Another Iraq Vet Suicide--Witnessed By His Mom

[marmar]

from HuffPost:




Greg Mitchell
Another Iraq Vet Suicide--Witnessed By His Mom
Posted May 6, 2008 | 09:59 AM (EST)



As the scandal of suicide attempts by Iraq veterans expands -- in the face of Veterans Administration denials -- another horrific case has emerged, once again only gaining attention because of a local newspaper. I have been tracking these accounts for almost five years and only recently has the problem, with an estimated 1,000 attempts a month now reported, gained wide media, and to some extent official, attention.

The latest story came in a story by Patrick McCreless in The Cullman Times of Cullman, Ala. The headline is similar to so many others lately: "Family pushing for changes after soldier's suicide."

It tells how Dorothy Screws "witnessed her only son, U.S. Army Pvt. Tommie Edward Jones, commit suicide right before her eyes six weeks ago in Colorado. She says the Army, which promised to be there for Screws and her family to deal with the loss, has yet to provide assistance."

The story continues: "Now Screws can hardly do her job without breaking down. Just the simple act of living is a challenge.

"Only the memory of her son keeps Screws going as she fights to ensure another parent does not have to live through the same tragedy. 'I can't save my son now ... I want to save somebody,' Screws said with tears in her eyes. 'If I can save one soldier, it will be worth it.'

"Screws plans to petition the government for as long as it takes until a law is passed requiring soldiers to undergo some type of psychological therapy after they return from intense combat."

Her son was 27 when he died at Fort Carson, Colo., on March 25. He served in Iraq in 2007 and suffered from PTSD. "He said, 'I wake up every morning angry,'" Screws said. "He said, 'My body is here but my mind is in Iraq.'" ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/another-iraq-vet-suicide_b_100331.html

[babylonsister]

1. That poor family...

:cry: and this shitty government for putting these people in this situation. :grr:

[bdamomma]

2. shameful.

and more stories like this will be coming out.

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Soldier_suicides_could_trump_war_to_05052008.html


This regime we have must pay for their crimes against humanity and I have the hope that they will face the same fate as those who committed crimes in the Third Reich.

[mopinko]

3. war is all hell.

when are we going to figure out that even when we win, we lose.
the next evolution of the human animal is about to begin, i think. war has become so intense that it is not even survivable any more. who will survive to carry on?

[otherlander]

4. It's times like these

when I wish I believed in an afterlife.
:cry:

[Solly Mack]

5. K&R

[countryjake]

6. The family didn't even know he was suffering from PTSD, til after his death...

I'm not so sure I'd agree with mandatory testing of anyone's mental health status, but this poor kid supposedly had already been diagnosed...where was his therapy? The stigma that comes with having any problems is what needs to be reversed. How many people fear the end of their military career if they admit to weakness of any sort?

http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/local_story_124200650.html

I really feel for this poor family...what a horrible shock, to learn, after the fact, how much their loved one must have been suffering.