Posted on 05/12/2009 7:00:22 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
This is a sad anomaly for the United States Armed Forces and a tragic end for the five troops who were killed by this Soldier.
Unless you are a military family its hard to understand the strain of deployments, that said no matter how he ended up with three tour it takes a toll on them. We have no idea what he saw in previous tours to know what was in going on inside his head.
I’ll pass no judgement on him yet.
I am in agreement with you. I have been disappointed with FR postings lately because of it.
I have mentioned before that the attitudes and language lately have been more like DU. All I got for my observation, which I posted, was more of the same.
I don’t lurk around here much anymore.
“there are LESS (sic) incidents of this type in the US Military than ANY OTHER WALK OF LIFE.”
If you add all of the suicides, attempted suicides and, alcholol related incidents, I would enture to guess that the number is significantly higher.
Even if the incidents are comparable with civilan numbers, exactly how many of these incidents is acceptable to you?
Even guys who lost limbs, beg to go back because of their dedication and passion for the job. The press started calling this “Stress Murders” before any details, even his name, were known.
It was pretty quiet and somber all around Victory Base today.
When one faces great stress as an individual, without an understanding support group, they are pretty much on their own.
I am no authority on these matters, but speak from many years experience.
Obviously the young man is insane ...but I’m interested to know what his story is. Prayers to all families involved.
It’s not easy being a soldier in a combat zone today. Back in the RVN, as bad as that was, at least we had opportunities to relieve stress.
And worst of all anybody that wants to be an officer today ...can be.
“As a Combat Engineer myself, I hang my head in shame.”
You shouldn’t. Combat engineers, particularly in Iraq have been and are subjected to a lot of hostile fire. This Sgt was on his third tour, and while not in any way defending him, we have no way of knowing what his breaking point was, or if he even understood what he was doing.
I can imagine.
I was knocking around Victory base for a week last Feb (2008)
Any rocket/mortar attacks lately, or have they pretty much given that up as a really bad idea.
Kind thanks.
The media didn't delay this time (and believe me, I'd be the first to go after those scumbags), the military did. They didn't release any details until all of the proper and (heartbreaking) next-of-kin notifications were completed.
Unwarranted, my friend.
The man cracked, it happens.
I'll echo what all others have already stated: it's a tragedy.
Wish we could have met up and had a coffee at Cinnabon or something. If you know Liberty, this awful thing happened right by the Post Office. I was just leaving the IZ in February after about a year there. Will probably be back there in the "amber" zone, as it's called now in the next couple of months.
Any rocket/mortar attacks lately, or have they pretty much given that up as a really bad idea.
Very, very little incoming anymore. I was here in '04 when it was crazy and then in central Baghdad from early '05 until just this past February - things got quite insane there as well in '05 through '07.
It's been relatively calm for about the last year and we really hadn't had any bad incidents at all for a while...until this.
And somehow, this is much worse.
“And somehow, this is much worse.”
Orders of magnitude worse.
Glad to see that the attacks are down.
Stay safe
Most people don’t seem to realize that it was the combat Engineers who had to go in with the first landings on D-Day. While the infantrymen could try their best to run for the safety of the beach wall, the engineers had to stay in the line of fire and blow up the obstacles put up by the Germans. Now that takes some kind of guts.
“While the infantrymen could try their best to run for the safety of the beach wall, the engineers had to stay in the line of fire and blow up the obstacles put up by the Germans. Now that takes some kind of guts.”
Yep. There’s that as well as in the breach - we’re in between the Armor/Infantry and the enemy - trying our damndest to clear and get out of the fire. NOT a happy place to be
No thanks.
So tragic...my prayers go out to all affected.
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