Why does the gov't not acknowledge the non-hostile deaths?

While researching something else, I came across an article about non-hostile deaths, and decided to check into that more...

Why does the U.S. government spit in the faces of the families of the soldiers who died because of this war, even though they weren't killed by Iraqis?

It seems as though the U.S. government doesn't even acknowledge that these "non-hostile" deaths even fought for them.

(These are old articles, but I have yet to read anything about them here, and nothing's changed since then anyway.)

According to William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, who discussed the suicides in a briefing last month, that represents a rate of more than 13.5 per 100,000 troops,about 20 percent higher than the recent Army average of 10.5 to 11. The Pentagon plans to release the findings of a team sent to Iraq last fall to investigate the mental health of the troops, including suicides.

'They just covered it up'
The number Winkenwerder cited does not include cases under investigation, so the actual number may be higher. It also excludes the suicides by soldiers who have returned to the United States.

Why not even mention in it the first place? And why not even include them in the total number dead? This is one of the most ungrateful things I've read.. they fight and die for the government, and the government acts as if the soldiers were never even part of the military... why?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4306831/
http://la.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/120597.php
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1935586

 

Good, I finally agree with you on something. From what I've seen, overall, they don't like to talk about the suicides within the military, whatever the reason may be. My husband knew, and knew of, quite a few guys who killed themselves just during their training periods. We both know a guy who would have killed himself after returning from Iraq, but his family encouraged him to seek help and get on medication to help with his PTSD. I only hear about these things from hubby and other people who've been around it. Otherwise, they just don't seem to want to mention it, as if that makes these people any less important.

If there are any sorts of acknoledgements of all the poor folks who've committed suicide, it'd be nice to see...if anyone finds something.

They deserve just as much respect as the others.

 

Ditto...

I don't think our country treats our veterans close to as well as they deserve. The men and women that volunteer themselves to serve for our country deserve to be taken care of, and respected proplerly by us as well. We owe them that much, and more.

 

This is going to come across as a bit wrong of me..but don't take it the wrong way..just some stories about suicide within the army.

Deaths at Deepcut

An MPs' report into abuse allegations at Deepcut barracks in Surrey has criticised the Army of failing in the way it handles new recruits and allowing bullying to go unreported.

General: Suicide recruits are 'less intelligent'

HELEN WILLIAM

THE deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, General Anthony Palmer, was condemned last night after he said army recruits who committed suicide were "less intelligent" than other servicemen and women. Gen Palmer also said the army recruited less intelligent personnel than the RAF or Royal Navy.

He was slated by the father of a soldier found dead at Deepcut barracks.

Intellect linked to suicide risk



IT'S ALL IN THE HEADLINE

The LA Times yesterday (March 27, 2004) published a serious article on the serious topic of low troop morale in the Army, morale low enough to even present instances of suicide. This is important news that should be reported. But it is thesensationalistic way that it is reported that bothers me.