Posted on 12/30/2015 8:57:55 AM PST by Theoria
Tyler Schlagel slipped out of his parents' house while they were asleep three weeks ago and drove through the wintry darkness to his favorite fishing lake high in the Rockies.
Mr. Schlagel, a 29-year-old former Marine corporal who was stocking shelves at a sporting goods store, carried with him the eight journals he had filled during tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also carried a .40-caliber pistol.
Under the bright mountain stars, he kindled a small campfire. When the flames grew high, he threw the journals into the fire, then shot himself in the head.
Mr. Schlagel's death Dec. 9 was the 14th suicide in his military unit -- the Second Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment -- since the group returned from a bloody tour in Afghanistan in 2008. Many other members have attempted suicide, one just three days after Mr. Schlagel's death.
The suicide rate for the 1,200 Marines who deployed together -- most now out of the military -- is nearly four times as high as for young male veterans as a whole and 14 times as high as that for all Americans.
After a New York Times report in September about the suicides underscored shortcomings in the government's ability to monitor and treat mental health problems among veterans, members of Congress called for the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs to address the issue. But those efforts have remained halting and incomplete, critics say.
A big part of the problem is that the veterans of the unit, like hundreds of thousands of other young veterans, fall between the cracks of the two enormous institutions. The military's authority stops when troops leave active duty. The V.A.'s starts only if veterans come in for benefits or medical care -- and many do not seek that care.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
“The V.A.’s starts only if veterans come in for benefits or medical care — and many do not seek that care.”
And even if they DO, the VA doesn’t give two hoots in a handbasket.
Rest in peace, Corporal Schlagel.
While it is proper and fair to blame the Marine Corps or the VA; the real reason why so many soldiers and Marines off themselves goes back to the family.
Or the lack thereof.
Very sad. I have friends who have served, and apparently it is a real issue. Some have groups that reach out to one another in the hope they can be present for someone at their time of need. Depression and hurt can be insidious. They can creep up on someone, and at times they may not even know what is happening.
We can spend mega-millions of dollars to bring Syrian refugees and terrorists into the country, but can’t get the VA straightened-out or give our Veterans the help they need.
Makes me sick just to think about it!
Speaking as a service disabled veteran, the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration could give a rats ass about veterans, disabled or healthy.
There was another Marine suicide December 20th in New Jersey. (body found in Pennsylvania) I don’t know what unit the Marine was in.
Very true.
I hadn’t looked at it from that angle, but you are correct. That is infuriating, disgusting, and sickening.
What happened during their tour? When did they return?
They told us suicide was contagious when I was in. If one person killed themselves it tended to push other people over the edge.
The only answer is to get out in front of it and give these guys the support they need.
The military’s response to any kind of mental issue is to drug them and then take away things, their job, firearms, status. Which only keeps people from seeking help.
I wish more young vets would join the VFW or American Legion. It would help these guys on a lot of levels. God bless them.
Also the administration and liberals like Kerry have demonized veterans. Veterans do not feel valued and respected stateside. They have sacrificed their time, peace of mind and often limbs in our service and too often their service is dismissed and disregarded.
Pensions should be higher for veterans, and their health care availability and level of service should be the best in the nation.
It's a crime, and I'd like to know what politicians are either indifferent to, or actively sabotaging, efforts to take better care of military veterans.
Yeah but Kerry has 3 purple hearts.
That rice in the butt hurts ya know.
This is so sad. Every event that Donald Trump has he spends time taking about our Wounded Warriors. If he is elected they will be far better off than they are now.
Thanks! It hurts to read these stories. :(
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