Did you know Marine Unit Stalked by Suicide, Veterans Try to Save One Another?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 08:49:13 -0400

Did you know that a Marine Unit Stalked by Suicide, Veterans Try to Save One Another?

Members of a Marine battalion that served in a restive region in Afghanistan have been devastated by the deaths of comrades and frustrated by the V.A.

RP Members this is a very sad story and we need to find a way to stop this loss of life! One of the hardest hit military units in Afghanistan, the Second Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment.

Take a Personal Moment of Silence for these Heroes!

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/20/us/marine-battalion-veterans-scarred-by-suicides-turn-to-one-another-for-help.html?_r=2&referrer=

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 19 at 2015 8:52 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 08:52:10 -0400

We need to be aware of the danger signs and watch out for our brothers and sisters

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Sep 19 at 2015 8:58 AM

MSG Floyd Williams — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 08:58:08 -0400

Yes, it is sad whatever need to be done to reach out to fellow military personnel lets do it, the VA and any other organization isn't enough military and veterans feel more comfortable talking to others who are serving or have served.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 19 at 2015 9:22 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 09:22:15 -0400

Powerful stuff. This tells me that we can only trust each other. We can't trust our branch or the VA to give us the help we need. It's all up to us fellow vets!

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Sep 19 at 2015 9:40 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 09:40:23 -0400

Amen!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 19 at 2015 9:48 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 09:48:22 -0400

No I did not know Second Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment members are doing their best to save one another from thinking about and attempting suicide COL Mikel J. Burroughs.
However, I am not surprised they are trying to help each other because of all they went through together in Afghanistan.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 19 at 2015 11:10 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 11:10:40 -0400

I shared this devastating news; COL Mikel J. Burroughs, with Facebook members.
My own group: http://www.facebook.com/groupforsuicidalactivedutyandforsuicidalveterans
may help; Colonel.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 19 at 2015 11:15 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 11:15:06 -0400

Can u C&P the article?

Response by COL Ted Mc made Sep 19 at 2015 1:49 PM

COL Ted Mc — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 13:49:34 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Mikel; The FIRST thing we have to do is to recognize that EVERYONE who deploys in today's world IS going to have "adjustment problems" and that having "adjustment problems" is NOT "unmanly" or "a sign of weakness".

Until the institutional mind-set comes to grips with that fact of life then the situation IS going to continue REGARDLESS of whether those with the more serious problems get the immediate help they need.

The personnel who fought WWII had been "tempered" by "The Great Depression" and did magnificently. The personnel who fought the Korean War hadn't and exhibited the worst record as POWs that America had ever seen.

Since that time, the military has been somewhat successful in instilling some of the "comradely virtues" which the WWII soldiers showed, but the general society has changed so that those values are now less valued than "individual advancement" is.

Although this sentence is going to be misinterpreted by some, I still believe that a certain degree of "collectivism" is required to form and maintain an effective military force. Fostering that "collectivism" is difficult when individuals are shifted from one slot in one organization to a different slot in a different organization solely for the benefit of the "bean counters" and "theoreticians" the way that the US military appears to be doing today.

If the troop doesn't say something like "I am a Marine. More than that, I am a Marine of the First Marines. More than that, I am a Marine of A Company of the First Marines. More than that, I am a Marine of the First Platoon of A Company of the First Marine. More than that, I am a Marine of the Second Squad of the First Platoon of A Company of the First Marine. More than that, I am a Marine of the Second Squad of the First Platoon of A Company of the First Marine and these are my 'brothers' who I would die for and who would die for me." then the organization is the weaker for it.

Yes, I know, that is REALLY "old fashioned".

BUT if you give me a company of troops like that, I'll whip the ass off a battalion of troops who don't (9 times out of 10 [and they'll be really hurting on the 10th]).

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 20 at 2015 10:23 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 10:23:42 -0400

It is a very sad story. I have written extensively about the Army's failures to deal with PTSD because I live in an Army town. The Marines are just as hard hit, and the problem lies with DOD being unwilling to properly deal with the situation.

It is a testament to these Marines that they are helping each other...