Veterans inspired to make miracles in the world!

Miracles after attempted suicides prevented

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
May 17, 2020

Stories collected from Wounded Times

In 2007, Owen Wilson attempted suicide and it was big news, and spread around the world. At the same time, we were facing 948 attempted active duty suicides, along with 99 who lost their lives. It was also the year when many survivors faced charges. A female reservists was facing charges after she survived. She tired again, and again, she survived. The charges against her were dropped and her story showed that her mental health crisis had been pushed aside by her superiors.

"I Sat around numerous times with a .44 in my mouth. But for some reason, I just couldn't pull the trigger. I don't know why." said a 57 year old veteran who had attempted it three more times.

Not long afterwards reports of veterans attempted suicides had grown more than "patient count" in the VA. The eyeopener in this piece of news was the age groups who topped the numbers from 2000-2007. 20-24 year old attempts went from 11 to 47 per year. 55-59 year old attempts also went up from 19 to 117.

By April of 2008, the reports on attempted suicides were increased to 1,000 per month in the VA system.

And then something amazing started to happen. Veterans were talking about their own pain so that others would understand it is not all doom and gloom. 

Two years later, veterans were trying to do whatever they could to change the outcome and encourage veterans to seek healing instead of suffering. That is what Jeremiah Workman did as the recipient of the Navy Cross.

He went on to write "Shadow of the Sword: A Marine's Journey of War, Heroism, and Redemption"

Chaplains were talking about their own struggles so that others would discover that asking for help is part of healing and part of their faith. After all, Jesus was preaching healing and not going it alone. Not to mention He kept asking for help. If the Son of God was not above asking for help...no one should have a problem with it.

Generals were talking about their own struggles with PTSD.

Medal of Honor recipients did a PSA on seeking help to heal PTSD.

Servicemembers were also doing whatever it took to save anyone in trouble. A sailor on the USS Carl Vinson was driving across a bridge when he saved a suicidal man...on his 60th birthday.

Dakota Meyer received the Medal of Honor, but after being home, he tried to commit suicide because he felt as if he had become a burden to his family. He broke his silent suffering knowing he could keep saving lives even back home.

Andrew O'Brien decided to end his silence on YouTube after the tried to commit suicide, knowing others may choose to live.

A Navy Captain decided talking about his own attempt at committing suicide would prevent someone from trying it too.

A female veteran, Mary Dague, lost both of her arms serving as a bomb tech in Iraq, but managed to save the life of another veteran across the country.

Within all the bad news out there, we should all do more than take comfort because of all the people trying to make a difference. We need to share their stories so that others are inspired to make miracles in the world!