local
Wounded soldiers, families accuse Army of downplaying war injuries
By Jonah Kaplan at CBS Texas (KTVT) DFW
· June 24, 2026
· 7 min read
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked about the toll of the conflict with Iran in March, he told reporters that "almost 90%" of the 400 injured American service members had sustained only minor injuries and had since returned to duty.Now, some of those wounded soldiers tell CBS News the i...
Key takeaway Chief Warrant Officer Rodney Bearman's body was riddled with shrapnel in the early hours of the war on March 1 when an Iranian drone slammed into his work station in Kuwait.
Why this matters in Southlake News
The controversy surrounding the classification of war injuries by the Army has significant implications for the Southlake community, where many families have ties to the military. The fact that some wounded soldiers, like Chief Warrant Officer Rodney Bearman, are being classified as "not seriously injured" despite suffering severe shrapnel wounds, concussions, and other serious conditions, raises concerns about the support and resources available to these families. As a community with a strong military presence, Southlake residents may be wondering how these designations affect the care and benefits provided to local veterans and their families. The Army's response to these allegations will be closely watched, particularly in terms of how it impacts the delivery of medical care and compensation to those affected. The community will be looking for transparency and accountability in the Army's handling of these cases, to ensure that local veterans receive the support they deserve.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS Texas (KTVT) DFW . Southlake News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS Texas (KTVT) DFW . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: CBS Texas (KTVT) DFW ·
Reading time: 7 min
Get more Southlake News stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked about the toll of the conflict with Iran in March, he told reporters that "almost 90%" of the 400 injured American service members had sustained only minor injuries and had since returned to duty.Now, some of those wounded soldiers tell CBS News the i...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by CBS Texas (KTVT) DFW and curated for Southlake News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jonah Kaplan at CBS Texas (KTVT) DFW. To learn more about how Southlake News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Southlake News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter