The parallels between Iraq and Vietnam are readily apparent, and support for returning soldiers is critical to re-adjust to "civilian" life.
Do these names ring a bell? Curtis Greene, Matthew Sepi, Matthew Denni, Andres Raya and James Pitts...
If they do, then add 2005 Marine of the Year Daniel Cotnoir to the list.
If not, then learn more on the flip.
These stories are very personal to me, as my best friend, my brother-in-law, returned earlier this year from a year's tour in Iraq. We spent weekend after weekend fixing his house up, since he was only in it two months from buying it before being called up. By doing this, I figured it would make him feel like the house was his, and that he didn't miss out on all the settling-in time his wife did while he was serving. Plus, it allowed me to rebond with him and make sure his mind was in a good place.
"I don't feel emotions any more."
When we discussed this statement he made to me, he knew what was supposed to make him happy, what was supposed to make him sad, etc - but none of it actually affected his emotions. He was numb to everything, including me & his wife, but he knew it would take time to get past that. Thankfully, my role as the jovial brother/friend helped break through with laughter, and he's in a much better place.
So today, when I opened the Boston Globe, I was horrified to read this headline: Marine held in shooting: Lawyer says client cracked under stress.
Cotnoir had already complained to police about a crowd of almost 30 people in the street outside a nearby nightclub and restaurant about 2:45 a.m. Saturday. When someone threw a bottle that shattered his bedroom window, Cotnoir fired ''a warning shot" that hit a 15-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man, said his lawyer, Robert F. Kelley.
This incident was inexcusable for anyone to endure, let alone a noble soldier who is trying his best to return to a "normal life." With the anti-smoking laws here in Massachusetts, this is a problem I have experienced, and it's inexcusable for people to fully disregard the expectation of peace & quiet other people may have in the middle of the night. But noone, NOONE, should have to endure this:
About 30 people had gathered in the street and parking lot listening to music from their cars, many having just left the nightclub Punto Final, Cumba said.
Some people in the crowd were playfully joshing Cotnoir as he watched from a window above his family's funeral home, Cumba said.
''People were saying hi to him, 'hey, how are you?' Somebody threw something at him," she said.
That "something" was a bottle, and it broke Sgt. Cotnoir's window, prompting him to fire a warning shot with his shotgun on the aggitating crowd. While he thought he was shooting into a "safe area", but the ricochet was overlooked & struck two in the crowd.
The 15-year-old 'victim', in response to learning her shooter's background, had this to say:
"I don't think he deserves any of those awards...I think he deserves to get locked up. I could have been dead right now. "
Little do these people take responsibility for their actions at nearly 3 am for assaulting a fellow citizen who was simply trying to rest, but they lack any understanding of his situation, or respect to his service.
Sound familiar? If it doesn't yet, then it will, because these stories are only growing in number.
Amry Spc. Matthew Sepi, the Iraq war veteran who was shot at & responded while making a beer run, killed one and wounded another in Las Vegas just over two weeks ago.
Sgt. Curtis Greene, father & husband, had difficulties with his family not understanding how bad Iraq was upon him. In serving another tour, he told his family:
"Over my dead body are they going to make me go back."
And so it was - he reported to base as usual, and was later found to have hung himself.
Andres Raya, decorated Marine, was preparing to return for another tour when he ambushed the police.
Sergeant James Pitts, was caught having an affair, drowned his wife & positioned her peacefully on their bed so their son wouldn't see her in a bad way.
Matthew Denni also had a fight with his wife, before killing her & stuffing her into a footlocker stored in the back of the family minivan.
If you read through each of these stories, there is one common tie that I fully understand:
"He was not the person I knew when he came back from Iraq."
...
"He went to Iraq and he was fine. He came back a monster. How many more monsters are going to come back?"
...
"He came back different"
...
"He just said it was ugly, and that you don't know what it's like until you're there," she said. "He always said he wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy."
I wish I had something more profound to say, but the shadows of history are darkening each & every day.
To the Greene family, the Sepi family, the Denni family, the Raya family, and the Pitts family, I would like to say what our fearful Presidon't won't say: I'm so very, very sorry that we couldn't help as they needed.
I can't take this in my country.
I can't imagine this in my family.
Bring our families back, not monsters.
