This was a horrific article to wake up and read. I was hoping it was one of those sensationalized stories from newspapers that thrive on that sort of thing, but when I read “April 14, New York Times”— it caused me pause.
I am so glad I wrote Prelude to Reveille: A Vietnam Awakening. It was worth taking two years to write a personal novel of our experiences— to show others what one young military couple went through in 1967-8. And when I read book reviews these vets and their families have written on Amazon, when they talk to me after I speak at veteran groups or book signings— I know I did the right thing. They recognize my novel as the tribute I intended it to be.
Many of these veterans are still among us. Many suffer from unrecognized, untreated PTSD and effects of Agent Orange as a result of their service in Vietnam. Yet many who are able, go to reception centers to greet today’s soldiers returning from war zones. “NEVER AGAIN Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another,” is their motto.
What difference can we make to veterans who have suffered for 45 years? What can we say or do at this late date to help these veterans value their lives? Do we even know who they are? A neighbor? A distant relative? A friend’s father or grandfather?
Read the article below. Ponder those statistics cited and the validity of the study.
The clock ticks down another 80 minutes. 45 years of suffering equates to no life for those who served our country. Suicide is an unfitting death for a hero.
I believe, I know— we can do more. We can do something. We have to.
A Veteran’s Death, the Nation’s Shame
An article says for every US soldier killed this year about 25 veterans have committed suicide.
