Iraqi war vet fatally shoots wife, himself in Fla.

[Judi Lynn]

Published: Monday, Feb. 06, 2012
Updated: Monday, Feb. 06, 2012
Iraqi war vet fatally shoots wife, himself in Fla.
The Associated Press

Police investigators say a highly decorated Iraqi war veteran shot and killed his wife before fatally shooting himself in their Daytona Beach apartment.

Authorities found the bodies of 28-year-old Jason Pemberton and his 25-year-old wife Tiffany on Sunday after a neighbor called police about a dog on the couple's balcony. Police say the shootings likely occurred Saturday.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood says neighbors told them they frequently heard arguing in the apartment.


Pemberton's uncle, Darrell Pemberton of Evergreen, Ala., told the Daytona Beach News-Journal his nephew earned three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and other medals during three tours of duty. The uncle says he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and received a medical discharge from the U.S. Army in 2009 due to a back injury.

http://www.bradenton.com/2012/02/06/3850340/iraqi-war-vet-fatally-shoots-wife.html

[Ilsa]

1. 3 Purple Hearts? Does that mean

3 separate incidences of injury? My god. Who couldn't see this tragedy coming? Those poor families.

Bring them all home. Now.

[SkyDaddy7]

2. We need a study

We really need a study that shows the American people the true price of war! I know there have been more suicides than active combat deaths since 9/11! I wish we could get a number so the public knows what toll it takes on our troops! I think most Americans think they go off to war & come back like nothing happened.

[jakeXT]

15. If they hire them as cops I want a study too

Last edited Tue Feb 7, 2012, 03:43 AM - Edit history (1)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday announced measures to hire Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to restore national parks and work as police and firefighters in a bid to cut veterans' above-average unemployment rate.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE8121SU20120203?irpc=932

[atreides1]

3. Yes it does.

It's not the question of no one seeing this tragedy...it's that the powers that be didn't care!

[zbdent]

6. sadly, during the 2004 farce ... a RW co-worker told me the RW line ...

about how a purple heart could be awarded for something as simple and faked as a papercut (implying that Kerry's was unearned).

Of course, this CONSERVATIVE wife-lover regaled me with tales of his "exploits" ... not just in Vietnam, but in parties in which his wife was in attendance, and apparently, overlooked behavior (short of actual cheating, if you believe him).

Otherwise, a great guy ...

[YvonneCa]

10. Senator Kerry was highly...

...and rightly...decorated for his service. What was said in 2004 was despicable.

[zbdent]

20. I also remember how the Repugs always were saying (esp. about their ones who did this) that

ANY military service deserved respect from the "non-" serving ... until an Iraqi vet ran in Ohio as a Dem. Then they belittled it ...

Of course, when Al Gore served, they never rang that tune ... tried to paint W as serving the TANG more valiantly than someone who actually set foot in Vietnam ...

[tawadi]

4. 28 years old and already broken-up and broken down.

War destroys lives in so many ways.

[man4allcats]

5. Support Our Troops.

Provide much needed psychiatric help. If they weren't former gang members when they joined the military, many of them are homicidal maniacs when they come out.

[Johnson20]

9. Oh please man4all cats. That is an absurd and demeaning statement.

[slackmaster]

11. Real mental illness is tragic and nothing to joke about

I hope you never have to experience what I went through recently, losing a good friend to depression.

[PavePusher]

12. That was vile and despicable. Please delete your verbal diarrhea. n/t

[24601]

14. Your ignorance of the military is on display. Never served a day, did you?

[PavePusher]

22. I hope no-one alerts on that, it needs to stand as a monument to stunning bigotry and ignorance. n/t

[jwirr]

7. This type of thing is one of the saddest parts of this damned war.

[Boombaby]

8. fuck

just....fuck

[bathroommonkey76]

13. The woman who was murdered went to high school right down the road from me. RIP nt

[Doctor_J]

16. Apparently the VA was treating him for PTSD (emotional problems), yet he was

permitted to own guns. Does not compute. And why were two purple hearts not enough to earn him an HD? From the complete militarization of the culture (seen a pro sporting event lately?), looks like these wars are permanent, so expect this kind of thing to keep happening.

[slackmaster]

17. JADP: The law says you have to be either legally declared incompetent, or involuntarily committed...

...in order to lose your right to own a firearm.

[Doctor_J]

18. And I suppose the VA doctor who is "treating" him wouldn't

think to say to anyone, "This guy probably shouldn't have guns until we straighten this out". We will not infringe on the 2nd Amendment!!!

[slackmaster]

19. I'm sure that a responsible doctor would watch the patient for signs of suicidal ideation, and make

...appropriate suggestions for managing it.

But doctors are not enforcers of the law.

BTW, you seem to be painting with a broad brush here. Most people who have PTSD do not pose a threat to themselves or others. I've had a relatively mild case of it myself since age seven, when I had a traumatic experience that has always affected how I view the world and interacted with people. There are certain sights and sounds that can trigger a negative reaction in me, even now at age 54 and after mostly sublimating the problem into my overall life philosophy.

Having an emotional problem does not have to be the end of the world. Many people rise above them and live normal lives. And I'm sure you understand that for any particular psychiatric diagnosis there are degrees of severity.

[PavePusher]

23. You assume the doc saw any such signs.

Or perhaps the system had been initiated but was still working through the process. It's not an intantaneous thing.

[PavePusher]

24. I'm not sure how you connect "complete militarization of the culture" (patently false anyway)...

with "pro sporting event(s)".

Can you detail that one for us?

[Javaman]

21. and the beat goes on...nt