Alabama murderer was "changed" by his service in Iraq war

[Syrinx]

The mother of the man charged with killing an Auburn University student said her son was an Iraq war veteran who was changed after his service, and offered an apology to the freshman's family.

Catherine Williams, the mother of suspect Courtney Lockhart, made the apology to Lauren Burk's family in an interview with Columbus, Ga., television station WTVM.

"I am sorry that Courtney did that. ... First let me say I'm sorry to the Burk family for Courtney taking, taking their child. ... My heart goes out to her family," Williams said in the tearful interview.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4416926

[Breeze54]

1. I find THAT

really easy to believe, sadly.

[Bobbieo]

3. How about "Just the tip of theiceberg?" More than believeable!!!!

[winggirle]

2. sadly....

not many Americans understand the trauma behind being a soldier. We suffer a lot of out cries that no one can understand and when we snap, that's when we are deemed the monster. there is lots of things we face alone as soldiers and we just have to look at managing our stress levels.

which is difficult when you are in the zone

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

5. (((((winggirle)))))) I am so sorry and I hope things get better for you. Welcome to DU!

[Breeze54]

6. Welcome to DU, winggirle

I hope you're getting back to your life.

Thanks for serving. :patriot:

I feel sorry for both Moms. This is a very sad case.

[Echo In Light]

11. Over the yrs I've worked w/3 Vietnam vets who all had substantial psyche problems

One would end up in the hospital once a yr. The other could begin crying if he got talking about stuff he did/saw there, but was overall the most evenly balanced out of the three. The last, a Navy Seal, was one of the more truly unhinged Macho Men I've ever known. A poster child for Loose Cannon. VERY violent and unpredictable, and carried his long-ago military credentials on his sleeve, so to speak, just to intimidate/boast. He was fired from where we worked for providing booze and dope to underage kids.

Sadly, I have two extended relatives, brothers, both young, in the Marines, and perceive the killing of Iraqis as fun sport. One of them, and their father, ruined a xmas family gathering a few yrs back when the kid brought his laptop to show everyone his "cool" kill videos. Aside from his father and a few young women, everyone was rather put off that anyone would even think to do that ... on xmas, nonetheless.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. While we are growing up, for most of us, it is instilled, thou shalt not kill. When you

send your military into a war of aggression, killing is not only on the table but expected. The boundaries between right and wrong are erased. Then these killing "machines" return to "society". How can they not be damaged?

It just might be that Lauren Burk was tragically another victim of this illegal, immoral war. This is so damn sad.

[malaise]

7. Well said

War kills the dead and the living.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

9. The ripple effect of the consequence of one's actions is outstanding here and it all leads back

to Shrub and his minions. Latest figures show that over a million people have died because of this man. Those are the dead. How about all those who lost loved ones and the impact on those loved one's friends, family, etc.

Then we have our wounded in body, heart and head returning and how it has affected their families, friends, and in the case of Courtney Lockhart, his victim. His actions will have forever changed the Burk family and those close to them. We are talking about millions suffering because of the premeditated murderous plans of Shrub. It really is staggering.

[Bobbieo]

8. It is hard enough on the morale of the military when it is fighting a popular war.

The war in Iraq is NOT a popular war!

[SoCalDem]

10. Maybe, BUT that does not excuse what he did..

It DOES indicate hat the retunring soldiers need some counseling.. but he was dishonorably discharged, so they washed their hands of him..so he had problems before he went in..

Remember.. they have relaxed the requirements many times lately, so perhaps in another time, he would not even been allowed INTO the service/.

[Breeze54]

12. How do you know if he had problems before he went in?

Didn't you hear the news? They've been ignoring PTSD in soldiers for a long time!
I agree that he shouldn't be excused for what he did but the possiblity of PTSD
should be taken into consideration, depending on what his experiences in Iraq were.