One of my former students just committed suicide.

[proudretiredvet]

13. The things we ask our children to do are more than they can at times.

My last deployment was in 1993 to mogadishu somalia. It was not supposed to be but it was also my last combat deployment.
I'm retired military and also served 5 other combat deployments over the years. Each one was an emotional battle just leaving my family, hugging my daughters good by, and wondering if anything would ever be the same again.
While you are gone you know that;
About a 20% of your unit will get a dear john letter, will one have your name on it?
You can count on being there with at least one good friend when he learns that his wife is now with another man.
About 20% of your friends will have a loved one die at home and unless it is immediate family they will not be there for the funeral.
You know your spouse will be run ragged and pushed to their emotional limit. You know your kids will cry themselves to sleep some nights.
You know your spouse will cry herself to sleep many nights.
You know that you will watch some of your friends die on the battlefield.
You know that this new place will again change you and leave additional scars on your soul.
You know that when your short calendar is done and it is time to go home you will be scared of that too.
You know that it is going to seem as if everything has changed in the real life with family and friends and that once again you have to figure out how to fit in and become a part of it.

By the time you have been through this a few times just leaving everyone and everything you love is most of the battle. Some do not win that battle.

I'm so very sorry for this wonderful man and his family.