[jdog]

In Chuck Deans' book, Nam Vet., printed in 1990 by Multnomah Press, Portland, Oregon, 97226, the author states that "Fifty-eight thousand plus died in the Vietnam War. Over 150,000 have committed suicide since the war ended". According to this book, Chuck Dean is a Vietnam Veteran who served in the 173rd Airborne, arriving in Vietnam in 1965. At the time the book was written, Mr. Dean was the executive director of Point Man International, a Seattle based, non-profit support organization dedicated to healing the war wounds of Vietnam Veterans.

While doing research for his novel, Suicide Wall, Alexander Paul contacted Point Man International and was given the name of a retired VA doctor, and conducted a phone interview with him. In that interview, the doctor related that his estimate of the number of Vietnam Veteran suicides was 200,000 men, and that the reason the official suicide statistics were so much lower was that in many cases the suicides were documented as accidents, primarily single-car drunk driving accidents and self inflicted gunshot wounds that were not accompanied by a suicide note or statement. According to the doctor, the under reporting of suicides was primarily an act of kindness to the surviving relatives.

If the estimate of over 150,000 veterans of the Vietnam War having committed suicide since returning home is true, the figure would be almost three times the number killed in the war. When these deaths are added to the 50,000 plus Vietnam War casualties, the number approaches the 292,000 American casualties of World War II.

I'm a Nam vet, & have attended way to many of my 'soldier brothers' funerals. Most soldiers who see combat, get 'wounded' in some fashion, even if it doesn't show on the surface!

I'm a U.S. Army Veteran (Viet Nam), & the son of a U.S. Army Veteran (WWII), & the father of a U.S. Army Veteran (Gulf war I), & I'm married to a US Army Veteran! I believe the "Wrights" have carried their weight! So far no suicide's! Knock! Knock!

Hang in there brothers! I feel your pain!

I salute you!

jdog
P.S. I fly the US flag every day, just like my father did!