Military suicides are causing civilian casualties, too

[babsbunny]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/02/28/88864/military-suicides-are-causing.html

By Halimah Abdullah | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wimmer charmed potential Army recruits with a movie star's smile, but somehow it never quite reached his eyes, even when he was cradling his newborn twin daughters.

Whenever he closed his eyes, he dreamed of his own dead body swinging from a rope, his feet dangling just above a chair.

When those nightmares eventually blurred, the Persian Gulf veteran and former Army recruiter began trying to recreate their grisly images. He tried to kill himself with pills in the woods, and a razor blade in a hotel room, and every suicide attempt drew his wife, Jennifer, and their four daughters deeper into his dark world.

[peace13]

1. Thanks for posting this.

What a sad story.

[L0oniX]

2. If only people would think about this sort of thing before they join the military.

I also wish people would consider this sort of thing before they play cheer leader to those that come here on DU and tell everyone that they are signing up.

[AwakeAtLast]

4. They don't think about it because the military does a very good job of hiding it

Those recruiters are very good at hiding and lying. My husband knew some of what he was getting into, but they never know all of it until it is too late. Also, when you feel like you have no other alternative, the consequences are not at the forefront of their minds.

[AwakeAtLast]

3. "When I told him that he needed to get some help, he said,

"I can't do that. It will damage my career."

How many times have I heard that in my own house. <sigh>

:( :( :(