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 ...
I do not think it helps when the troops and the CIA are under attack themselves. Very demoralizing. Internally, there is a war on our security.
And the root problem on this internal attack on America is that the muslim lefties have their commander in chief sitting in the big white house.
We will see more of this unfold in the bogus decision to put America on trial at the KSM circus in New York.
Our security will be further compromised and the CIA and the Military will be hammered again.
Can you imagine:
Dear President Roosevelt.
Our son was so stressed out going into this third Pacific amphibious invasion decided that he couldn’t take the hell anymore and killed himself. Will you write us a sympathy card?
Signed Sad Mom and Dad
Dear Sad Mom and Dad,
Because you son killed himself, his equipment and ammunition could not be brought ashore. The remainder of his squad ran out of ammo and were overrun by the enemy, resulting in six other boys losing their lives.
I am wicked sorry for YOUR loss. Here are the names and addresses of the other member of his squad. Could you please write their parents and explain how war is hell.
Signed, POTUS
Nonsense. There should be zero bennies for families of suicides. Those are given, as they should be, for those KIA. Self murder is not equivalent in any way, shape or form.
To give bennies to suicides cheapens those who had their lives TAKEN from them.
I agree their grief isn’t any less, but my thought is WHY would anyone want a condolence letter from a man that HATES OUR MILITARY MEMBERS?
Yeah. It just flat sucks all around. But, no bennies for suicides.
“Suicide” is a “mortal sin”. Your body is not yours to take, it is Gods gift . They’re on their way to hell
It’s not about the family’s grief, it’s about the soldier’s service, and he (or she) took the wrong way out
Well *I* have, and my husband killed himself. I know what you’re saying about grief and guilt and all sorts of emotions.
And the letter from the CIC is not about the family’s grief, guilt or anything, but about the servicemember’s service.
This issue always sucks.
The Military does a great job in awareness but in a testosterone-filled force, there is sadly very little that can be done to prevent suicides. Mainly because of the stigma and consequences incurred after coming forward.
Institutionally, the DoD cannot recognize suicides, even in a combat zone. That would create a culture where pre-suicidals would know they would receive some level of glory/vindication after they are dead, arguably leading to a rise in suicides.
Knowing Obama and his love for terrorists, while Hasan is receiving flowers and get well cards from the White House, his family has all their needs cared for and sent sympathy notes.
good point...but pr4olly another sepaarate subject—...force the bastard to the right thing maybe...
like Duke Wayne said—life is tough, and even tougher when yer stupid!
Suicide is the ultimate act of despair. They are not on their way to hell, they were already there. It is sad but such people would never trust God if they saw him face to face and heard an eternities worth of encouragement.
I was at this point on a great many occasions.
It’s sad but capt is right. Even though God doesn’t SEND anyone to hell, it’s pretty much impossible to encourage a person who has reached the point of absolute despair. Not even the glory of heaven can earn their trust in God.
None of us has ever reached the point of absolute despair. This is why we are still alive. Personally, I have come close on many occasions but never to the absolute point.
“I find nothing in the Bible which states directly or indirectly anything along the lines of stating that if a person who accepted Jesus gift of salvation kills him or herself, they would then lose their salvation and go directly to Hell.”
That’s because you are correct. Also, is it possible to reach the point of absolute despair while in a relationship with Christ? Can a person believe and yet not believe at the same time? Would Jesus allow a person to reach this point?
Suicide is a result of mental illness or mental distress.
The saddest part of it is that there are no “do overs.”
A military suicide while in theater is still a death caused by war. The public war and the private war of a person overpower his ability to cope. He doesn’t take it out on someone else. He doesn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel because the tunnel has a curve in it and he doesn’t know that.
Did his buddies know something was wrong and were they too “man upped” to console him? How about the men who’ve had similar things happen, lose a girl friend, get a ‘dear john’ letter and somehow survive it and a war at the same time and then go home to locate a girlfriend who’s a thousand times better than the one he lost? Hmmmmmm? Why aren’t those stories told so that guys like this one can know that “everything happens for a purpose?”
This family has regretfully made their situation public. I kind of wish they’d talked quietly to their son’s commander to get a better understanding of protocol.
And if there is no written protocol, maybe there should be and maybe their going public is for that reason.
God Bless The Soldier In Theater and May His Personal War Not Be A Heavy Burden For His Heart.
Very articulate, rational and compassionate post.
You make several excellant points.
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