I was just watching the news and saw a report that shows suicides amoung our enlisted troops are up as of January. This increase is attributed to longer tours in one or both of the wars that we are engaged in. My brother is in the Army and served almost one and one half years in Iraq with only one two-week State-side vacation. He missed his wife's entire pregnancy with their first child and just did make it home for his birth. I thank God that his timing was such that once he made it State-side it was time for him to consider re-enlisting. He was able to re-enlist into a position that guarantees him domestic service for at least the first two years. This will thankfully give him ample time to re-coop from his prior tour so he isn't faced with the increased stress that too many of our service people are facing today. I hope we can find a solution to this problem FAST.
Deana Davis
POS1041
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3 comments:
Army suicides didn’t just start going up this past January. They have been increasing since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I am glad you decided to bring this point up. Most people seem to tune out the real cost of war. I was in paratrooper during the invasion of Iraq and the Kosovo war. I saw one of my best friends come back from Iraq, and then lose his wife and children due to his time away. He then decided to blow his brains out in front of his wife. We must always do everything in our power to lookout for our veterans. We cannot continue both of these wars without a great deal of life lost, both on the battle field and at home. Someone once asked me how many soldiers I thought suffered from PTS. The answer was easy, every combat soldier does. We must never over look the sacrifice our soldiers give, and always think of them every time we send them into harms way.
Justin Ford
CPO 2001
T R
Lisa Petty
POS 1041
T/R 11:35
Alot of people arent FULLY aware of the things that go on in Iraq... I think that even though this is a horribly disturbing thing to see/hear, the media needs to bring it to daytime and nighttime TV so that america can see what has been happening when we are all living out somewhat normal days. The more that people know maybe the more they will find solutions. Hopefully Obama will stick to his word and get our soldiers out soon!
I'm sure that you are among many who wish to find a solution to this issue. Unfortunately, I don't see a simple solution in the near future. Things that are seen while in war or in a country such as Iraq are usually things that can not be forgotten or unseen. The Army will continue to do what it does, which is ultimately keep our country safe. For some soldier, the visions and pain of what they've gone through just becomes too unbearable to live with. I can only hope that our soldiers will stay safe on AND off the battlefield.
Eric Kennedy
POS1041
T/R 11:35
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