Ex-Marine, advocate kills self after war tours

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Ex-Marine, advocate kills self after war tours
KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press
Published 03:05 a.m., Friday, April 15, 2011


WASHINGTON (AP) — Handsome and friendly, Clay Hunt so epitomized a vibrant Iraq veteran that he was chosen for a public service announcement reminding veterans that they aren't alone.

The 28-year-old former Marine corporal earned a Purple Heart after taking a sniper's bullet in his left wrist. He returned to combat in Afghanistan. Upon his return home, he lobbied for veterans on Capitol Hill, road-biked with wounded veterans and performed humanitarian work in Haiti and Chile.

Then, on March 31, Hunt bolted himself in his Houston apartment and shot himself.

Friends and family say he was wracked with survivor's guilt, depression and other emotional struggles after combat.

Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Ex-Marine-advocate-kills-self-after-war-tours-1338272.php

[sakabatou]

1. War is hell

It's sad that this happened.

[Hawkowl]

2. END THESE WARS MR. PRESIDENT

Every suicide, every woman and child killed, every soldier maimed is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY MR. OBAMA!!! Cut discretionary spending in order to fund wanton death and destruction? FOR WHAT!?!

GODDAMN IT TO HELL.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. One wonders how he sleeps at night? Power and ego, not a good combo.

[No Elephants]

4. Same way every President has slept at night.

[_ed_]

11. I wonder if his daughters will sign up for the military when they are of age

Probably not...

It's easy to send kids to die when they aren't your kids.

[Poll_Blind]

5. +1

PB

[Burma Jones]

6. Former Marine, not ex-Marine

Marines are sensitive to being called "ex"

We really put people through a lot of shit and it's time to stop.

[reggie the dog]

7. RIP a high school buddy of mine killed himself after 2 tours

as military police officer in iraq

[pasto76]

8. IAVA is one of the BEST organizations for vets

This marine served his country, and then came home and did one hell of a job serving his fellow veterans. His life made quite a difference. This world is surely less that he is now gone. Thank you brother. Rest in Peace.

SGT PASTO

[douglas9]

9. dup

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x29948

[Lint Head]

10. War came from tribal society at the beginning of mankind's existence.

It's long past time that we evolve beyond brutal solutions related to global society.

Slightly absurd but:
Maybe we need a solution as depicted in the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (The original not the remake.)
where robotic peace keepers orbit our planet and snuff out any possibility of wars beginning. As long as society is peaceful
regardless of beliefs or actions there would be no problems. Kinda simplistic but war is a simplistic reaction and killing is even simpler.

[MadMaddie]

12. This man committed suicide because the VA is overwhelmed

and cannot meet demand.

President Obama, Mrs. Obama and Mrs Biden are working to improve this care. (The Republicans did everything they could to privatize and destroy the VA)

This young man was at war in 2007, please correct me but President Obama did not win the WH until 2008.

So linking this young mans death to President Obama is uncalled for.

Should he end the wars? Absolutely!

We should be focusing on how to save these men and women and not trying to pin everything on President Obama. President Obama did not put his finger on the trigger, tragically this young man did because he felt he could go on no longer.

Let's save our soldiars!

May he RIP!

[blueskybigstar]

13. Suicided?

I view many of these "suicides" with great suspicion.