Witnessing the Meltdown

Veterans for Common Sense and the National Gulf War Resource Center are taking point on an issue few will discuss: the alarming rate of U.S. military suicides in Iraq. This disturbing issue requires an immediate start of a long-term evaluation, intervention, treatment, and monitoring program by both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Congress should fund such a program as soon as possible -- our newest war veterans have earned a square deal.

Troops in Iraq on Suicide Watch

24 U.S. personnel known to have killed themselves But Pentagon’s psychiatric team finds `no crisis’

Lynda Hurst

Toronto Star

(Canada)

http://www.thestar.com/

U.S. Army Specialist Joseph Suell wanted to be a career soldier. After serving in Korea for a year, he re-enlisted and last April was dispatched to Iraq.

Two months later, he took his own life — or, in Pentagon parlance, suffered a “non-hostile, self-inflicted drug overdose.” He was 24.

Back home in Texas, his wife Rebecca still can’t understand how it happened. His last e-mail had read: “Over here, you never know what’s going to happen next. So, I just keep my faith in Jesus and keep my eyes open.”

In war, “collateral damage” usually means unavoidable civilian deaths. In the war in Iraq, it also has come to mean an alarmingly high rate of military suicides.

Twenty-four Americans — 20 army personnel, two Marines and two sailors — are known to have taken their own lives in Iraq in the past year. Two of them were female. Four other deaths are being investigated.

That means a suicide rate of 17.3 per 100,000, a figure far in excess of last year’s overall U.S. military rate of 12.8.

It doesn’t include the deaths of newly States-sided troops, which the Pentagon doesn’t count. There have been seven such suicides, including those of two soldiers who killed themselves while patients at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Another three deaths are under investigation.

[VCS Note: If the suicides amont recently returned Iraq War veterans were included as part of the study, then the actual suicide rate among U.S. service members deployed to the war would actually be twice the expected suicide rate.]

Already, one in every 10 soldiers evacuated out of Iraq for medical care is suffering from mental-health problems. Outraged veterans groups say the military is totally unprepared for the onslaught of post-traumatic stress disorders coming in the months ahead as more troops return home.

It is already happening.

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	Witnessing the Meltdown Home Get Email Updates What I Do for a Living Email Me Admin Password Remember Me 13452 Curiosities served Share on Facebook				2004-04-14 9:32 PM U.S. Troops in Iraq on Suicide Watch Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (0) Veterans for Common Sense and the National Gulf War Resource Center are taking point on an issue few will discuss: the alarming rate of U.S. military suicides in Iraq. This disturbing issue requires an immediate start of a long-term evaluation, intervention, treatment, and monitoring program by both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Congress should fund such a program as soon as possible -- our newest war veterans have earned a square deal. Troops in Iraq on Suicide Watch 24 U.S. personnel known to have killed themselves But Pentagon’s psychiatric team finds `no crisis’ Lynda Hurst Toronto Star (Canada) http://www.thestar.com/ U.S. Army Specialist Joseph Suell wanted to be a career soldier. After serving in Korea for a year, he re-enlisted and last April was dispatched to Iraq. Two months later, he took his own life — or, in Pentagon parlance, suffered a “non-hostile, self-inflicted drug overdose.” He was 24. Back home in Texas, his wife Rebecca still can’t understand how it happened. His last e-mail had read: “Over here, you never know what’s going to happen next. So, I just keep my faith in Jesus and keep my eyes open.” In war, “collateral damage” usually means unavoidable civilian deaths. In the war in Iraq, it also has come to mean an alarmingly high rate of military suicides. Twenty-four Americans — 20 army personnel, two Marines and two sailors — are known to have taken their own lives in Iraq in the past year. Two of them were female. Four other deaths are being investigated. That means a suicide rate of 17.3 per 100,000, a figure far in excess of last year’s overall U.S. military rate of 12.8. It doesn’t include the deaths of newly States-sided troops, which the Pentagon doesn’t count. There have been seven such suicides, including those of two soldiers who killed themselves while patients at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Another three deaths are under investigation. [VCS Note: If the suicides amont recently returned Iraq War veterans were included as part of the study, then the actual suicide rate among U.S. service members deployed to the war would actually be twice the expected suicide rate.] Already, one in every 10 soldiers evacuated out of Iraq for medical care is suffering from mental-health problems. Outraged veterans groups say the military is totally unprepared for the onslaught of post-traumatic stress disorders coming in the months ahead as more troops return home. It is already happening. more Read/Post Comments (0) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top