I just heard that a friend of mine, an Airman I deployed to Afghanistan with back in 02

[The Polack MSgt]

Swallowed a bullet last night.

He's the 3rd friend of mine from that Squadron to commit suicide.

Fuck, this shit is tearing a hole in me.

Sleep quietly Wes. Be pain free...

I wish you'd have fucking called me, but I am dying inside wishing I had called you...

[alwaysinasnit]

1. ...

[secondwind]

2. This is very saddening... am wondering if the pandemic only made things worse for him..

May he Rest In Peace.....

[Docreed2003]

3. ...

Damn. I'm truly sorry for your loss, bro. We're here for you if there's anything at all we can do to help.

[blm]

4. ((TPM))

[Scrivener7]

5. I'm so sorry.

There are no words.

[ColinC]

6. I had a battle buddy kill himself right out of basic training

I'm really sorry for your loss....

[CentralMass]

7. Sorry for your loss. Suicide is a terrible thing.

[babylonsister]

8. So very sad; my condolences to you and his family. nt

[Tanuki]

9. I am so sorry for you and all those who loved Wes, and for the pain

he must have been feeling.

[Diamond_Dog]

10. I am so sorry, Sarge.

[AwakeAtLast]

11. .

[NoMoreRepugs]

12. Hang in there MSgt.

[niyad]

13. May he be at peace. I am so very sorry for your loss.

[MiHale]

14. ...

[NHvet]

15. So sorry for your loss...

Those of us that have lost someone like this know there are no words, nothing that can fill the loss....

[markie]

16. I am truly sorry

[Gore1FL]

17. I am sorry for your loss. nt

[wnylib]

18. I lost a close relative the same way.

I blamed myself for not calling, for not doing more. Sometimes it is just beyond our control. I spoke with a counselor who said that friends and relatives often feel responsible. There are support groups for the friends and relatives of suicides. They might not be meeting in person these days, but you can probably find a group online. It helps to share your loss with people who have been through it.

So sorry that you have lost him and others. Wishing you consolation and help with coping and healing.

[sdfernando]

19. Oh jeez!... I'm so so sorry man.

[TomSlick]

20. I'm so sorry MSgt.

I have no words of wisdom other than your friends on DU are here if we can help.

[Ilsa]

21. I'm so sorry.

Please consider speaking to a specialist or counselor about this.

[irisblue]

22. 🕯️

[Karadeniz]

23. Given the effects of warfare, I'd have a really difficult time sending people to a war zone. Re:

Your friend's suicide, hindsight is perfect. After all these years, who would have suspected that he was on the brink. Please don't be so hard on yourself.

[MLAA]

24. Thinking of you and many Wes Rest In Peace.

💕💕💕💕

[FuzzyRabbit]

25. So sad, sorry for your loss of your friend.

[BobTheSubgenius]

26. I'm so sorry.

I wish there was something I could say that would help.

[Mr. Scorpio]

27. Jeezus, man

I’m so sorry.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

28. Sorry for your loss...

[Martin Eden]

29. Before we ask our citizens in uniform to put their lives on the line ...

... it is the sacred duty of our government and the voting public to make damn sure the military action is justified, clearly defined, and fully supported with a plan to succeed.

We may have been justified in going after al Qaeda in Afghanistan but a two decade occupation with no chance of ensuring a stable democracy is a waste of blood & treasure, and the rationale for invading Iraq was built on a foundation of lies.

GW Bush and his cohorts have lives of privilege and luxury while those who carried out their mendacious agenda came back wounded in body and mind, or not at all.

[BobTheSubgenius]

33. I can't remember who said this, but I find it to be a great perspective.

Any country that doesn't take care of its veterans has no business making more of them.

[Martin Eden]

35. Especially not ...

... the "greatest" country on earth.

[BobTheSubgenius]

36. Yeah, it does tug the exceptionalism downward a tad, doesn't it?

[UpInArms]

30. I am so sorry

[DashOneBravo]

31. I'm sorry Top.

Try not to beat yourself up over this. I know that’s impossible.

[The Polack MSgt]

32. Thank you all for the kind words and thoughts, sorry for the radio silence up to now

I had to stay away from this thread while I was teleworking - can't risk weeping in Zoom meetings.

This hit me... I'm gonna need time to process it.

Call your squad mates, shipmates, battle buddies - call your friends people.

I hadn't spoke to Wes in 2 years and it's killing me

[Maraya1969]

34. I am so sorry. Please know you didn't cause this.

The war caused it.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

37. So sorry for your loss,

I know how you feel, I've lost a few buddies I served with in Vietnam to suicide.

RIP Wes.