Another Local Paper Uncovers Another U.S. Soldier Suicide in Iraq

[sabra]

Source: E & P

NEW YORK In what has become a regular ritual, a local newspaper has reported the death of a U.S. soldier in Iraq -- officially described by the military as a "noncombat" fatality -- as, in fact, a suicide.

The rate of suicides among military personnel in Iraq, who are suffering from multiple tours of duty, has surged in the past two years. E&P has chronicled this phenomenon for much longer than that.

In the latest case, John Brewer of the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press reports on the death of Spc. Jacob J. Fairbanks, 22, who hailed from that city, last week while serving in Iraq, six months into his second tour of duty there with the Army.

The military says only that it is under investigation -- and that's where the reporting generally stops -- but the family of Fairbanks, 22, said the Army told them their son died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Part of my soul and heart is gone," said his mother, Janette Fairbanks, in the Pioneer Press story. "Part of me will be sad forever. My baby's gone." He leaves behind a wife and child and three step-children.

Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003790386

[alstephenson]

1. R.I.P., sweet soldier.

Only 22 years old, leaves behind a wife and family, what have we done to our military? I'm so ashamed of my country.

[FlyingSquirrel]

2. Gonna get pretty hard to fight a war when all the soldiers are killing themselves.

Time for a draft.

:shrug:

[KSinTX]

3. To Specialist Jacob J. Fairbanks

On your final jump: Boots, rifle & helmet.