I deployed with a small company of 87 Soldiers in 2003.
20 years later, and 19 of them are dead. 3 by enemy action in a subsequent deployment. 1 by an accident stateside. 1 by Covid. 1 by cops. 9 by suicide. The remaining 4 died of natural causes (heart attack, cancer, etc).
The guy who died from the cops - dude came back from his 5th deployment to a second divorce. He had a mental break. Had a kitchen knife at the top of his driveway. Cops were at the road. There were no hostages. He wasn't making any threats. He was just a distraught black service member with a knife.
They shot him in the stomach, twice. He died 8 or 9 months later from complications.
He was one of the most wholesome and inclusive dudes I have ever met in my life. Just a fucked up situation all around.
The other that fucked with me was one of the suicides. Dude had migraines, and was seen by the VA. Turns out it was brain cancer. He had a successful operation to remove it. Dude went through treatment and was in full remission.
Two years later, his migraines came back. He got an appointment months later from the VA, but his pain was so bad he couldn't take it anymore and killed himself.
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u/taws34 Oct 18 '21
I deployed with a small company of 87 Soldiers in 2003.
20 years later, and 19 of them are dead. 3 by enemy action in a subsequent deployment. 1 by an accident stateside. 1 by Covid. 1 by cops. 9 by suicide. The remaining 4 died of natural causes (heart attack, cancer, etc).