One Soldier's Suicide: James Jenkins »
Posted By jovial 2 months, 3 weeks ago in NewsSuicides among veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are reaching epidemic proportions. More than 6,000 veterans took their lives in 2005 alone, according to a study by CBS News. By some estimates, veterans are attempting suicide 1,000 times a month.
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jovial
Grew up In Brooklyn. Joined the Navy in 1976 stayed in 10 years. Aircraft Electronics tech. Worked for Major Govt. contractor then settled in California ...
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MRCOFFEECAKE2 months, 3 weeks ago
The ones who are quick to support putting our troops in danger, are the same who support keeping them in danger by saying things like "they know what they signed up for"..
These people are heartless and have no room for compassion because it doesn't hit their homes...
War is a horrible thing to experience and while they're in denial about the physical bodies lost on the battlefield they have no concern or care at all for the mental destruction that this does, nor all of the bodies lost and families destroyed off the battlefield..They should be ashamed of themselves.
They are cruel and they contribute to acts of cruelty.
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jovial2 months, 3 weeks ago
I retract my earlier statements. Watch this video at your own risk! This video is a mother's story on a decorated marine that committed suicide and her story. It may be inappropiate for people that have been directly affected by war. I'm sorry for not saying this in the beginning.
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RickyDawkins2 months, 3 weeks ago
I don't think I can bring myself to watch it, but I'm happy to vote.
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lastofiraqis2 months, 3 weeks ago
thanks for sharing...situation in Iraq is really hard for the good US soldiers who have conscious (I beleive most of who comitt suicide) and of course for the good Iraqis also...this war is costing the whole world alot...it was a big big mistake and the problem is the more they try to fix it (as they say) they are being dragged into more troubles.
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cowboygrandpa2 months, 3 weeks ago
So many bad memories.
Damn I shouldn't have watched. I know better.
Yeah, suicide is always right around the corner for we who have seen to much.
The sleepless nights, I still have them once in a while.
I feel so sorry for the mother and Mr. Jenkins neither were ready for the hell he endured.
We need to put our stupid leaders over there on the frontlines for a few months in bloody battle. Then watch them fall apart and want help.
They might understand then.
I HATE WAR!!!!!!!...
I HATE THE HELL IT BRINGS and THE HELL IT LEAVES BEHIND.
How many have been destroyed who continue to walk on this earth unable to live the life they should. Because of the greed and hatred of the ruling elite who feel their desires are worth the lives they take?
How many must die before we see the truth?
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Will13132 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks for sharing..
peace be with you..
had a friend who committed suicide shortly after returing from Vietnam... we knew he had changed but didn't know how to help him....
my father-in-law never got over the "sleepless nights" from WW II.... Iwo and Okinawa.. from the frying pan into the fire...
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engineer2 months, 3 weeks ago
The tragedy for which Bush, Cheney and there cohorts should be made to pay for dearly
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Poulenc2 months, 3 weeks ago
Heartbreaking.
On the one hand, I feel great sympathy, even sorrow for what occurred--for James's suicide--while also feeling rage at:
the senselessness of the undertaking, of the war;
the lack of...let's call them brakes that could have and should have been applied to TRY to stop Jenkins from enlisting, no matter the righteousness of the goal to earn money for education.
It's difficult for me to say this, but I consider this a failure, at least in part, of parental obligation.
...and also the failure of ANYONE to recognize that the guy was in great emotional trouble so that SOME attempt at intervention could have been made.
Yes, I recognize that some of us are better placed, let's call it, to act resourcefully in a case like Jenkins'. This isn't a moral failure, but rather one of insufficient knowledge, awareness and/or scope.
In any case, may James rest in peace.
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globalwarmer2 months, 3 weeks ago
The soldiers really want to feel good about " Fighting for their country" and then after the experience can't help but question "why, what am I doing this for, who am I doing this for, how can I live with myself for what I have done?".
And for thanks, there was no help for this soldier or the others that are suffering and will take their own lives, perhaps our government finds our veterans easier to deal with if they take their own life.
I hope the oil is worth all the sacrifices being made.
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tehranchik2 months, 3 weeks ago
It's an emotional frustration to an emotional story. We all feel it and put it to words in different ways. The government hasn't been there to take care of the health needs of these men as they come home.
"why, what am I doing this for, who am I doing this for, how can I live with myself for what I have done?" ==== I'm sure this soldier was tormented for most of his waking hours--- in his dreams as well---he wouldn't have wanted to leave this place if he wasn't.
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tehranchik2 months, 3 weeks ago
A bronze star----he killed 212 people for that bronze star. I bet he would have traded that bronze star in a heartbeat, to become someone he could live with again.
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tehranchik2 months, 3 weeks ago
Ain't that the truth jovi!
Thanks for your great compliment Poulenc. Unfortunately it's not a job I aspire to.
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Ciera-Marie2 months, 3 weeks ago
I have no words. Anyone who supports what is happening to the troops and hasn't served needs to see this video, needs to hear really hear what our veterans and servicemen and women are saying. I'm sorry but our Reservists and National Guardsmen WERE NOT set up to fight wars overseas.
What / how do you expect them to react after having served two plus (some cases SEVEN?!?) tours at 16 months, 7days a wk, 18-22 hours on four to two hours of sleep?!? No RnR and some are on the front lines with brain injuries. Then they're sent back home and no time to adjust. BTW anyone who comes back from Iraq and says it was a piece of cake and can't wait to get back works a desk. I have a better understanding for how my uncles dealt with Korea.
Anyone who wants to give back and really help the veterans coming back http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=6
The above link is the National Stand Down website. They need all the volunteers they can get. You will not regret it ever.
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nikkibabe2 months, 3 weeks ago
You are a nation of "whiners". The people are so ignorant, they still call it a "WAR"?. Is it not an illegal invasion & occupation by force?
In an invasion and occupation of another country by force, you will not be greeted with flowers and cakes. It will be bombs and explosives.
Don't cry. Have guts, go to the person who started it all and protest.
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antibrainwasher2 months, 3 weeks ago
The Iraq Invasion is being financed with 3 trillion dollars of BORROWED money, since Bush/Rove/Cheney instituted the largest tax cut for the rich ever seen in the last hundred years, and the economic redistribution of wealth to the rich has been the most massive in the history of the world, starting with the killing of the inheritance tax, Bushes first act as president.
Growth of the top 10 military contractors, including Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Lookheed has been double diget, over 8 years we have seen 200% growth (tax redistribution) to the military industrial complex. (Blackwater growth is off the charts)
Statistically, 50% of Iraq vets will apply for disability, either mental or physical. This alone will cost ameican taxpayers 200 billion over the lives of the returning soldiers.
All for WHAT? What is it we accomplished. Perhaps someone who voted twice for Bush can explain. Some gung ho republican. Please explain how removing a tinpot dictator who was killing shiites and warring with Iran and Israel was worth the blood and treasure. not that republicans are paying for it, I realize, republican children are in college inheriting billions.
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Dicax_Maximus2 months, 3 weeks ago
Jovial - This may come across as a bit strange, BUT... I wish I hadn't watched the video, but I'm glad that I did......
Isn't it about time that ALL political leaders were dumped "at the front" to get some experience of the hell we call war ? They might, just might, be slower to initiate one afterwards....
Excellent post....
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Tcaros2 months, 3 weeks ago
The deaths are needless to say a result of inappropriate and immoral leadership. We support the troops, but not the failed policies of Bush. It is a sad story in American history. So many innocent lives.
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bigurn2 months, 3 weeks ago
The article talks about "Iraq and Afghanistan veterans" then uses a statistic of 6000 "veterans" for suicide rates. Does the 6000 refer to veterans of all conflicts, or just the current one? It seems that if the suicide rate were higher than the combat death rate, we'd know. I don't think it is.
I think the 6000 includes all veterans, and therefore encompasses 10s of millions of people, the vast majority of whom are civilians. This is skewed data to create a story.
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