Soldier who died by suicide in Las Vegas told ex of pain and exhaustion \ stacker news ~news

This stuff is no joke our soldiers need more attention, care and assurances.

One of my best friends whom spent years in Afghanistan as infantry sustained a TBI via an IED and barely made it to evac , lost a good many of his buddies over there and did things under orders and out of sheer survival and protection that haunts him deeply.

I've spent a good deal of time being there for this man and have watched him since into an abyss that nobody can fathom beyond those that have been through what he has. We were all hanging out one day and setting off fireworks (not a good idea) and it got him very worked up and apex kicked in and he brought out a frag (don't ask how he got this) and threw it into the woods but not far enough that the concussive effect didn't hit my friend who was sitting there unaware and has trouble hearing to this day. My veteran friend starts hooting and hollering and if it wasn't for us being close to him I can promise you he wouldn't have given a damn about our feelings and shock because we are civilians who have no idea and a significant portion of him is numb to empathy.

I've witnessed him jump out of a dead sleep and throw a knife straight into the wall because he thought he was being ambushed in his sleep. That's just the mental trauma. He's forgotten more and more over the years, his balance isn't there anymore at all and he's consuming more and more drugs everyday to escape the reality he lives in that absolutely nobody is a part of fully, even the few war buddies that made it back with him, which all have their own things going on and do not like to come off as "weak", no sir.

It is an extremely volatile situation and I can rightfully say that it took a lot of balancing out to keep this man from imploding (for lack of a better word)...he's in better care now but my heart hurts for him and the point is that, although there's no excuse for hurting innocent people, our soldiers need to be welcome back into society immediately upon tour returns with the upmost appreciation and respect as they deserve, each and every one of them. Our government owes them more than they're giving as well and needs to get their acts together and do their jobs that these brave men and women protect for them.

Thank a soldier when you notice them, it could make a huge difference.

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @SimpleStacker 5 Jan

What do you think would have helped your friend the most? Do you think it's something that can be solved with more funding to the VA and/or better management, or do you think something more is needed from society as well?

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @AlCoHoLnAcEtOnE OP 5 Jan

Also, the family and friends of these people need to be extremely attentive but wary of making them feel like they don't have freedom of choice. It's a hard thing to balance when you're involved personally.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker 5 Jan

Thanks for the perspective. It sounds like something that's hard to understand unless you've experienced it in your own life

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @AlCoHoLnAcEtOnE OP 5 Jan

It truly is, when I was younger a few friends and myself all signed up for the Marines to go over and help our soldiers, it was a sad time when I didn't make it through due to a heart condition my parents never told me about and they did. One of my friends came back without his legs and I avoided him because I felt so ashamed of not being there as well but he got a lot of help from the VA and the community but I didn't know him that well after he came back. Point being, it does really take getting to know the ones facing those invisible struggles to realize just how much they're going through and it really is up us to show our gratitude and humanity to try and be there for them however we can, however they'll accept us.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @AlCoHoLnAcEtOnE OP 5 Jan

I think that more direct effort to reach out to these guys would help the most as they won't seek it out, ya know? both the VA and society. Knowing by default they deserve every last bit of societies and the systems regards this should be covered on the daily in the news and just more overall attention towards our active and veteran personnel.