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BY MEGAN FAROKHMANESH
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Families will finally receive condolence letters for soldiers who commit suicide during deployment- reversing a long-standing military policy.
A senior White House official announced...
“'The president feels strongly that we need to stigmatize the mental health costs of war to prevent these tragic deaths, and changing that policy is part of that process.'” (Source: Politico)
The policy reversal comes as a relief to family members like Gregg Keesling-- whose son Chance, a 25-year-old Army Specialist, committed suicide while serving in Iraq.
In an interview with CBS, Keesling talks about his desire to receive acknowledgement of his son’s service to the country.
“He was a good soldier and that’s the part that I want to know--that the country appreciates that he fought, he did everything he was asked to do. It didn’t turn out well for him, but at least this country could write a simple letter -- and the president represents our country -- and just say thank you for our son’s service.”
According to The New York Times - condolence letters will only be sent to those...
“...who commit suicide in combat zones... But families of military personnel who kill themselves in the United States and on foreign bases not considered combat zones will not receive the letters.”
ABC reports from 2005 to 2009, about 22 percent of Army suicides happened in combat zones. According to the Department of Defense...
“‘In the 5 years from 2005 to 2009, more than 1,100 members of the Armed Forces took their own lives, an average of 1 suicide every 36 hours.’” (Source: ABC)
The policy was officially changed as of Tuesday, July 5.
Transcript by Newsy.
