She Survived Iraq -- Then Shot Herself at Home

[kpete]

She Survived Iraq -- Then Shot Herself at Home

By Greg Mitchell

Published: November 13, 2006 12:10 PM ET

NEW YORK Her name doesn't show on any official list of American military deaths in the Iraq war, by hostile or non-hostile fire, who died in that country or in hospitals in Europe or back home in the USA. But Iraq killed her just as certainly.

She is Jeanne "Linda" Michel, a Navy medic. She came home last month to her husband and three kids (ages 11, 5, and 4), delighted to be back in her suburban home of Clifton Park in upstate New York. Michel, 33, would be discharged from the Navy in a few weeks, finishing her five years of duty.
Two weeks after she got home, she shot and killed herself.

..............

Michel's story has now been probed by reporter Kate Gurnett in today's Albany Times-Union. It's headlined, "A casualty far from the battlefield.
And yet, in many ways, not far at all.

Why did it happen? "Like thousands of others returning from Iraq, her mental state was fractured," Gurnett explains. "And it went untreated. Within two weeks, Linda Michel would become a private casualty of war. Re-entry into the world of peace can be harder than deployment, experts say. Picking up where you left off doesn't just happen....

more at:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003381399

[cmd]

1. My friend had two cousins who served in Iraq.

One came home a wreck. The whole family worried about him every day. The other adjusted very well to civilian life. The well adjusted one got a phone call a few weeks ago and told his parents he was going out. The call was from Gander Mountain. The gun he had ordered had just come in. He went out to the parking lot, loaded the gun, called 911 and told them where he was and what he was about to do, then killed himself. Another uncounted fatality of the Iraq mess.

[LynzM]

18. I'm so sorry, cmd

:hug: Love and hugs to you and your family. This war is so cruel to so many.

[nam78_two]

2. K&R/nt

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. This is a growing trend.

As a nation we failed her. First, by sending her off to fight an illegal and senseless war. Second, by not providing her with proper medical attention to help heal the mental wounds she acquired in said war.

Heartbreaking that her children will never feel the loving arms of their mother again.

If there is a hell, bush will have a seat in the most vile of corners there.

[TahitiNut]

10. "As a nation we failed her." Yep. You got it.

The sense of betrayal is overwhelming. Folks go through prolonged stress punctuated by horrors week after week and month after month, accumulating emotional baggage. When they come hoome and find no place to unload and unpack that baggage, they often crumble under the load. When the nation, whose will (or disregard) they serve, doesn't offer baggage assistance, it's like the final straw of a vanity case added to the load. Ninety-five percent of the people in this nation "have better things to do" than Iraq ... or just have anal cysts. Nevermind that we're in charge. After all, we don't.

[annabanana]

4. ow ow ow

This is achingly sad..

[Warpy]

5. War destroys people, the ones who fight it and the ones

who get in the way, either physically or mentally or sometimes both.

That's the main reason war is to be avoided if at all possible. It's the reason our military should be one of national defense, not foreign adventurism backed by corporations, fat cats, and the geopolitical theorists who invariably turn out to be WRONG.

Denial never helped anyone and denial never avoided the wars that destroyed them. Yet the VA continues to deny anything happened, that war is nothing out of the ordinary, and if the body survived, the soldier is OK. Besides, treating the shattered souls who return might cost a few bucks, money that would have to be wrested from the sainted rich because the rest of us are tapped out.

And people wonder why we are angry at the present maladministration.

[Hugin]

6. The Iraq war will be with us for a long long time...

Even after the troops are withdrawn.

[bdamomma]

12. all the more reason why they need counselling for PTSD.

for those of us who were never involved in a conflict of war, those soldiers who came home need counselling, and they have nothing to be ashamed of, post traumatic disorders can be cured.

[Karenina]

16. NO they CANNOT be "cured."

[bdamomma]

31. let me correct myself they cannot be corrected but they can

get help to cope with it.

[bdamomma]

32. let me correct myself they cannot be "cured" but they can get

help.

[rainbow4321]

7. CNN just showed previews of their show tonight (similiar story)

And part of it was a suburban/veteran mom who was diagnosed w/ PTSD, accused of drinking while on duty (she says it was the antidepressants she had to take)and when she came back home she said that she comtemplated suicide, also. Check local listings..think it may be on AC 360 tonight, about what happens to the soldiers after the war, what the medical community does to help them, etc..
Think the stat that they showed said 1 out of 7 soldiers are being treated for PTSD.

[Nikki Stone1]

8. First spending bill for the new Dem Congress: Healthcare for vets

Please....

[Straight Shooter]

11. I second that motion.

No more Vietnam PTSD redux. Please. :thumbsup:

[Nikki Stone1]

30. If any Congressional staffers are reading

This issue is EXTREMELY important. Please set aside some cash to deal with our vets.

[Drops_not_Dope]

9. By the numb-ers

A local ad running here states 70% of the homeless are Vets.

70% of a few, or several Hundred Thousand. I am so angry about the hypocrisy of Legislation that has been passed by Congress. They said they said they were behind our troops, that they support our troops.
Where is the funding representing that promise? The walking wounded want to know.

[wholetruth00]

13. And guess what the RW thinks about the homeless?

[GenDem]

14. So very sad and senseless.

I feel so sorry for her husband and young children. How many more have to die for Bush's lies?

[usregimechange]

15. So sad...

[trayfoot]

17. This is so very sad..........

and so very unnecessary. I don't understand why someone did not pick up on her condition.

[Hissyspit]

19. Another victim of Bush. n/t

[NMMNG]

20. Of course

"Like thousands of others returning from Iraq, her mental state was fractured," Gurnett explains. "And it went untreated.


Because "Support our Troops" only means slapping a ribbon on your SUV and calling protesters traitors. It doesn't mean providing them the medical care they need after they fight in the war you're so gung-ho over.

[BlueIris]

21. There are no words. nt

[loyalsister]

22. This may be unpopular......

but, I have been watching the show "Brothers and Sisters" (it airs on ABC after Desperate Housewives). They are going after this issue.
In the last episode, the brother who had returned from Iraq got his orders for redeployment.
The episode ended with him unconscious due to a drug overdose.
The conservative in the family seems to be regretting telling him it was a good idea to go in the first place.
I am glad there is a television show that is pushing the public to look. It's also kind of cool in a way, because it is telling a story about a family of conservatives and liberals that is trying to get along.

[w4rma]

23. Why would this be unpopular? (nt)

[loyalsister]

24. ABC

I assumed the boycott was ongoing.

[w4rma]

34. Ahh, I think the

boycott died after the Foley scandal heated up.

[Toots]

25. Picking up where you left off doesn't just happen....

That is why it is a Crime in my book to misuse the National Guard in this manner. Bush* ,of all people , who used the Guard to evade going to war should realize the worth of the National Guard here at home. This misuse of the Guard has to stop........These young people did not join the Guard to go to Combat in some far off land. If they wanted to do that they would have joined the real Army...

[Sugar Smack]

26. This is just horrible,.

I have no words.

[Subdivisions]

27. This is George Bush's fault....

[Javaman]

28. When my uncle liberated a couple of concentration camps during WWII..

His commanding officer had him round up all of the local population and march them through the camps. Afterward, these same people had to dig the graves of the poor souls that died under their horrible rule.

I say, we should take moron* over to Iraq and have him* stand on a corner in downtown Sadr city to witness the crimes of humanity he* has brought upon the Iraqi people.

Then give him* a pistol and a few moments alone.

[civildisoBDence]

29. Too bad he wouldn't know how to use the pistol, even if he had a conscience

The cost of caring for the veterans of this war has been estimated at nearly a trillion (TRILLION) dollars...that's assuming we don't leave them to fend for themselves.

That asshole Neal Boortz calls the homeless "urban outdoorsmen" and ridicules them regularly. I've read that half of them are veterans unable to cope with civilian life.

Newsprism

[Karenina]

33. They ARE being left fo fend for themselves.

Now. Today. Wholesale.