Craig Daily Press / Stephen Skidmore: How many more do we need to lose?

April 29, 2008

To the Editor:

I was listening to the morning news on a radio station here in Colorado on how there is a 50 percent rate of suicide among Colorado National Guardsmen and U.S. Army Reservists, and possibly nationwide, who are returning from the Iraq War.

And I thought to myself on how it would affect the anti-war sentiment and my fellow hurting and dying vets and active service personnel. And I wrote this: “If President George W. Bush knew of the 9-11 attacks ahead of time and used it for his own personal gain as a pretense to invade Iraq, let that fall upon his head.”

He is the commander-in-chief, and that responsibility ultimately rests with him; not you (those returning from the Iraq War).

Let the following commander-in-chiefs know better and let them not repeat it.

The point is, Osama bin Laden and his organization (and those to come) have completed their mission. This “War on Terror,” we must in turn complete, regardless of the loss of family, friends and relationships. Bin Laden is a religious, overzealous madman with overzealous, radical beliefs that he would impose on us here, the United States of America, and the free world.

I feel for those Colorado National Guardsmen and U.S. Army Reservists and other service men and women nationwide who must deal with:

• A commander-in-chief who may have known of the 9-11 attacks ahead of time.

• A radical, overzealous madman and his organization, and those to come on a worldwide front, and possible problems on the home front.

You (those returning from Iraq) must admit to your feelings of survivor guilt, depression and or family and personal problems.

You must seek out and employ medical attention, get faith, and “Naugahyde,” — not suicide.

How many more do we lose in another 9-11 attack, known or unknown, if you do not remain strong?

You must and will survive, or we will not.

God Bless, stay strong and you are in my prayers.

Stephen Skidmore

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29 April 2008 at 5:50 p.m.

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grannyrett (Anonymous) says…

Stephen-There is not a 50% suicide rate among the returning vets. Yes, they have a higher suicide rate than the general public, but 50% of our returning vets are NOT committing suicide. I don't know how to cut and paste, and I don't have the patience to do it anyway, but if you Google suicide veterans for Iraq, VietNam, Korea, World War II and World War I, you will see that there is a higher than average suicide rate for all our men and women who have served in a war zone. Is this right?—No No No!!! Some people can handle more than others. Our Veterans Hospitals need to help all our veterans. All our hero's need therapy when they come home. Not two or three hours speaking with a Chaplin, but intense therapy with someone who knows what they have been through. There has to be some way to bring these numbers down.

29 April 2008 at 10:14 p.m.

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taxslave (Anonymous) says…

The Veteran suicide rate is 18/day. That's correct, eighteen commit suicide each day. Hearing in congress about the cover up of the numbers last week.

The suicide rate has also skyrocketed with the returning Canadian troops.

I don't miss too many congressional hearings. My TV is always on Cspan.

23 May 2008 at 5:38 p.m.

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50cal (Anonymous) says…

sad really sad maybe if the media and the demoncrats didn't keep telling them they were losers they wouldn't feel that way.

Don't worry boys real americans still love ya.

24 May 2008 at 5 a.m.

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taxslave (Anonymous) says…

Cspan is rerunning the veterans suicide hearing today at 10am. Saturday

24 May 2008 at 6:55 a.m.

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50cal (Anonymous) says…

will be at graduation don't really care what jackasses on capital hill have to say this weekend. I have a kid to get ready to go join the armed forces and live up to the expectations of those same said jackasses