Posted on 08/03/2006 9:45:12 PM PDT by TomGuy
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- One of two brothers who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan committed suicide, family and military officials said Thursday.
Army Spc. Andrew Velez, 22, died last month in Afghanistan, a little more than a year after his older brother, Cpl. Jose "Freddy" Velez, 23, was killed in Iraq. They are the first brothers to die in the two conflicts, the military said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Oh God....doesn't he know how this will hurt his parents....even worse than the death of the other that they can be so proud of.....suicide is the most selfish thing a person can do.
I guess they had to but why did they have to tell him....
I cant begin to understand the grief and heartbreak that this family is going through. Nor can I understand why a son would put his family through that all over again by killing himself.
He may have been mentally disturbed when he took his own life, but he was amazingly selfish, uncaring and devoid of feeling for his family to kill himself.
Prayers to the family.
Volunteering to travle across the globe to defend you country with your very life is the most UNSELFISH thing a person can do.
My hearts breaks for this family. I may feel angry for the pain he has caused his family - especially his children...but I will not judge him for a moment of desperation- when so much MORE of his life was so UNSELFISH......
I agree...but suicide is selfish....period....did he not see the PAIN that was caused by the death of their other son???
And also not everyone joins the miltary for purely unselfish reasons.
Thank you for your comment, eeevil. I too will not judge him -- I will let the Lord do that.
I just returned from the service which was very moving and affected me much more than I expected it would. I have posted some comments here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676825/posts?page=21#21
And some video is posted here:
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/category.asp?C=4403&nav=menu69_3
I think he not only SAW the PAIN.. I think he LIVED it and FELT the pain also.. it was his own brother.....
Being angry with people who commit suicide is common.....but it is an injustice to judge an entire life on this one act. This is God's job- not ours.
I cannot imagine the pain this young man was going through himself.........after the loss of his brother, and then to take his own life... he TRULY must have been hurting....
He is a soldier. He put his life on the line for me, and my children......I will remember him ALWAYS for THIS....and it seems his father is thinking the same way.....
THANK YOU DAVE!
Bless you!!!!!!
I understand his pain, but his one selfish act robbed his parents of their second son forever...robbed his children of their father forever. There is no chance of redemption when you take your own life, no chance to make things right unlike many other selfish acts. I pray that his family can cope and that the despair does not claim another life in his family.
I knew three people that took their own lives and each, in different ways , were blind to the needs and cares of others.
I sat beside a member of the extended family and her two young boys (about 6 or 7). I brought a small flag with me into the church and really didn't know what to do with it. Shortly after the service started one boy was getting restless and I smiled and handed it to him. He kept it and waved it occassionally. After the veterans sat back down, his mother turned to me and thanked me for my service.
I know the CNN news is terrible, but I refuse to let it change my feelings toward this family. They have suffered terribly (Roy lost his mother this past spring also). Their faith sustains them knowing that better times await in the company of our lord.
WOW!
Great comment.....I am so moved by just reading your post....
I also read the articles and watched the video...
YOU do a much better job of letting us all be there and experience the memorial!
THANK YOU!
I will also pray for the family... and you as well....
You are one GREAT knuckle dragging neanderthal!
;-)
MUAH!
This news does hit like a punch in the gut. And obviously suicide is not painless for the family. But the manner of his death does not change the fact that the family is undergoing tremendous emotional stress. I'd like to think that this service tonight and the prayers of all those in attendence and outside as well will assist them in coping with their grief and give them some measure of peace.
I agree...but suicide is selfish....period....
Thanks for your insight. Are you a psychiatrist or just a morals crusader ? Do you know what that poor man was going through ?
I knew three people that took their own lives and each, in different ways , were blind to the needs and cares of others.
Maybe just maybe their "loved ones" were blind to their needs and what they were going through.
And your comments are helpful....how? To the deceased soldier? His family? You?
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