another tragic death due to the war in iran
this should never have happened part i
there is more on the life of james e dean in today's washington post
Distant War May Have Claimed Md. Soldier Veteran Slain in Police Standoff Was Devastated by Call-Up, Family Says
By Megan Greenwell Washington Post Staff Writer James E. Dean's first Christmas as a married man was supposed to be a joyous affair. The man everyone called Jamie had received a diagnosis of depression, but things were looking up. He frequently told Muriel, his wife of four months, that she was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He had plans to celebrate his 29th birthday two days before the holiday. His parents and grandmother, to whom he was extremely close, lived just a few miles away in the same St. Mary's County town -- perfect for sharing Christmas dinner and opening presents together.
But everything good in Dean's life had been overshadowed by a letter he received three weeks earlier. The letter, from U.S. Army headquarters, instructed him to report to Fort Benning, Ga., on Jan. 14. From there, he was likely to be sent to Iraq.
Dean had already fought in one war, serving 12 months as a sergeant, leading a small infantry unit on the front lines in Afghanistan. Army records show that he was an excellent soldier, and he had a fistful of awards to prove it: for service in defense of the nation, good conduct and outstanding marksmanship with rifles and grenades. He was such a good soldier, in fact, an Army spokesman said, that the military needed him back just three weeks after his first Christmas with his wife.
He couldn't stomach the thought. His post-traumatic stress disorder, which was diagnosed shortly after he returned from Afghanistan, became worse immediately after he received the letter -- and so did his drinking and his rages, family members said. He would break down in front of his wife, telling her over and over that nobody knew what it had been like....
he was diagnosed with ptsd. WHY oh WHY was he re-called and told he was going to be sent to iraq? from all accounts he fought with dignity in afghanistan. from all accounts he lived his life (back home) quietly and honorably. from all accounts he was a happy man UNTIL he came back from war (the FIRST time).
why is our country not taking care of it's veterans? if they come back home INJURED and that damn well INCLUDES MENTALLY too (how can you NOT be affected when you serve in afghanistan or iraq???). why are we sending our men and women back out to fight and unjust and illegal war?
can ANYONE tell me?
i sure don't know
who is going to be left to protect us in a few years if we keep throwing away the lives of our men and women? oh i know, THE BUSH TWINS!!!
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