Posted on 05/28/2009 3:20:21 PM PDT by traumer
FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (CNN) -- The 101st Airborne's senior commander in effect ordered his soldiers Wednesday not to commit suicide, a plea that came after 11 suicides since January 1, two of them in the past week.
"If you don't remember anything else I say in the next five or 10 minutes, remember this -- suicidal behavior in the 101st on Fort Campbell is bad," Brig. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend told his forces. "It's bad for soldiers, it's bad for families, bad for your units, bad for this division and our army and our country and it's got to stop now. Suicides on Fort Campbell have to stop now."
Fort Campbell's suicide rate, the highest in the Army, "is not a good statistic," he said in remarks to one of four divisions he addressed during the day.
After nearly one soldier per week committed suicide at the post between January and mid-March, the Army instituted a suicide prevention program that "seemed to be having good effects" until last week, when two more suicides occurred, he said.
"Suicide is a permanent solution to what is only a temporary problem," Townsend said. "Screaming Eagles don't quit. No matter how bad your problem seems today, trust me, it's not the end of the world. It will be better tomorrow. Don't take away your tomorrow."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Violators will recieve a week of KP duty and be ineligible for three-day passes until further notice.
With all due respect, General, I don’t think you’re quite clear on the state of mind of a potential suicide.
Tell Kervorkian, for example.
“With all due respect, General, I don’t think you’re quite clear on the state of mind of a potential suicide.”
Oh, I don’t know about that. I think the General Townsend is perfectly aware of the “state of mind” of a potential suicide. I think it was appropriate and wise of him to make the statements he did. Hopefully someone who was thinking of suicide and heard his words will rethink their own situation. It is also possible that through his words others will begin to pay more attention to a soldier who is having some problems and get them the help they need before it is too late.
How sad. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
On its face this seems silly, but it’s actually a good tactic. Some soldiers might feel it shows weakness and vulnerability to talk to others about depression, so it’s good to give that explicit permission to talk about feeling suicidal. And reminding soldiers that their act isn’t performed in a vacuum, but that it affects those around them, can be an effective way of deterring suicides as well.
You are an imbecile
The Obama was going to make everyone worldwide feel so much better.
I think you might be right.
Geeze...I know he's a general.Commander of the Screamin' Eagles,no less.But couldn't he have put it in a slightly more...sympathetic...way?
Violators will be shot! New 0bama Nazi policy.
Okay, you made a good point about third parties being more aware of problems and being able to intervene with possible suicides. I didn't think of that, and of course, you're right. But I still feel that for the potential suicide personally, the very severity of the mental problem dismisses any possibility of a General's "buck up" order. It didn't work for Patton, either - there is such a thing as a mental breakdown that does not respond to command.
One day your in the service and the next day your on your own brother and sister veterans.
I know because I have experienced it.Thats not to say that I don't love the military because I do.
I just wish they would remember those who have served this country.
I'm sure there are a lot of military folks under Obama who are questioning why the heck they signed up for defending our country from foreign enemies when the enemies appear to be eating our country away from the inside.
“Okay, you made a good point about third parties being more aware of problems and being able to intervene with possible suicides. I didn’t think of that, and of course, you’re right. But I still feel that for the potential suicide personally, the very severity of the mental problem dismisses any possibility of a General’s “buck up” order. It didn’t work for Patton, either - there is such a thing as a mental breakdown that does not respond to command.”
I understand your point as well, and it is also a good one. Someone who is already having a total mental breakdown isn’t likely to be swayed by the General’s words.
“The beatings will continue until morale improves. That is all.”
I think it needed to be said, if you read the full article. Suicides need to be reminded that their actions effect other people for life, that their problems are temporary and it’s OK to talk about them.
Incidentally, my great-uncle was one of the earliest Screaming Eagles (Easy Company) and died on D-Day.
Was he named in “Band of Brothers”?
And you're a noob who doesn't recognize sarcasm
Besides, you shouldn't call posters names, it makes you look like an imbecile
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