Posted on Jul 9, 2016
This widow's story will break your heart, and compel the Army to change
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As a former Military Attorney, I represented "Pro Bono" the Mother and step-father of a US Marine who died by suicide within only a few short weeks of arriving in country to Afghanistan not that long ago, and the memory of reading the Death Investigation report and going over it with the family members is something I will never forget.
If I felt at all, mentally ill or psychological ill, or slipping into a deep depression, the first things I would get rid of in my home is my guns. It is a solemn promise I made to myself, and verbalized to my spouse, and for the sake of my three year old little boy.
There are always going to be more questions than answers when something like this happens. I felt all of the emotions of the mother, "How could he do this? Why didn't the Marine Corps or his unit see this coming, and protect him from himself?, How could he be so selfish? But most of all, "I want my son back . . ." I still feel this mother's pain, and it has been a few years. Reading this anguished Army Spouse and Captain's anguish brings it all back to me. Don't be an Island!
Don't let the Bell toll for You before you are old and grey, and you saw your kid grow up, with your help! Call a buddy and reach out, https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ call [login to see] and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.:
Poems by John Donne : 113 / 190
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
John Donne
If I felt at all, mentally ill or psychological ill, or slipping into a deep depression, the first things I would get rid of in my home is my guns. It is a solemn promise I made to myself, and verbalized to my spouse, and for the sake of my three year old little boy.
There are always going to be more questions than answers when something like this happens. I felt all of the emotions of the mother, "How could he do this? Why didn't the Marine Corps or his unit see this coming, and protect him from himself?, How could he be so selfish? But most of all, "I want my son back . . ." I still feel this mother's pain, and it has been a few years. Reading this anguished Army Spouse and Captain's anguish brings it all back to me. Don't be an Island!
Don't let the Bell toll for You before you are old and grey, and you saw your kid grow up, with your help! Call a buddy and reach out, https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ call [login to see] and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.:
Poems by John Donne : 113 / 190
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
John Donne
This widow's story will break your heart, and compel the Army to change
Posted from armytimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Suicide
Firearms and Guns
Suicide Firearms and Guns
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Capt Lance Gallardo it was about a month ago that my daughter came into my living room, looked me in the eyes, and choked out the words "I think (ex boyfriend) just killed himself." She was already on the phone to 911. She explained that he was an armed security officer, and that she had not heard the shot, just him screaming. The police responded to the scene, and found that he had shot himself one time in the chest. The bullet lodged in his shoulder blade after having gone through the lung, without hitting the heart. She was devastated. We spent the night with his family in the hospital. I have had to remind her on numerous occasions when she starts questioning what happened that the police officers, surgeon, hospital staff, and family all credit her quick reaction time in calling EMS with him losing a lung versus losing a life. Suicide is devastating to all. You are so right. The best thing we can do for each other is GIVE A SHIT. Thank you for sharing this woman's powerful tragic story.
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Capt Lance Gallardo
My brother the Fire Captain, lost two college roommates to suicide at UC Davis here in California. One right after the other. The second roommate blamed himself for the death of the first roommate and committed suicide. Just like you did for your daughter, I was telling my brother that he was not too blame and he cannot kill himself over the deaths of the first two. You have got to stay on with your daughter and watch her like a hawk to make sure she does not let her guilt over what he chose to do to himself, hurt her anymore than it already has.
I am sure you are doing that right now. Maybe she should have a session or two with a trauma counselor, so that she knows it is pretty common to have these kind of feelings, after a close friend or BF/GF takes their own lives.
God Bless PO3 Sherrill and may the Lord protect your daughter and give her comfort!
I am sure you are doing that right now. Maybe she should have a session or two with a trauma counselor, so that she knows it is pretty common to have these kind of feelings, after a close friend or BF/GF takes their own lives.
God Bless PO3 Sherrill and may the Lord protect your daughter and give her comfort!
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Capt Lance Gallardo
Every vet or SM Suicide should hurt a little or a lot (depending on how close you are to them or their family). 22 vets a day die by Suicide? Is that the most recent info we have ?
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PO1 John Miller
Capt Lance Gallardo
I seem to remember reading that "22" was a made-up statistic. But even one veteran/service member suicide is one too many!
I seem to remember reading that "22" was a made-up statistic. But even one veteran/service member suicide is one too many!
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