Wind-swept, rocky, but still reverberating

Argentina's military regime mistakenly counted on the US to support its 149-year-old claim to the British territory.

The defeat marked the beginning of the end for the junta and a democratic government was elected in 1983.

The federation has 12,000 members and is now fighting on another front, for social benefits.

´´About 10,000 troops landed on the Malvinas but in total there were about 22,000 troops and civilians involved in the war effort. Of those involved we represent about half. Many do not want to join because the memories are too painful,´´ Villarreal said.

´´We managed to increase the pension from 550 pesos (exchange rate almost same as dirham, 3.65 to US dollar) to 3,000 pesos monthly. But we also ne ed adequate healthcare.

´´We are trying to get in touch and bring in more members as the suicide rate shows many veterans still have great difficulty coming to terms with the trauma. This is a huge country and it can be logistically difficult to get in touch with people but they need our support,´´

Many of the suicides have been recorded in the remote provinces of Chacos and Corrientes in the north of the country, where conscripts had never seen the sea or snow before being sent to the Falklands. In 1982, Argentina had conscription, with compulsory military service of one year for the army and two for the navy.

There is no feeling of bitterness towards the British or Britain.

They realise they were used in a catastrophic gamble by a despised military junta but they all passionately believe the islands are Argentinian. All are agreed on the professionalism of the British army especiall y in their treatment of prisoners.

´´We were treated well by the British,´´ Villarreal said as others nod their heads in agreement.

´´I was injured when a mortar landed on my foot in the battle for Goose Green. It blew away the legs of my companion and I thought I was dead. I was and taken to a hospital ship, the Uganda, where I begged them not to kill me´´

Smiling, Villareal remembers the doctor´s words exactly. ´´ I am here to cure you, not to kill you. He did, he saved the foot.´´

Years later a friend of Villarreal met the doctor who treated him at a trauma medical course in ther US. The doctor came to Argentina to meet his former patient.

´´It was an emotional moment. His name was Michael Jones and he asked me how the leg was. I said ´fine´. I owe him my life.´´