Posted on 11/27/2009 6:45:53 AM PST by Responsibility2nd
Since at least the time of Abraham Lincoln, presidents have sent letters of condolence to the families of service members killed in action, whether the deaths came by hostile fire or in an accident.
So after his son killed himself in Iraq in June, Gregg Keesling expected that his family would receive a letter from President Obama. What it got instead was a call from an Army official telling family members that they were not eligible because their son had committed suicide.
“We were shocked,” said Mr. Keesling, 52, of Indianapolis.
Under an unwritten policy that has existed at least since the Clinton administration, presidents have not sent letters to survivors of troops who took their own lives, even if it was at the war front, officials say. The roots of that policy, which has been passed from administration to administration via White House protocol officers, are murky and probably based in the view that suicide is not an honorable way to die, administration and military officials say.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
_____________________________________________
Bears repeating.
So after his son killed himself in Iraq in June, Gregg Keesling expected that his family would receive a letter from President Obama.
No Way!!!! At the very least MAYBE the Commanding Officer may send a letter, but the President should in no way shape or form send a letter to these families.
Appaling!
Why would this families grief be any less? Multiple deployments and the bottom line is that these were military in the service of their country who died while serving!
Just awful.
So, if Hasan had died in his attack at Ft. Hood, his family should get a letter from the president?
sorry dude, I believe no letter from the WH for this
suicide is the ultimate self-chosen dishonorable discharge
Letter of condolence from the Commander, yes
from the potus- no
There is something wrong with these people. I think they are seeking publicity, pure and simple. The idea of honoring someone who killed himself is very weird.
“Why would this families grief be any less?”
___________________________
Actually, I agree with you. They will feel more grief - not less. And guilt to go along with that grief.
Too bad. Their son did a selfish hateful thing.
But the White House should NOT send a condolence letter treating his death like that of a true combat death.
To do that would cheapen and demean a true hero who died in service and honor to his country.
If suicide, do NOT give a military funeral. However, if suicide, give a note of condolences. A note, only gives condolences, if does not imply a sense of honor to the fallen.
A letter of condolence is for the families....and it would be a “sorry for your loss and thank you for your son’s service”. This is not the same as a deserter or a military person charged with a crime.
Suicide is the result of a serious depression, at that point it would be hard for a person to make a “rational decision”. And yes, the wife or children should receive any and all benefits, their loved one served, they made a sacrifice too.
To view this as a shameful thing just makes it harder for other military with depression, suicidal thoughts, to come forward BEFORE they kill themselves.
We are trying to deal with this escalating problem and refusing to send a letter to grieving families doesn’t help this situation. It sends the message, “If you are military and you have serious emotional problems, don’t ask for help , cause that shows you are weak and a coward and ‘not a real man”.That is exactly what the military and the VA are trying to deal with now.
I would look into this group and see who is behind it, who is pushing this.
The left is capable of anything. The left likes to emphasize military suicides, it goes along with their template that the American military is, in itself, cruel and unusual.
They are perfectly capable of publicizing suicides in the military for their own ends.
“their son did a hateful, selfish thing....”
Remind all the servicemen and women of that , in service now, or back at home....That way they won’t dare to try and get help for their problems. Obviously you have not had to deal with someone with a serious depression or PTSD...the idea is to take the shame out of being so suicidal so that someone will reach out for help.
but of course, your message will certainly stop them(sarc.).
Folks, consider that the New York Times is the source of this story. Anything to make the military look bad. I feel for the families who have lost a loved one. But we all have to deal with our private demons, no one will ever know what drove these servicemen to kill thenselves. A letter is a little much to ask for.
“suicide is not an honorable way to die..”
depends on whether you are a muslim or not, I guess
I would think that no President from Lincoln to Clinton ever sent letters to each soldier who died in hostile action. It would simply not have been possible during the Civil War, WWI, WWII or Korea. Even the Viet Nam War would have taxed the letter writing abilities of the Chief Executive.
I stand chastised and corrected.
Revising my comment:
“their son did a LOVING, COMPASSIONATE thing....”
All better now? (sarc.)
______________________________________
Here’s the deal: Yes, the military has suicide problems. But only to the extent that SOCIETY and THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY has broken down and is dysfunctional. The Army is doing as well as expected considering.
You argue that a so-sorry letter from the POTUS would strengthen morale and lead depressed people to seek help- I believe it would do the opposite, it would make suicide as noble a sacrifice as any other death
As “disappointing” as it might be to the families for the POTUS to draw the line and refuse to recognize suicide as just another honorable act of military sacrifice, I believe the military needs to hold the line and not become PC in this matter. The message it would send to the troops would encourage the opposite. If the prospect of shame and societal disapproval prevents a suicide, then shame is a good thing to help maintain discipline and order.
so wtf, a condolence call is not like the thousands upon thousands of bronze stars they’ve passed out in the chow line (if that still exists)—just an act of decency to the nok!!!
did i say decency?
poor choice of words, in this case...considering recent political history...
““Why would this families grief be any less?””
******************
ditto!!!!!
Exactly so. Elevating suicide to killed in action in status is wrong.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.