE DRINKING, YOU KNOW. A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DRINKING. AND-- I CAME HOME WITH ANOTHER BUDDY WHO WAS IN THE ARMY. AND WE CAME BACK AND PRETTY MUCH TRIED TO DRINK UP CALIFORNIA. CHRIS MURPHY TRIED RETURNING TO COLLEGE AT CHICO STATE . I WAS DOIN' A LOT A SELF MEDICATING-- DRUGS, ALCOHOL. I LOST MY JOB-- BECAUSE OF IT. AND I COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY I WAS DOING THINGS. YOU KNOW WHY AM I DOIN' THIS? OR WHY DO I FEEL LIKE THIS? WHY WON'T IT GO AWAY? PATRICK MCCAFFREY'S FRIEND STEVE EDWARDS ALSO HAD TROUBLE DEALING WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN IRAQ. DESCRIBE FOR ME HOW YOU ACTED WHEN YOU FIRST GOT HOME FROM IRAQ. IT WAS EUPHORIA. I MEAN, I-- I COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS HOME. I JUST-- SLEEPING IN MY OWN BED AND-- AND MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER, JUST BEING BACK IN THE UNITED STATES SAFE. NOT HEARING MORTARS. NOT HEARING SMALL ARMS FIRE. NOT HAVING TO GO ON PATROL, YOU KNOW, 12, 14 HOUR DAYS. YOU KNOW-- EXCESSIVE HEAT I-- I WAS JUST ECSTATIC. BUT THEN, SLOWLY-- THAT CHANGED. AND-- A LOT OF RAGE. A LOT OF DEPRESSION. THEN, I JUST-- I STARTED TO SHUT DOWN. I-- EVENTUALLY, I JUST-- I FELT NOTHING. STEVE EDWARD'S WIFE THERESA SAYS PATRICK'S DEATH HAD A LOT TO DO WITH HER HUSBAND'S PROBLEMS THE EFFECT OF PATRICK'S DEATH ON STEVE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS. HE SUFFERS FROM SURVIVOR'S GUILT. HE FEELS AS IF THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIM. DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WAS ABLE TO COME BACK AND PATRICK WASN'T. STEVE'S 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER LAUREN SAYS HER DAD WAS DIFFERENT WHEN HE CAME HOME FROM IRAQ. "HE WAS A BIT JUMPY AND NERVOUS, AND HE LIKED LOOKING AT THE TOPS OF BUILDINGS FOR SNIPERS WHICH WAS KIND OF WEIRD." STEVE HAD A BREAKDOWN-- ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MAYBE A LITTLE LONGER THAN THAT NOW. AH, THERE'S THE STICK! HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HE WAS REACTING THE WAY HE WAS WITH HIS FAMILY AND HIMSELF. HE WAS VERY SCARED OF HURTING HIS FAMILY. HE LOCKED HIMSELF IN THE BEDROOM AND PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL ME. IT WAS QUITE LATE AT NIGHT AND I LET HIM TALK. I COULD FEEL, YOU KNOW, THE INTENSITY OF THE SITUATION AND LISTEN. I JUST LISTEN AND KEPT HIM AS LONG AS I COULD AND I ALSO GOT IMMEDIATELY THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING. WE COULD NOT LET HIM BE, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH THIS BY HIMSELF WITHOUT HELPING. NADIA HAS HAD A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR FAMILY. WE'VE BECOME VERY CLOSE-- SINCE STEVE RETURNED. AND SHE PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN OUR LIVES. SHE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF STEVE THE NEXT THING I DID I CALLED LOS ANGELES AND DIFFERENT PLACES-- VETERAN AND PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH AND SOMEBODY CALLED ME BACK AND SAY, "OH. WE HAVE A RETREAT GOING ON IN OREGON THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL FOR HIM."

THE RETREAT STEVE EDWARDS ATTENDED WAS RUN BY CLAUDE ANSHIN THOMAS, A BUDDHIST MONK WHO IS A COMBAT VETERAN FROM ANOTHER ERA- THE VIETNAM NAM WAR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVE IN A WAR AND NOT BE AFFECTED. COMING BACK FROM WAR, I MADE AN EFFORT TO BE LIKE I WAS BEFORE I LEFT. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. IT JUST DIDN'T WORK I WAS CLOSE TO PROBABLY LOSING MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER, MY HOME. AND-- I DIDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. HE REALLY GOT ME THINKING IN A DIFFERENT WAY. AND REALLY HELPED ME KIND OF SETTLE MYSELF DOWN AND SO ONCE THEY BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT THESE UNSPEAKABLE-- WHAT TO THEM APPEARS TO BE UNSPEAKABLE, AND THEY FIND OUT THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD LIKE STORIES, COMING TO KNOW THESE STORIES, NOT REPRESSING THEM PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK WHERE HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION CAN TAKE PLACE. THE CRITICAL PIECE OF THIS, HOWEVER, IS THAT HEALING IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF SUFFERING - IT'S LEARNING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH IT. THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SERVICE ARE NEVER EVER GOING TO GO AWAY - NEVER. HE'S REALLY BEEN THE CATALYST FOR MY TURNING-- TRYING TO TURN AROUND MY LIFE AND SEEK HELP, AND TRY AND TURN AROUND AND-- AND-- AND GET THE WORD OUT AND SAY, "LOOK--" TO OTHER VETERANS, "LOOK, IF YOU'RE SUFFERING FROM, YOU KNOW, NIGHTMARES, THIS, THAT, THE OTHER THING, GO SEEK HELP. THERE'S NO SHAME IN THAT." EVERYONE NEEDS HELP ONCE IN A WHILE. EVERYBODY NEEDS A HAND ONCE IN A WHILE.

NADIA MCCAFFREY ALSO WORRIED ABOUT CHRIS MURPHY. SHE WOULD CALL ME AND TRY TO FIND OUT HOW CHRIS IS DOING. AND I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I SAID, "WELL, HE'S UP IN CHICO. I'M TRYING TO GET HIM TO GO TO COUNSELING. "HE'S SAYING 'YES, MOM, I'LL SET MY APPOINTMENTS BUT THEN HE NEVER WENT.'" NADIA AND CHRIS' MOM PERSUADED CHRIS TO SEEK HELP. LIKE STEVE EDWARDS, HE ALSO GOT HELP FROM THE VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM WAR IT'S BEEN QUITE AN EXPERIENCE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH IT FOR THE LAST 20, 30 YEARS. AND JUST GETTIN' THEIR-- THEIR HELP AND THEIR INPUT HAS-- HAS REALLY HELPED ME OUT A LOT.

HE WROTE ANOTHER SONG CALLED "UNHERO" .

THE HOOK IS I'M NOT ME. I'M NOT YOU ANYMORE. I AM THE UNHERO. IT KINDA DEALS WITH ME TRYIN' TO-- NOT BEIN' MYSELF, NOT WHO-- WHO I WANTED TO BE. AND-- BECAUSE I'M DESPERATELY TRYIN' TO BE THE PERSON THAT I WAS BEFORE THE WAR. AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO BE THAT PERSON, BUT I CAN'T. I'M NOT ME, AND I'M NOT YOU. I'M JUST SOMEONE ELSE NOW.

GOD BLESS THAT WOMAN. SHE REALLY CARES AND, YOU KNOW, FOR-- SHE-- SHE TOLD ME, SHE THINKS SHE'S DOING WHAT PATRICK WOULD BE DOING. IF HE HAD COME HOME, THAT HE'D BE OUT THERE. SO SHE'S TAKING ON THE ROLE OF WHAT HER SON IS NOT ABLE TO DO.

AND NADIA WANTS TO HELP MORE SOLDIERS. SHE SAYS THE HELP STEVE EDWARDS AND CHRIS MURPHY RECEIVED SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL RETURNING VETS. WHEN STEVE GOT BACK FROM THAT RETREAT HE CALLED ME AND HE SAID, " WE HAVE TO DO THIS. THIS WORKS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE ME AND I LEARNED THAT THINGS THAT CAN CALM ME DOWN." SO WHEN HE LEARNED THESE THINGS AT THE RETREAT IN OREGON, HE CAME BACK AND, I MEAN, HE TOLD YOU, "WE HAVE TO PUT THIS ON A WIDESPREAD BASIS." EXACTLY SHE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF WHAT SHE CALLS VETERANS' VILLAGES THE PLAN CALLS FOR ESTABLISHING A SERIES OF FARMS WHERE VETS CAN GO AND SEEK TREATMENT - TO RETURN TO THE EARTH. I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM BECAUSE I SEE AND HEAR SO MANY STORY THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, HEART BREAKING. AND I LOST A CHILD, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER CHILDREN THAT NEED HELP NOW.

THIS IS THE HOME OF A MARINE CORPS FAMILY IN CAMP PENDLETON, IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. TAKE A LOOK IN THE KITCHEN - IT'S TRUE TO THE CORPS. BUT LOOK CLOSELY AT THE BACK WINDSHIELD OF THE FAMILY WAGON AND YOU'LL SEE A PURPLE HEART A SMALL SIGN THAT ONLY BEGINS TO TELL THE HARDSHIPS THIS FAMILY HAS ENDURED. THIS IS THE HOME OF MASTER SERGEANT KENNETH SARGENT, HIS WIFE TONIA AND THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS. KENNY SARGENT WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD IN IRAQ IN AUGUST OF 2004, JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER PATRICK MCCAFFERTY DIED.

BUT KENNY SURVIVED. TONIA: IT'S LIKE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET CLOSE TO HIM. IT'S OK MAURA . IT WAS KENNY'S SECOND TOUR AND HIS WIFE TONIA WAS WORRIED. I WAS VERY UNEASY ABOUT THE SECOND DEPLOYMENT VERSUS THE FIRST. JUST DID NOT FEEL RIGHT WITH ME OR HIM. WAS THERE FOR FOUR MONTHS. AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT THE PHONE CALL. AND I JUST REMEMBER NOT BREATHING. I'M GONNA HAVE TO TELL MY CHILD THAT, YOU KNOW, DAD'S BEEN INJURED. AND-- SO I JUST TRIED TO CRY VERY QUIETLY 'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO ALARM THEM. AND MY OLDEST DAUGHTER HAD WALKED IN AND SAW ME ON THE FLOOR. AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, "GO GET YOUR SISTER." AND THAT WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING TO DO. WAS TO TELL THEM AND NOT KNOW. BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT YOU AS MOM. LIKE, "WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? IS EVERYTHING OKAY?" AND SO YOU GIVE THAT ILLUSION THAT EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY. TONIA FLEW TO BETHESDA MEDICAL CENTER TO MEET KENNY BY THE TIME I GET UP IN THE ICU, I ROLL UP ONTO A MONITOR WHERE A DOCTOR IS LOOKING AT SOMEONE'S SKULL THAT'S MISSING. AND I SEE SARGENT AND THE LAST FOUR OF HIS SOCIAL. AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS GOING, "THAT'S MY HUSBAND? AND PIECES OF HIS SKULL MISSING." AND SO I ASKED HER I SAID, "I'M HIS WIFE. WHERE IS THE PERSON THAT'S ON YOUR SCREEN?" AND SHE QUICKLY TRIED TO BRIEF ME. AND I SAID, "IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I SEE. I JUST NEED TO GET IN THERE." SO I TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND WALKED IN. AND HE WAS VERY SWOLLEN AND DRIED BLOOD AND STAPLES. AND A MAN I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE. I THOUGHT FOR A MINUTE MAYBE I HAVE THE WRONG ROOM. SO I APPROACHED THE BED AND I JUST HELD HIS HAND AND I KISSED HIM THE FOREHEAD. AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW I KNOW YOU CAN'T SPEAK BUT JUST SQUEEZE MY HAND IF YOU KNOW WHO I AM,"'CAUSE I WAS TOLD HE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO HEAR ME, SPEAK TO ME OR MAY NOT REMEMBER. SO HE DID. HE SQUEEZED MY HAND AND TEARS. AND SO I SAID, "YOU KNOW, GUNNY WE CAN BUILD ON THIS. WE'RE GOOD TO GO." SARGENT HAD BEEN HIT BY A RICOCHETING BULLET IN THE RIGHT EYE - WITH THE BULLET EXITING THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS HEAD. AFTER SURVIVING A SCARY BOUT WITH VIRAL MENINGITIS, KENNY WAS SENT TO A VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FACILITY IN PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA I WAS ADVISED WHEN VISITING HOURS WERE, FROM ONE TO SEVEN. AND BASICALLY SAID I JUST CAME FROM SLEEPING BEDSIDE AND IN THE BED AND BATHROOM AND ALL OF THIS TO YOU'RE TELLING ME JUST TO LEAVE IT? AND I DIDN'T LIKE THAT ANSWER. AND I WAS QUICKLY TOLD THAT THIS IS HIS REHAB, NOT MINE. AND I SAID, "AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO PULL ME INTO THE CARE VERSUS PUSH ME AWAY FROM THE CARE? I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED HERE." SO THE FIRST WEEK I JUST REALLY FELT A LOT OF RESISTANCE AGAINST FAMILY MEMBERS. THIS IS VETERAN'S AFFAIRS. IT'S FOR VETERANS, NOT FAMILY. AND SO I QUICKLY ADVISED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD PROBABLY START ADAPTING THEIR PROCESS TO THE FAMILY BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A TSUNAMI OF INDIVIDUALS COMIN' THROUGH HERE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY GO HOME WITH THE FAMILY. AND IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT THE FAMILY YOU'RE NOT SUPPORTING THE VETERAN. SO-- THERE WAS NO PLACE TO STAY. I STAYED IN A HOMETEL, WHICH IS ORIGINALLY SET UP FOR VETERANS. YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT EVERY DAY AT NINE AND TAKE YOUR LUGGAGE WITH YOU AND COME BACK AT 4:30 TO BE ON A STANDBY LIST. SO I WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIZED BY THAT, 'CAUSE I REALLY HAD NO PLACE TO JUST BE. CRY. ANYTHING. SO I WAS GIVEN A STACK OF LOCAL HOTELS AND A BUS ROUTE.

AND SO I CALLED THE LOCAL RESERVE UNIT AND SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE MY NEW LIAISON UNTIL I CAN GET ONE COORDINATED HERE. AND YOU HAVE MARINES HERE AND I NEED TO SEE YOU IN UNIFORM BRINGING POSTERS, T-SHIRTS, RUNNIN' ME TO THE GROCERY STORE, WHATEVER." AND THEY DID. THEY OBLIGED THAT. THE SYSTEM WAS NOT PREPARED FOR, LIKE I SAID, THE TSUNAMI OF INJURED AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE LONGEVITY OF THE REHAB. AND I DON'T BLAME THEM FOR THAT. I-- I CAN'T FOCUS ON BLAME. I CAN FOCUS ON FIXING. AND I USED TO FEAR THOSE CRACKS IN THE SYSTEM. NOW I LOOK FOR THEM, BECAUSE I WANNA ENCOUNTER THEM AND FILL THEM BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES. AND IF YOU DON'T TELL 'EM WHAT'S BROKE THEY CAN'T FIX IT. EVENTUALLY, THE SARGENTS RETURNED TO CAMP PENDLETON WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT HIM HOME HE COULDN'T GO TO THE BATHROOM BY HIMSELF. HE COULDN'T WALK FROM THE BED TO THE BATHROOM. HE COULDN'T SHOWER. HE COULDN'T FEED HIMSELF. HE WAS IN A FOG. HE WOULD TELL ME THAT HE WAS HUNGRY, THAT HE WAS TIRED OR THAT HE WAS IN PAIN. THAT WAS OUR CONVERSATION. SO HE WOULD SAY, "I'M HUNGRY." AND I WOULD SAY, "WELL, LET'S GO MAKE A SANDWICH." SO I'D BRING HIM IN HERE AND I'D SAY, "WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR A SANDWICH?" " AND HE COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT HE NEEDED FOR A SANDWICH. SO THEN THAT WAS A REALITY CHECK. I WAS LIKE, "OKAY." THANK GOD I'VE BEEN A MOTHER AND I'VE RAISED CHILDREN. I HAVE A CHILD. I HAVE TO RAISE HIM AS A CHILD. SO I'VE SORT OF LOST THE ESSENCE OF BEING A WIFE AND ACQUIRED A MOTHER ROLE. WHICH HOW DO YOU REGAIN OR RECAPTURE THAT? OR DO YOU? IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. HE'S A MAN ONE MOMENT AND A CHILD IN ANOTHER MOMENT. SO WHEN I LOOK AT HIM DEAD ON, THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS FACE IS THE EXIT WOUNDS, WHICH REPRESENTS THE MAN THAT HE IS. AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE RIGHT SIDE IT'S THE MAN THAT HE WAS. AND SO PHYSICALLY I SEE A MAN STRUGGLING BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS. AND I STRUGGLE, 'CAUSE THE MAN ON THE RIGHT DIED THAT DAY. AND THE MAN ON THE LEFT WAS REBORN.

BUT HE HOLDS ENOUGH ESSENCE OF THE MAN THAT HE WAS, WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO GRIEVE FOR SOMEONE THAT'S LIVING. SO FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY MY FAMILY HAS REPRESSED. AND NOW THEY'RE SURFACING AND WE HAVE TO CONFRONT THEM. AND I LIVE WITH THOSE DEMONS OF GUILT EVERY DAY. THROUGH BLOOD, SWEAT AND MANY TEARS TONIA BROUGHT HER MARINE BACK TO LIFE.. I'M HOME A LOT NOW SO I DECIDED TO WORK OUT AND GET IN SHAPE AS MUCH AS I CAN. YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHIN' THE MARINE CORPS INSTILLS IN YOU AND SOMETHING I'VE BEEN DOING SINCE I WAS 18. YOU KNOW, I'M ALMOST 40. I'M TRYIN' TO STAY IN SHAPE, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO TURN INTO A FAT PIG. TODAY, KENNY SARGENT CAN WALK, TALK AND TAKE CARE OF HIS HOME REMEMBER USMC PARKING ONLY! I DID THE ROSE BUSHES TOO. I JUST PUT THOSE IN A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. AND THE BIG WOOD THAT'S GOT FLOWERS IN IT, I MADE THAT MYSELF, EVEN THE THING THAT GOES AROUND HERE - I MADE THOSE THINGS.. HE DOESN'T REMEMBER BEING HIT I WAS UP ON AN AMTRAK TRYING TO WATCH MY MARINES. MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS TAKEN CARE OF. WHEN ONE OF THE ROUNDS RICOCHETED OFF THE LATCH OF THE DOOR, IT WENT IN MY RIGHT EYE. WENT THROUGH, CAME OUT THE LEFT SIDE OF MY HEAD. PUT A BIG HOLE IN MY HEAD, ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR HAND. I HAVE NO MEMORY OF IT WHATSOEVER. WELL, THE PHASES THAT YOU GO THROUGH. YOU GO THROUGH THE TRAUMA PHASE. EVERYBODY COMES TO SUPPORT YOU IN THE TRAUMA PHASE. THEN YOU GO TO THE REHAB PHASE. THAT'S WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS START DROPPIN' OFF. GOIN', "HOW LONG IS THIS GONNA GO ON FOR?" THEN YOU COME TO THE REALITY PHASE WHICH IS WHERE I AM.

I WOULD SAY 99 PERCENT OF OUR FRIENDS ARE NOT IN OUR LIFE ANYMORE. THAT'S A LOT. AND THERE'S A LOT OF ANGER THERE ON MY HUSBAND'S PART, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE WERE HIS COMRADES. THEY DON'T EVEN COME TO MY HOUSE AND VISIT ME. THEY DON'T CALL ME. THEY DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. BUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE IT'S HAPPENING TO. IT'S HAPPENED TO A LOT OF MARINES THAT WERE INJURED SO BAD. THAT THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WON'T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM ANYMORE. SO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO HIM, "DON'T BLAME THEM, 'CAUSE MAYBE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ISSUES. AND LOOKING AT YOU FESTERS THEIR ISSUES. SO THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. AND THEN PRETTY SOON THEY HADN'T SAID ANYTHING AND THEN IT'S TOO LONG AND THEY DON'T SAY NOTHING SO THEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY." NOW I GUESS I'M A LITTLE ANGRY. BECAUSE, TO BE HONEST WITH YA, IF IT WAS ONE OF MY MARINES THAT GOT INJURED, LIKE I GOT INJURED, I THINK THE FAMILY WOULD BE SICK AND TIRED OF SEEING ME. THEY WOULD WANNA KICK ME OUT OF THEIR HOUSE ALL THE TIME. CAUSE I WOULD BE THERE VISITING HIS KID SO MANY TIMES, TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF HIM AS MUCH AS I COULD. YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD GET SICK AND TIRED OF SEEING MY FACE. WE RECENTLY RENEWED OUT WEDDING VOWS TO CELEBRATE THE COUPLE THAT WE WERE AS 20 YEARS IS A MILESTONE. I'M JUST TRYING TO RECONNECT WITH HIM AS THE WIFE AND THE COUPLE THAT WE ARE. I'M DESPERATE TO DO THAT. BUT HE EVOLVES FARTHER AWAY FROM THE MAN I KNOW EVERY DAY. I DON'T RECOGNIZE HIM. HE DOESN'T LOOK THE SAME - HE DOESN'T ACT THE SAME - HE DOESN'T TALK THE SAME. HE'S NOT THE SAME. AND I MISS HIM. I'M HAPPY EVERYDAY THAT I'M STILL ALIVE. I'M HAPPY EVERYDAY THAT THE MARINE CORPS ALLOWED ME TO STAY IN THE MARINE CORPS. SO I CAN SAY THAT I'M A RETIRED MARINE, NOT A HANDICAPPED-- MEDICALLY DISCHARGED MARINE. BUT MY BIGGEST ASSET, MY BIGGEST WORK FOR ME HAS BEEN MY WIFE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SHE'S THE ONLY ONE-- OUT OF ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN HERE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME, HAS BEEN MY WIFE. CAUSE I TELL YA, WHEN I FIRST GOT HOME, SHE LITERALLY HAD TO SHOWER ME. SHE HAD TO WASH ME. SHE USED TO SHAVE ME. SHE ALWAYS-- EVEN THOUGH I HAD A BIG HOLE IN MY HEAD, SHE'D ALWAYS GIVE ME A NICE HAIRCUT ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT WAS MY WIFE THAT REALLY PUSHED ME, AND PUSHED ME, AND PUSHED ME TO DO BETTER WITH MYSELF-- SO THAT I CAN BE THAT BETTER PERSON. SO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN MY SITUATION ARE STRUGGLING PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, FINANCIALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. AND WHEN I SAY SPIRITUALLY, WE'RE ALL LOOKIN' FOR SOMETHIN' HIGHER TO SURRENDER OUR PAIN, OUR GUILT AND SACRIFICE TO BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING ON THIS EARTH THAT CAN DO THAT. NOTHING.

MY HUSBAND DIED THAT DAY EVEN THOUGH HE'S ALIVE TODAY. DESPITE HIS RECOVERY, SUCH AS IT IS, TONIA SARGENT IS STILL TRYING TO HELP HER HUSBAND SHE TOLD HIS STORY TO A GROUP WHO HOPES TO BRING VETERANS TOGETHER WITH FARMERS. THE MEETING WAS AT AN OLD V-F-W HALL IN SANTA CRUZ CALIFORNIA. HE IS UNEMPLOYABLE IN THE CORPORATE WORLD BUT HE CAN COME AND DIG AND PLANT AND HE WILL GROW FROM THAT. AND HE WILL FEEL THAT HE HAS PURPOSE. LISTENING TO HER STORY THAT DAY WAS NADIA MCCAFFREY, SHE WAS THERE TO PITCH HER IDEA OF VETERANS VILLAGES WHERE VETS CAN LEAVE THE EMOTIONAL SCARS OF THE BATTLEFIELD AND THE POLITICAL DIVISIONS OF THE HOME FRONT BEHIND. THE VETERAN VILLAGE IS NEUTRAL. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY COMING WITH THIS ORGANIZATION TO BRING THEIR POLITICAL AGENDA. AND THE BEAUTY OF IT IS IT'S HAPPENING. PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL SUPPORTING THE WAR ARE COMING IN. AND PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE WAR ARE ALSO COMING IN. I THINK IT'S ONE GOOD WAY TO BRING THIS UNITY TOGETHER ONCE MORE. AND TO STOP THE DIVISION THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY. AND SAY WHETHER YOU'RE RIGHT, LEFT, CENTER, ABOVE-- DOESN'T MATTER. I DON'T WANNA KNOW. LET'S TAKE CARE OF THE TROOPS. IT'S ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. AND THAT'S ALL THAT COUNTS.

BUT IT WAS WHAT SHE HEARD FROM TONIA THAT MOVED HER. AND INSTANTLY THERE WAS A BOND AND A FRIENDSHIP. THIS IS SOMETHING HE COULD DO. AS YOU'VE SEEN IN MY YARD, HE'S THE ONE THAT'S PLANTED ALL THESE FLOWERS. HE HAS BUILT THE WOOD STRUCTURE THAT GOES AROUND IT. HE IS CONSTANTLY-- MOWING THE GRASS. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT IS VERY STIMULATING FOR HIM. IT'S VERY QUICKLY GRATIFYING FOR HIM. AND IT'S HEALING. SHORTLY AFTER THE MEETING NADIA TRAVELED TO CAMP PENDLETON TO SEE TONIA AND MEET HER HUSBAND KENNY. NICE TO MEET YOU. -VERY NICE TO MEET YOU YOU CAN GIVE ME A HUG I WON'T BITE. SO I TRY TO KEEP EVERYTHING OFF THE GRASS SO I CAN MOW REAL GOOD. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? HE LIKES THE IDEA OF WORKING WITH THE EARTH. BUT WHAT HE REALLY LIKES IS TO BE WITH OTHER SOLDIERS TO BE HONEST WITH YA, THAT'S THE BEST TIME I HAVE RIGHT NOW. IS THAT I GET A CHANCE TO BE WITH INJURED KIDS. CAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE STILL KIDS TO ME, COMPARED TO MY AGE. THEY FEEL-- I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER BEING AROUND THEM, AND WITH THEM, THEN I DO A NORMAL PERSON, THAT WAS INJURED SO BAD. THERE IS ALSO A STRONG BOND BETWEEN THE WOMEN. "SHE'S VERY STRONG, VERY MOTIVATED/SHE'S A GOOD ALLY - GOOD PERSON TO WORK WITH"

WE SHARE A LOSS. WE SHARE THE SAME GRIEVING PATTERN. WE BOTH CRAVE SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE WE'RE PASSIONATE.

WE HEAL THROUGH HELPING. WE'RE DOERS. WE'RE PERSISTENT. WE'RE VOCAL. WE'RE NURTURING. WE'RE WOMEN. WOMEN OF THIS WAR ARE DOING AMAZING THING, WHETHER IT'S A MOTHER, A SPOUSE, A SERVICE MEMBER. NOT TO DISREGARD THE MEN, BUT WOMEN ARE REALLY DOING A LOT OF-- UPROAR. YOU DON'T MESS WITH A MOTHER AND HER CHILD AND YOU DON'T MESS WITH A WIFE AND HER FAMILY. SO WE SHARE MANY THINGS. WE SHARE FUTURE THINGS WE SHARE PROGRESS. HER AND I WILL BE BONDED FOREVER. I CAN JUST SIT AND BE WITH HER AND I'M COMFORTED BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS.

SINCE WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU THAT STORY SOMETHING QUITE EXTRAORDINARY HAPPENED. NADIA MCCAFFREY WAS APPROACHED BY A MAN - A VETERAN HIMSELF - WHO MADE HER A SPECIAL OFFER.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE FIRST VETERANS VILLAGE STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF US I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. THE MAN GAVE THIS ALMOST COMPLETED FOUR STORY BUILDING TO NADIA'S FOUNDATION TO BECOME THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE VETERANS VILLAGE. NADIA SAID HE DOESN'T WANT HIS NAME REVEALED. HE'S SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T REALLY LIKE TO BE IN THE FRONT ROW AND HE'S A VETERAN - SO HE TOTALLY UNDERSTANDS THE SITUATION WITH THE YOUNG VETERAN TODAY AND HE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE THAT. THE BUILDING IS JUST OUTSIDE GUERNEVILLE, CALIFORNIA ON THE RUSSIAN RIVER. IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF REDWOOD COUNTRY. AND ITS SMELLS GOOD AND IT'S NATURE AND IT'S WONDERFUL FOR THE SOUL, I THINK. THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE DINING ROOMS THE BUILDING CAN HOUSE UP TO TWENTY VETERANS AND IS LOCATED NEAR SONOMA COUNTY FARMS WHERE NADIA HOPES THOSE VETS WHO WANT TO FIND WORK CAN. THEY WILL EAT - THEY WILL SLEEP - WE WILL HAVE WORKSHOPS, CLASSES - COUNSELING - WITH PROFESSIONALS, OF COURSE - ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY VOLUNTEERED TO HELP OUT. BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, SAYS NADIA, IS FOR THE SOLDIERS TO BE WITH EACH OTHER - TO TAKE MEALS TOGETHER AND TALK. I'M GOING TO BE THERE AS A MOTHER FOR THEM - MOTHER FIGURE - MAINLY LISTENING - AND HUGGING AND COOKING - AND MAYBE HELPING WITH RESOURCES - DRIVING THEM - WHATEVER NEED TO BE DONE. NADIA IS GOING TO NAME THE FIRST VETERAN VILLAGE IN HONOR OF LT. KENNETH BALLARD, A CALIFORNIAN KILLED IN IRAQ ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN 2004. SHE BELIEVES HER SON PATRICK WOULD APPROVE. I THINK PATRICK IS SMILING AT US RIGHT NOW AND I THINK HE WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF US - YES. AND NOW SOME CLOSING THOUGHTS. NEWS FROM THE BATTLE FIELDS, THE MILITARY PART OF THE IRAQ WAR HAS BEEN OVERALL POSITIVE LATELY. AT LEAST SOME OF THE EFFORTS AT NATION BUILDING, OPENING SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND THE LIKE ALSO CONTINUE TO SHOW PROMISE. EFFORTS TO BUILD A VIABLE IRAQI GOVERNMENT ARE FAR LESS SO. IN AFGHANISTAN TOO COMBAT OPERATIONS, OVERALL, APPEAR TO BE GOING AT LEAST REASONABLY WELL. AND THERE BOTH HUMANITARIAN NATION BUILDING PROJECT AND THE DRIVE TO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC BASE GOVERNMENT SUCCEED INDICATE PROGRESS. UNLIKE IN IRAQ, IN AFGHANISTAN THE UNITED STATES PRESENCE HAS MAJORITY SUPPORT. NONE OF THIS MEANS AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE ANY ILLUSIONS ABOUT THESE WARS. THE OUTCOME REMAINS OPEN TO SERIOUS DOUBT IN BOTH COUNTRIES. AND THE ROAD AHEAD STILL LOOKS LONG, TOUGH AND COSTLY. PRESIDENT BUSH LAST WEEK ASKED A SKEPTICAL CONGRESS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 46 BILLION DOLLARS TO FIGHT THE WARS. THAT'S ON TOP OF THE 150 BILLION HE'S ALREADY ASKED FOR THIS YEAR. NEW OFFICIAL ESTIMATES ARE THAT THE WARS COULD COST AS MUCH AS 2.4 TRILLION DOLLARS. MOST OF THE MONEY THE GOVERNMENT IS BORROWING, MUCH OF IT FROM CHINA. BUT AS YOU'VE SEEN TONIGHT THE COST OF THESE WARS MUST BE MEASURED IN HUMAN SUFFERING AS WELL. SO FAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN 4,200 AMERICANS IN UNIFORM HAVE BEEN KILLED AND ANOTHER 30,000 WOUNDED. BUT NUMBERS ALONE CAN'T TELL THE STORY. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THIS HUMAN COST WILL LIKELY CONTINUE AFTER THE LAST TROOPS HAVE LEFT THESE BATTLEFIELDS. AND UNLIKE THE FINANCIAL COSTS OF THE WAR, ONLY A FEW AMERICANS ARE BEING ASKED TO PAY. WHILE MOST OF OUR NATION CONTINUES LIFE WITH LITTLE INCONVENIENCE. FOR HDNET, DAN RATHER REPORTING. GOOD NIGHT.