The Veterans Affairs Department completed a study in 1988 that determined up to 30 percent of Vietnam Veterans suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and in 2000 Congress directed VA to do a follow-up study and they want officials to interview the same people they talked to for the first study.
But the Government Accountability Office reported on Wednesday VA did not know how many of the 2,348 participants in the first study could be found so they can participate in the latest one.
PTSD researchers, the GAO noted, suggested the department locate these vets in the same way it did on first go-round: through military and Internal Revenue Service records. Others suggested that Internet searches also could help track down the vets.
What a concept. I'm an easily locatable Vietnam veteran, down to my phone number, street address and probably a bunch of other information I really don't want out there, all thanks to Al Gore, who invented the Internet.
Bob Brewin
Bob Brewin joined Government Executive in April 2007, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience as a journalist focusing on defense issues and technology. Bob covers the world of defense and information technology for Nextgov, and is the author of the “What’s Brewin” blog.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Nextgov does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.