Military Children in Crisis

[katty]

Saturday 17 October 2009

by: Stacy Bannerman, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed

more: http://www.truthout.org/101709C#

A seven-year-old second-grader attempted suicide while his father was serving yet another tour in Iraq. Seven years old. Seven. His mother was one of half a dozen military spouses I have spoken with about soldiers' kids who have attempted suicide during their fathers' deployments.

When I was seven, it was 1972, and there were 69,000 US troops in Vietnam. Men were still being drafted and deployed, but not my dad. So I was spared the circumstances that led a seven-year-old to try to kill himself.

Three-plus decades ago, parents were exempt from conscription because of overwhelming concern about the harmful effects of deployment on children.

[southernyankeebelle]

1. I wonder how many of these soldiers are female that are gone? This

is horrible. Where is the support system in the units for families? The military post has support system for the families. Someone isn't doing their job.

[katty]

2. yes, well like so many other neglected, awful circumstances

this goes unreported in the MSM-military families are working with some groups that are assisting them and supporting their own as they always do.

[midnight]

3. Children need their parents. Another reason to end this illegal war.....