America’s veterans try to find purpose in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars

The Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a nationwide poll of veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, revealing the profound and enduring effects of these conflicts on the 2.6 million who have served. Explore what we found.

The burdens of war have been heavy for the past 12 years, but they have not been carried widely.

Fewer than 1 percent of the nation’s population — more than 2.5 million men and women – has served in the post-9/11 wars. And save for a few dramatic moments, such as the surge in Iraq or the aftermath of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, the nation has never fully immersed itself in these conflicts. Our limping economy, the government shutdown or celebrity news are far more likely to occupy news broadcasts or dinner conversations than Iraq or Afghanistan. This estrangement of the nation from its armed forces manifests itself throughout The Washington Post’s veterans survey.

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