Father Calls For Change After Soldier's Suicide

GRASS VALLEY, Calif. (CBS13) -- A father is calling for changes in how military officials handle depression after his son committed suicide in Afghanistan on his fourth deployment in a war zone.

David H. Senft said he still blames himself after his son, Staff Sergeant David P. Senft, killed himself on the Kandahar Air Force Base in Afghanistan with a single gunshot wound to the head.

"I wasn't there when he needed me, and now it's too late for him," David said.

The 27-year-old helicopter repairman, assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, left behind an unsent text message on his cell phone after taking his life with his roommate's stolen gun.

"I don't know what say, I'm so sorry," the message read.

Staff Sergeant Senft, a father, had already attempted suicide twice, received treatment at a mental hospital and had been stripped of his own firearm for his own safety, but was still cleared for active duty.

His grieving father says military officials knew about Staff Sergeant Senft's severe depression and should have kept him from staying in the war zone.

"They knew his history at Fort Campbell and they felt that he was suicidal enough to take his weapon away. Why didn't they send him home at that moment?" David asked.

U.S. military suicides in Afghanistan have soared in recent years, even topping deaths in combat in some months.

David said he hopes his son's story will help save someone else's child from the mental effects of combat.

Staff Sergeant Senft is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The Army has opened three separate investigations into his death, but his death is still officially listed as "non-combat related."

Senft's friends and family will be holding a public memorial service SSG David P. Senft in Tracy on Saturday, January 8th at the American Foreign Legion Hall, 1960 N Tracy Blvd from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.