I am a Retired United States marine that was awarded two purple heart and I am an Operation Phanton Fury (Battle of Fallujah Nov. 2004) Veteran.I was hit by a rocket propelled Grenade that put shrapnel into my Head and chest. The RPG gave me a open head wound with four brain bleeds, broken sternum, Four Ribs, Broken Nose, and multiple fractures to the front and back of my skull. I suffered the lost of my best friend due to my choice of switching post with him last second during an Operation on the outskirts of Fallujah. A VBIED came up to that post and blew up killing Fernando Hannon my best friend. Also another Marine from my squad Jeffery Perez was also killed. Fernando and I had the same job on our fire team . This is why we were able to switch post. I robbed him from his wedding that he was suppose to have right when we got back from Deployment. We would spend the most of our off time in the schoolhouse in Al-Karma, planning his wedding before that day. I have also lost over twenty good brothers of mine on that deployment and later ones. Have had quite few buddies since that deployment choose suicide route, We are not like the Generations of War Veterans that have come before us, our Veterans now have gone multiple combat tours and not just a year or one deployment option anymore. I have a great Marine brother of mine on his 9th Combat tour. This is why I started a non-profit called "The Fight Continues" to help bring counseling from actual combat expierenced councilors to the Veteran. We have long term Transitional Programs were we keep track of our Veteran to make sure they are staying on track. This non-profit is started by all wounded service members that wanted to stop the Suicide Rate. To have Veterans with TBI/PTSD that have transitioned back into society , to mentor them on the new road ahead. I have been personally traveling all over the country mentoring/counseling, educating the Vet and there family on there condition.Also trying to make people aware of the situation that there is no transitional resources for our combat Vets and regular Vets. The things I have seen, the American people would be ashamed of there Government to know how our guys get treated once they are out. Also how some organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project get rich off publicizing wounded service members disabilities. Just to rake in the donation money and pay there CEO 320,000 a year salary and not release tax returns for last couple of years. WE OFFER THE LONGER TERM TRANSITIONAL CARE THAT OUR MILITARY FAMILIES MAY NEED.....WE CAN HELP STOP VETERANS SUICIDES!!!!!!!!!! We need the nation's support and frankly we need money to actually pay for expenses for the Wounded SERVICE MEMBERS that are actually trying to make a difference. Go to www.The-Fight-Continues.org , please donate. If the country ever rallied around us and gave us the support of WWP, then we would base our pay on that of the Militaries Pay Rate. THIS IS A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO TRUELY HELP THERE WOUNDED SERVICES MEMBERS FROM THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR. Thanks and God Bless.
James Sperry President of "The Fight Continues" USMC/RET 618-402-4622 The-Fight-Continues.org "For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity." Proverbs 24:16
I am Roxann Abrams, now a Gold Star Mother. I lost my son SFC Randy Abrams, to Military PTSD Suicide in 2009, after he returned from his 3rd tour in Iraq. I am appalled and outraged that Military Combat PTSD is still un-treated and under-treated by our Military and VA System 4 years later and that the problem is actually worse! I have decided to make my life an open book to do something about this horrific problem. Every American citizen needs to contribute to solving this problem. The Combat Veterans that are suffering and dying are the reason we are free! Google our names to see what I am doing to solve this problem and get on board!
As the daughter of a father who committed suicide, I feel so much pain for the family of this young man. My father too was a victim of the effects of war. He died 15 years after he saw service but we knew nothing of his suffering. It has been so, so many years of pain and questions. There is no relief for the family. Please, if you are a vet and considering suicide, find help. Save the ones you love the most from this eternal agony. Their lives will be destroyed in so many ways.
My condolences for the family and friends of Clay. Epic things in life such as war, sacrificing your life for another, experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder is character building. I wish the VA could have prepared a better strategy plan on dealing with PTSD. I can easily see how a person would eventually feel helpless against the problem.
I have suffered loss and tragedy most of my life. I understand the disconnect with the regular population. I have been fortunate to have a lifetime of coping skills to help me along. The process is long term understanding by professionals helping the person cope with tragedy.
I do not know how this young man tried his hardest through the challenge of finding hope. Perhaps, sacrificing his life would bring attention to the problem. Unfortunately we lost a great human being who obviously had a lot to share and possibly could have helped a lot more people.
I pray that this young man experience brings to light how important it is to help anyone cope with severe tragedies.
T know and respect the fact that this story revolves around a young man who served in the Armed Forces and suicide
Sadly, for those of you who know NOTHING about young men and suicide - the WAR is the easy target to blame here but that is not entirely the truth
Some young men commit suicide while most of us do not and sadly, the "TRIGGER" whether it is WAR, or JOB, or a troubled RELATIONSHIP or whatever it is that causes depression - THERE IS YOUR CULPRIT, you can ALL blame depression - not WARS, or JOBS or RELATIONSHIPS or whatever else......and the truth is, some people don't need a war to suffer from depression and ultimately commit suicide
Yet the downward spiral and demise are exactly the same - so too is the devastating loss and continual "blame" for those of us left behind
and this is where I feel (personally) let down by 60 minutes - too much hero worshiping War hero mumbo jumbo and nowhere near enough substance on the actual cause - DEPRESSION - yes, it's not as juicy as a fallen war vet story for drama - but, as anybody that has lost a love one to depression / suicide can tell you - it's just as deadly !!!
I watched my younger brother gradually shrink away and finally, tragically learned that he jumped off a 300m cliff into the ocean to die
And for those of you who think SUICIDE is weak - try holding a gun to your own head - or as I did, stand on the edge of THAT cliff and imagine jumping
What my brother did, was the bravest thing I can ever imagine......and, after all these years have past - I still blame my self, and wish I could have done more
60 minutes got this wrong - it's not a tragic WAR STORY ( well yes it is) but it is much more than that - Depression, Men and Suicide is the real issue here
It could be that the medications given for depression are causing a lot of these suicides of the American military men. Every case is different of course but the Doctors should try first extensive therapy and counseling. Perhaps art therapy would be a good approach. Medication I believe make might make their problems worse especially with the wrong dosage and prescriptions. They have their whole life ahead of them and the American military should have an adequate budget to take care of their needs without the meds!
Is it really strange that men who killed other people often many other people with guns would choose to end their lives also with a gun. It's not easy for people who leave a society to return to that society and go back to life as normal. It isn't always about the military. I bet if someone were to do some research they'd find that a lot of expats have problems re-adjusting to their homelands once they return. The same is true for those who come to live or work in America for extended periods. Many of these people plan to go back to their countries of birth and retire but they find they don't fit it.
I sat here this AM with the snow gently falling and watched this Tragic video . I am truly saddened. You have my heart felt condolences .
Who is to blame - the US Government - we should have never been there and all of us for not standing up and saying that war is not the way.
I am committed to finding peaceful solutions in my Life and on this earth , which has been my way since serving 2 tours of duty in Viet Nam and realizing , the horrible horrible tragedy that war is .
I was really touched by this documentary, which I just watched tonight. I was especially saddened that you guys feel survivor guilt and that there's something you could have done to prevent this tragedy. I would like to offer another explanation - was he on antidepressants? Because I've been suicidal all my life, but the only time I actually attempted suicide was during a brief period that I was on an antidepressant. It happened out of the blue - it was not planned or premeditated. I do not recall having suicidal thoughts ("suicidal ideation" they call it) during the time I was on the drug - on the contrary, I was hopeful. But then, BAM - I got into a very volatile argument with my father (normally I shy away from conflict, and I never argued with him that strongly before) and then retreated to my room, where I proceeded to destroy the room (completely out of character for me!) and then impulsively decided to kill myself. Fortunately I did not have a gun or I wouldn't be here today. I got off that drug and it's been many years - still think about suicide, but have never attempted it again.
Again, I'd like to emphasize that the drug itself made me very impulsive and suddenly decide and take action to kill myself - there is no question in my mind that the drug was responsible, because this was completely out of character for me and it never happened before or since.
I strongly suspect this is the explanation for so many suicides among soldiers and veterans, not to mention civilians. I think there is a huge cover-up going on, there is so much money at stake and Big Pharma is extremely powerful. They say the drugs can cause "suicidal ideation" but completely deny that the drugs can cause people to commit suicide, claiming that the underlying depression is what causes that. My experience is completely contrary to this, so I consider it a huge lie. I half expect this post to be censored and deleted. Maybe not. Maybe they'll leave it up because I sound "paranoid and loony" enough to lack credibility.
I really, really hope you three see my comment, and find a way to get in touch with me - or leave a comment - I will check back. I don't know if I'm permitted to leave my e-mail address here, so I won't at this time.
If anyone knows how I can contact the parents and friend of Clay that were featured in the story, please leave a comment - thank you.
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James Sperry
President of "The Fight Continues"
USMC/RET
618-402-4622
The-Fight-Continues.org
"For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity." Proverbs 24:16
Please, if you are a vet and considering suicide, find help. Save the ones you love the most from this eternal agony. Their lives will be destroyed in so many ways.
I have suffered loss and tragedy most of my life. I understand the disconnect with the regular population. I have been fortunate to have a lifetime of coping skills to help me along. The process is long term understanding by professionals helping the person cope with tragedy.
I do not know how this young man tried his hardest through the challenge of finding hope. Perhaps, sacrificing his life would bring attention to the problem. Unfortunately we lost a great human being who obviously had a lot to share and possibly could have helped a lot more people.
I pray that this young man experience brings to light how important it is to help anyone cope with severe tragedies.
Sadly, for those of you who know NOTHING about young men and suicide - the WAR is the easy target to blame here but that is not entirely the truth
Some young men commit suicide while most of us do not and sadly, the "TRIGGER" whether it is WAR, or JOB, or a troubled RELATIONSHIP or whatever it is that causes depression - THERE IS YOUR CULPRIT, you can ALL blame depression - not WARS, or JOBS or RELATIONSHIPS or whatever else......and the truth is, some people don't need a war to suffer from depression and ultimately commit suicide
Yet the downward spiral and demise are exactly the same - so too is the devastating loss and continual "blame" for those of us left behind
and this is where I feel (personally) let down by 60 minutes - too much hero worshiping War hero mumbo jumbo and nowhere near enough substance on the actual cause - DEPRESSION - yes, it's not as juicy as a fallen war vet story for drama - but, as anybody that has lost a love one to depression / suicide can tell you - it's just as deadly !!!
I watched my younger brother gradually shrink away and finally, tragically learned that he jumped off a 300m cliff into the ocean to die
And for those of you who think SUICIDE is weak - try holding a gun to your own head - or as I did, stand on the edge of THAT cliff and imagine jumping
What my brother did, was the bravest thing I can ever imagine......and, after all these years have past - I still blame my self, and wish I could have done more
60 minutes got this wrong - it's not a tragic WAR STORY ( well yes it is) but it is much more than that - Depression, Men and Suicide is the real issue here
I sat here this AM with the snow gently falling and watched this Tragic video . I am truly saddened. You have my heart felt condolences .
Who is to blame - the US Government - we should have never been there and all of us for not standing up and saying that war is not the way.
I am committed to finding peaceful solutions in my Life and on this earth , which has been my way since serving 2 tours of duty in Viet Nam and realizing , the horrible horrible tragedy that war is .
God Bless you Clay.
I was really touched by this documentary, which I just watched tonight. I was especially saddened that you guys feel survivor guilt and that there's something you could have done to prevent this tragedy. I would like to offer another explanation - was he on antidepressants? Because I've been suicidal all my life, but the only time I actually attempted suicide was during a brief period that I was on an antidepressant. It happened out of the blue - it was not planned or premeditated. I do not recall having suicidal thoughts ("suicidal ideation" they call it) during the time I was on the drug - on the contrary, I was hopeful. But then, BAM - I got into a very volatile argument with my father (normally I shy away from conflict, and I never argued with him that strongly before) and then retreated to my room, where I proceeded to destroy the room (completely out of character for me!) and then impulsively decided to kill myself. Fortunately I did not have a gun or I wouldn't be here today. I got off that drug and it's been many years - still think about suicide, but have never attempted it again.
Again, I'd like to emphasize that the drug itself made me very impulsive and suddenly decide and take action to kill myself - there is no question in my mind that the drug was responsible, because this was completely out of character for me and it never happened before or since.
I strongly suspect this is the explanation for so many suicides among soldiers and veterans, not to mention civilians. I think there is a huge cover-up going on, there is so much money at stake and Big Pharma is extremely powerful. They say the drugs can cause "suicidal ideation" but completely deny that the drugs can cause people to commit suicide, claiming that the underlying depression is what causes that. My experience is completely contrary to this, so I consider it a huge lie. I half expect this post to be censored and deleted. Maybe not. Maybe they'll leave it up because I sound "paranoid and loony" enough to lack credibility.
I really, really hope you three see my comment, and find a way to get in touch with me - or leave a comment - I will check back. I don't know if I'm permitted to leave my e-mail address here, so I won't at this time.
If anyone knows how I can contact the parents and friend of Clay that were featured in the story, please leave a comment - thank you.