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Post by Jaga on Nov 15, 2007 23:28:37 GMT -7
Just a week ago a soldier, Iraq veteran, from Idaho Falls area commited suicide. He was 24, had wife and two small children.
Here is more about this difficult problem:More American military veterans have been committing suicide than US soldiers have been dying in Iraq, it was claimed yesterday. At least 6,256 US veterans took their lives in 2005, at an average of 17 a day, according to figures broadcast last night. Former servicemen are more than twice as likely than the rest of the population to commit suicide. Such statistics compare to the total of 3,863 American military deaths in Iraq since the invasion in 2003 - an average of 2.4 a day, according to the website ICasualties.org. The rate of suicides among veterans prompted claims that the US was suffering from a “mental health epidemic” – often linked to post-traumatic stress. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2873622.ece
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joyce
Full Pole
Posts: 394
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Post by joyce on Nov 16, 2007 4:13:28 GMT -7
yah, CBS evening news did an item last week about the suicide rate of our veterans.
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Post by rdywenur on Nov 16, 2007 13:37:02 GMT -7
Don't tell the US government that. They want men to be there for them and then they ditch them like garbage once they are discharged. I wonder how other countries treat their veterans and what is the suicide rate there.
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Post by hollister on Nov 16, 2007 14:29:25 GMT -7
Don't you get it?
Soldiers are tools - not real people with real problems! The ones that want to actually wrestle with the problems and issues are pushed aside for those that only parrot the part line that things are going well. Don't get me started on the gulf between active career soldiers and active reserves. Am I bitter? Yes, I am.
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Mary
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 934
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Post by Mary on Nov 16, 2007 21:19:13 GMT -7
Don't you get it? Soldiers are tools - not real people with real problems! The ones that want to actually wrestle with the problems and issues are pushed aside for those that only parrot the part line that things are going well. Don't get me started on the gulf between active career soldiers and active reserves. Am I bitter? Yes, I am. Bitter? Yes, I am bitter too. I just had a cousin (former Marine) who committed suicide about 3 weeks ago. So sad and unnecessary. he served in the Sudan and Phillipines. He was a sharp shooter (sniper), and after leaving the marines was with a police force in NC and was a member of their SWAT team. As I understand, he had told others that they just didn't know what he saw and had to do while in the service. WHY don't we have returning soldiers go through a program to help them deal with the effects of war before returning them to civilian life??? They are left so alone. Please pray for our military personel, no matter your opinions on the current war. They are after all, our sons and daughters. Mary |
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Post by Jaga on Nov 21, 2007 21:51:21 GMT -7
I think it was senator Martha who introduced a bill for more benefits for veterans and the hospitals which were in a bad shape. What I noticed, FoxNews for instance tried to show always "Happy War". It does not discuss casualties because it is afraid that it may sway public opinion against the war. I find it hipocritcal that the forces which push for the war and its support do not care for the veterans!
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Mary
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 934
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Post by Mary on Nov 21, 2007 22:05:58 GMT -7
I think it was senator Martha who introduced a bill for more benefits for veterans and the hospitals which were in a bad shape. What I noticed, FoxNews for instance tried to show always "Happy War". It does not discuss casualties because it is afraid that it may sway public opinion against the war. I find it hipocritcal that the forces which push for the war and its support do not care for the veterans! Over the Veteran's Day Weekend there were many good documentaries on the "Military Channel" Many of these addressed the problems of returning veterans and their recovery from injuries. Men and women, mothers and fathers, terribly injured. There was a segment on treatment at Walter Reed Hospital. The one thing that struck me was the troops undying love of the US and the military. They are the real heroes. Yes it is Congressman Murtha that is head of the Appropriations Committee for our military. I believe he is a former Marine and served in Vietnam. He is from my state, Pennsylvania. I have met the Congressman several times as my company sells to the Federal Government. One thing we supplied was armor weldments to protect the cabs of the Army's 5 Ton trucks. I am proud to think we may have helped save some lives. Mary Mary |
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