Too many returning military soldiers find that the world is not the one they left. After fighting and risking their lives, too many come home and some "lose the fight with demons".
"In 2018, Veterans accounted for a lower proportion of suicide deaths among U.S. adults than in prior years. Veterans accounted for 13.8% of all deaths by suicide in 2018, compared to 19.2% in 2005 and 14.1% in 2017....Male veterans are 18 times more likely to kill themselves than their civilian counterparts, and female veterans are, sadly, 250 times more likely to commit suicide than their civilian counterparts. Another grave statistic is that it is estimated that an average of 20 veterans per day commit suicide — which translates to one veteran every 65 minutes...
Young enlisted troops are the primary concern. They account for 43% of the military population but 61% of deaths by suicide. Personally owned firearms, not military weapons, were the primary cause of death.
"None of us has solved this issue," said Karin Orvis, director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office. "There is no quick fix." Military suicides
Fellow troops reach out to their comrades, especially comment section after videos like this were released:
I'm so sorry, Brother. I also served in Iraq, Fallujah as an Infantry Marine and I felt through every fiber of my body the words you wrote. Everyday is a struggle. Rest Easy Brother. I love You.
Amen. Thank you for posting. And he has 100% correct. My condolences to his friends and family. I'm sorry for your loss. And they give you the most deadliest mix of prescription meds. Chantix, antidepressants, a statin or opioids.
My father has struggled with this since the Vietnam War. He has good days & bad days, but can never sleep no matter what they try to give him. As soon as he closes his eyes, the nightmares begin & he is jumping up out of bed to make it stop. He naps an hour here or there & that is it all day every day it's a struggle for him to close his eyes & attempt sleep. This has been going on for decades & no one wants to open their eyes to see what the govt. has done. He had no choice either (drafted).
My WW2 veteran father suffered with PTSD for nearly 70 years. His struggles affected our entire family. But, that was a time of "suck it up, keep going" where people never talked about the sources or struggles.
One source of providing support is Supporting mental health , and I've purchased tee shirts, a car sticker, and other items. They honor those who are suffering. Check them out. They have goals, one of which is to rescue and recognize the humanity of tortured veterans.
Daniel Somers, about 2 min.
Everyone has to know someone who has wrestled with PTSD. Reach out to them and/or organizations that provide help for these Veterans.
My address site for information was seriously messed up. So Sorry. Please come back!
Gail Williams, a former blogger from "atthefarm" sent this to me: "Our family, new friends, and my husband and I watched the Super Bowl yesterday and we moved to tears by the military as the National Anthem was played. So young, so proud. Some of the players stood at attention as well, hand over heart."
When the Music Stopped
For those who are unaware: Since before the 1960s, at all military base theaters all over the world, the National Anthem is played before a movie begins. What did the soldiers do? As observed by a chaplain:
I recently attended a showing of “Superman 3” here at LSA Ananconda. We have a large auditorium that is used for movies as well as memorial services and other large gathering.
As is the custom at all military bases, we stood at attention when the National Anthem began before the movie began.
All was going well until three-quarters of the way through the National Anthem, the music stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-to-22-year-olds back in the States? I imagine that there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, only if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.
Here in Iraq, these 1,000 soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again, and the soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention, Again, though, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1,000 soldiers standing at attention to do?
Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.
No!! You could have heard a pin drop while every soldier continued to stand at attention.
Suddenly, there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the whole room was filled with voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq, and I wanted you to know what kind of U.S. Soldiers are serving you/us. Remember them as they fight for us
Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins, LSA Anaconda at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad.
Gail Williams, a former blogger from "atthefarm" sent this to me: "Our family, new friends, and my husband and I watched the Super Bowl yesterday and we moved to tears by the military as the National Anthem was played. So young, so proud. Some of the players stood at attention as well, hand over heart."
When
the Music Stopped
For
those who are unaware: Since before the 1960s,
at all military base theaters all over the world, the National Anthem is played
before a movie begins. What did the soldiers do?
I recently attended a showing of “Superman 3” here at LSA
Ananconda. We have a large auditorium that
is used for movies as well as memorial services and other large gathering.
As is the custom at all military bases, we stood at
attention when the National Anthem began before the movie began.
All was going well until three-quarters of the way
through the National Anthem, the music stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000
18-to-22-year-olds back in the States? I
imagine that there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and
everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is,
only if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.
Here in Iraq, these 1,000 soldiers continued to stand at
attention, eyes fixed forward. The music
started again, and the soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention, Again,
though, at the same point, the music stopped.
What would you expect 1,000 soldiers standing at attention to do?
Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would
eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.
No!! You could
have heard a pin drop while every soldier continued to stand at attention.
Suddenly, there was a lone voice from the front of the
auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the whole room was filled with voices
of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:
And
the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night
that our flag was still there. Oh, say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet
wave, o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq, and
I wanted you to know what kind of U.S. Soldiers are serving you/us. Remember
them as they fight for us
Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins, LSA Anaconda at the
Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad.
