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.