Surge in Suicides Among Iraq Vets Hits Close to Home

For almost five years, I have been writing, at Editor & Publisher, about suicides among our troops in Iraq or when they return home. Several chapters on this subject are featured in my new book, So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq. This week, however, for the first time, I picked up the morning paper and discovered a tragic case close to home.

The front-page headline in The Journal News of White Plains, N.Y. read, "Marine struggled to reclaim life," with the deck, "Parents urge more help, services for returning veterans." Steven Vickerman was buried on Tuesday at Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill, which I know well.

The parents live in Palisades, N.Y. about five miles from my home on the west bank of the Hudson river about 15 miles north of Manhattan. A huge color photo showed Carole and Richard Vickerman at his grave site, with flowers and flags around it.

The article by Hannan Adely opened, "After two tours in Iraq with the Marine Corps Reserve, Steven Vickerman tried to resume a normal life at home with his wife, but he could not shake a feeling of despair.

"His parents, Richard and Carole Vickerman of Palisades, went to visit him at a veterans hospital after he suffered a mental breakdown; they were in disbelief. The funny and adventurous baby brother had become sullen, withdrawn and full of anxiety. Vickerman, who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, killed himself Feb. 19."

Carole Vickerman told the reporter: "We're still in shock. Our son was a proud Marine. He served his country honorably, and we don't know what happened to him."

As I have documented over the years -- few others in the media were interested until recently -- suicides in Iraq now total in the hundreds with many more than that among the returnees. There have been high-profile suicides, such as Col. Ted Westhusing, and those few knew about until my articles gained wide attention, such as the case of Alyssa Peterson, who killed herself after objecting to interrogation techniques in Iraq. My book closes with vet leader Paul Rieckhoff sounding off on this entire issue.

The VA, the Vickermans believe, failed their son. The services available, they said, were insufficient, and the government should do more to address the issue for war vets.

Steve Vickerman, who graduated from a local high school, enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1998. Ten years later, after serving two tours in Iraq, he hanged himself in his home.

Jerry Donnellan, director of the Rockland Veterans Service Agency -- I've met him a few times -- said, "The issue of PTSD is worse than I have ever seen it, and I have been doing this for 20 years now." Richard Vickerman believes the government should allow veterans to receive mental health benefits at private medical facilities.

Just today we have a new AP report that some 70,000 Iraq vets are now receiving treatment for severe hearing problems.

The article in the local paper closed: "Richard Vickerman thinks that, with so many cases of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder, Americans should continue to demand action for the soldiers who sacrificed so much to protect freedoms in the United States. 'Why the American people aren't hearing about this and raising the roof -- that flag over there, the flag behind you, is the price that's being paid all over this country by families,' he said, tearfully looking over at the folded flag that the Marines presented to him at his son's funeral. 'It's not right.'"

Greg Mitchell is editor of Editor & Publisher. His book, So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq (Union Square Press) is now available at online booksellers and in bookstores.

Comments

[hoodrat]

Orlando, I don't justify war for wars sake. Out of the multitude of thoughts going through my head - let me offer these thoughts. If you look at the military from the bottom up, you will see a lot coming from economically depressed areas, lots of minorities, all looking for a way to better themselves. Those of us that come from generational military families - want to contribute to the unbroken line(which by the way, my father begged me not to - at the time, I thought because I was entering Marines, those before me were Army). It was because after WWII and Korea, the cause for war began to get blurred, the result of our "domino effect" theory - a full-blown military industry to feed(sound familiar?). Being from a middle-class background, I knew most that were screaming patriotism, just did't want to continue school or were looking for direction. Either way we enter, for most we do service the same as Peace Corps, Fire/Police, Coast Guard to the nation you were born in. Minus the Mercs this regime employs, which is a much larger quasi-legitimate army. I would think(even though the pay DOES suck, as does teachers/f­iremen/pol­ice), that the willingness to put your life in harms way for fellow humans rights - hits right at the core of humanity itself. The fact that you were lied to about your mission, does not negate good intentions. After the shit starts - GOD,Country, and apple pie, takes a back seat to the hopeful to your friends that are around you. Its the horror of what they see, that in a lot of places, are a way of life - that's so unlike your own, you can't but be affected. I'm not in these kids back pockets, but war is ugly, and with the right leadership, a necessary evil to help those in need, or to maintain your right of speaking out loud your abhorance to policies undertaken. Again, buddies well-being first - fighting for your right to be you second. They all are to be respected for the decision. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall obtain mercy", our military, in it's REAL purpose, is that mercy. Pray for all those brothers and sisters come home and find peace.

[Orlando]

It is a tragedy that the US government lied to the American people to wage a war of aggression on the Iraqis. This has happened before, in the staged Gulf of Tonkin against the Vietnamese people.
That war killed 57,000 Americans and 3,000,000 people in S.E. Asia.

The same corrupt cabal that orchestrated that slaughter has been eagerly waiting and plotting for the next opportunity to unleash hell on earth against another population.

How do we let these criminals continue to walk among us?
How do people with families and values, take carreers where they kill for a paycheck at someone else's command?
How do Americans let thier brothers, sisters, sons and daughters die for Empire?
How do they sleep at night? What must they see in the mirror?

It is the mission, that is immoral.

Looking in the mirror after accepting unto themselves this immoral behavior, must be too much for some of these young men and women who where so young and so easily used.

Seeing the reflection your evil deeds in your own eyes becomes too much.

How do you forgive yourself after allowing your moral accountability to be bought for $1,235.17/month?

I hope that those who can make it through this, demand acountability for those who would send them into wars of aggression on lies.

I hope that those who come back, demand trials for the political machine which betrayed them.
Which betrayed all Americans.
Which betrayed humanity.

[julianne allen]

Hey, it would be good if, on stories like these, you also posted links to some websites where we can help. I know that people can find them easily via Google, but if it were right there in front of them, people might be more likely to donate or volunteer. Just a thought. By the way, I loved your piece and I am so glad someone is giving voice to this tragedy.

[Greg Mitchell - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks. One good place to go might be Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, I believe it is at www.iava.org.

[Colmore]

While all this tragedy is happening to families, the president makes an ASS of himself, dancing on the WH steps. Not a care in the world. Gas going up to $5 a gallon? Interesting, had not heard that. Within days of rejecting the recession rumors, he has to admit there really is something to them. What in HELL does this "man" do all day, apart from bike ridin'??? I heard that all the TV's at the WH are tuned to Fox News, on orders from president Chaney. Maybe it is time, or overdue time, to watch some overseas news that tell the true stories.

[LeftRight]

Hey, theres another surge bushco(tm) can be responsible for!