thedrifter
07-20-08, 09:35 AM
From the Los Angeles Times
Suicide of 20-year-old Marine a sadly common tale
In a report on the death, his commanders and colleagues express surprise and regret. 'I will always wish there was something else we could have done to let him know we cared and were there for him.'
By Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 20, 2008
When interviewed about his death, none of the Marine's buddies said they had seen any sign that he was thinking of suicide.
Always quiet, he had seemed more withdrawn than usual. He had never felt at ease in Iraq and he repeatedly said he deserved to be back at Camp Pendleton. His reputation was that of a marginal performer who was good for a few days and then would backslide.
He was embarrassed at getting caught three times not paying attention while standing guard. He had been ordered to write letters of apology to his platoon.
Instead he was found dead on his bunk, his M-16 near his body. Tests on the weapon showed it was in perfect shape, seeming to rule out an accident.
Through the Freedom of Information Act, The Times obtained the investigatory report on the death of the 20-year-old lance corporal -- one of at least 168 young Marines who have killed themselves since the Marines were ordered in early 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein.
To spare the family additional pain, The Times has decided not to publish his name or identifying information such as his battalion or where in Iraq the death occurred.
The death has been ruled a suicide, although the man's family cannot accept that finding, according to a family friend. The family declined to talk to The Times. News stories about their son's death never mentioned suicide.
If there is anything distinguishing about the suicide, it may be that it was not unusual. An Army study found soldiers had exhibited the classic warning signs -- talking of feeling hopeless and worthless, of not having anything to live for -- in only about half of Army suicides.
The signs are often more subtle, said a chaplain familiar with this case. For young Marines, that increases the difficulty of being on the lookout for a buddy who may be sinking into despair.
"More and more," said Navy Cmdr. John Dickens, deputy chaplain for the 1st Marine Division, "the warning signs aren't predictions of suicide but rather invitations for somebody to ask: 'Are you thinking of killing yourself?' "
If anybody asked that question in this case, it is not reflected in the report. The Marines were busy with their daily duties, excited about going home soon, after a deployment in which several among them had been killed by the enemy.
The suicide left other Marines confused.
"Considered him a good friend," an investigator wrote after talking to one Marine. "Was mad at first but now he understands that there must have been something that he just couldn't handle."
The investigator wrote that a second Marine said he "doesn't understand how he could do that to his mom."
The death occurred just days before the unit was due to return home -- often a dangerous time, emotionally. Marines are given "warrior transition" counseling before leaving Iraq, in which they are warned about the stresses of returning home.
In a war zone, Dickens said, "life is more dangerous but it's simpler. Back home, life is more complicated."
One Marine concluded that maybe the Marine killed himself after "realizing that there was nothing going on at home when all the other Marines had all kinds of other plans to see friends and girlfriends."
If there was an event that pushed the Marine over the edge, it may have been the punishment meted out after he was found, for the third time, not paying attention on guard duty. The first time, he had been caught smoking. The next, he was not wearing his protective vest. The last time, someone had spotted him masturbating.
He was ordered to write individual letters of apology to his platoon mates, a light punishment by Marine standards.
In boot camp, Marines are taught that a humiliating incident can sometimes push someone to suicide.
"Losing face is a tremendous factor in the Marine Corps," Dickens said. "The sense of letting down your unit can weigh heavily on a Marine."
In his letters of apology, the Marine promised to do "everything I can do to earn your trust back. It won't be easy but nothing worth doing is easy."
The hand-printed letters are attached to the report. Also attached is a memo sent from the battalion commander to the commanding general.
"I will never know exactly what was going through (the Marine's) mind during those final, desperate moments," the battalion commander wrote. "But I know I will always wish there was something else we could have done to let him know we cared and were there for him."
tony.perry@latimes.com
Ellie
Suicide of 20-year-old Marine a sadly common tale
In a report on the death, his commanders and colleagues express surprise and regret. 'I will always wish there was something else we could have done to let him know we cared and were there for him.'
By Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 20, 2008
When interviewed about his death, none of the Marine's buddies said they had seen any sign that he was thinking of suicide.
Always quiet, he had seemed more withdrawn than usual. He had never felt at ease in Iraq and he repeatedly said he deserved to be back at Camp Pendleton. His reputation was that of a marginal performer who was good for a few days and then would backslide.
He was embarrassed at getting caught three times not paying attention while standing guard. He had been ordered to write letters of apology to his platoon.
Instead he was found dead on his bunk, his M-16 near his body. Tests on the weapon showed it was in perfect shape, seeming to rule out an accident.
Through the Freedom of Information Act, The Times obtained the investigatory report on the death of the 20-year-old lance corporal -- one of at least 168 young Marines who have killed themselves since the Marines were ordered in early 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein.
To spare the family additional pain, The Times has decided not to publish his name or identifying information such as his battalion or where in Iraq the death occurred.
The death has been ruled a suicide, although the man's family cannot accept that finding, according to a family friend. The family declined to talk to The Times. News stories about their son's death never mentioned suicide.
If there is anything distinguishing about the suicide, it may be that it was not unusual. An Army study found soldiers had exhibited the classic warning signs -- talking of feeling hopeless and worthless, of not having anything to live for -- in only about half of Army suicides.
The signs are often more subtle, said a chaplain familiar with this case. For young Marines, that increases the difficulty of being on the lookout for a buddy who may be sinking into despair.
"More and more," said Navy Cmdr. John Dickens, deputy chaplain for the 1st Marine Division, "the warning signs aren't predictions of suicide but rather invitations for somebody to ask: 'Are you thinking of killing yourself?' "
If anybody asked that question in this case, it is not reflected in the report. The Marines were busy with their daily duties, excited about going home soon, after a deployment in which several among them had been killed by the enemy.
The suicide left other Marines confused.
"Considered him a good friend," an investigator wrote after talking to one Marine. "Was mad at first but now he understands that there must have been something that he just couldn't handle."
The investigator wrote that a second Marine said he "doesn't understand how he could do that to his mom."
The death occurred just days before the unit was due to return home -- often a dangerous time, emotionally. Marines are given "warrior transition" counseling before leaving Iraq, in which they are warned about the stresses of returning home.
In a war zone, Dickens said, "life is more dangerous but it's simpler. Back home, life is more complicated."
One Marine concluded that maybe the Marine killed himself after "realizing that there was nothing going on at home when all the other Marines had all kinds of other plans to see friends and girlfriends."
If there was an event that pushed the Marine over the edge, it may have been the punishment meted out after he was found, for the third time, not paying attention on guard duty. The first time, he had been caught smoking. The next, he was not wearing his protective vest. The last time, someone had spotted him masturbating.
He was ordered to write individual letters of apology to his platoon mates, a light punishment by Marine standards.
In boot camp, Marines are taught that a humiliating incident can sometimes push someone to suicide.
"Losing face is a tremendous factor in the Marine Corps," Dickens said. "The sense of letting down your unit can weigh heavily on a Marine."
In his letters of apology, the Marine promised to do "everything I can do to earn your trust back. It won't be easy but nothing worth doing is easy."
The hand-printed letters are attached to the report. Also attached is a memo sent from the battalion commander to the commanding general.
"I will never know exactly what was going through (the Marine's) mind during those final, desperate moments," the battalion commander wrote. "But I know I will always wish there was something else we could have done to let him know we cared and were there for him."
tony.perry@latimes.com
Ellie