Douglas took his gun, fired one shot, and killed himself

[LynnTheDem]

Last month, on December 16, 2005, Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Spc. Douglas Barber was my guest on my radio talk show. He said he'd been diagnosed with PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) and despite receiving some help from the V.A., was still having trouble getting his life back together.

Yesterday, one month later, on January 16, 2006, I received an email from a listener who'd been exchanging emails with Douglas since his appearance on my show. Douglas has just sent him an email that troubled the listener. Douglas said he no longer had anything to live for, and was getting ready to "check out of this world." My wife immediately called Douglas and left a message on his cell phone. She also called the Montgomery Police Department in Alabama.

At the start of the 3rd hour of my program last night, I received an email from one of Douglas's friends, who told me that Douglas had committed suicide earlier that afternoon. Today I was able to confirm his suicide with the Opelika, Alabama Police Department. The officer in charge of the investigation told me that it had happened with officers on the scene trying to talk Douglas out of it. The officer told me Douglas took his gun, fired one shot, and killed himself.

Here is a link to the interview Spc. Douglas Barber did on my radio show on December 16, 2005 – commercial and news breaks have been edited out. I am so sick and tired of our brave soldiers dying as a result of George W. Bush's lies, and I feel I owe it to Douglas to do whatever I can to ensure his death was not in vain.

http://www.dougbasham.com/12-16-05DouglasBarber.mp3

Please use this story and the interview in whichever manner you feel will best help the truth be known. Spc. Douglas Barber was truly one of this country's finest. He even re-upped knowing that this war was predicated on lies. He served his country (its leaders) and obviously, did not receive the help he needed when he returned home.

How much longer will this country allow this to continue?

-Doug Basham

[Botany]

1. Blessings and prayers on his soul and for his family & friends

Spc. Douglas Barber :patriot:

How many more George, how many?

[skylarmae]

2. praying for all our forces; here, there and everywhere/now and later

this is such a mess. This really hits home for me...

[applegrove]

3. For all those with PTSD out there - there is real & effective help these

days. This is not your vietnam era PTSD. There are more tools than ever. YOU CAN GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

[jody]

4. The incident has not been reported in local or national media. The CBS

person in Montgomery Alabama to whom I spoke was not aware of the suicide.

I asked the person to put the incident on the to-do list of items to substantiate and report.

If any DUer has good contacts with national media, please use them to report this incident.

[newswolf56]

5. Sorry but I couldn't endure the endless heavy-metal noise and...

self-promotion to get to the interview with the late Spec. Barber; I gave up after about four minutes. (Perhaps it is an age thing.) That said, PTSD (and associated alcoholism) killed two friends who served in Vietnam, and I suffered from a non-military version of PTSD myself, so I know more than a little of Spec. Barber's wretchedness. May he rest in peace; may the Great Holy Mystery embrace him.

[DIKB]

6. I hate Repukes

Look at what they are doing to our men. Slashing the VA benefits b/c they doubt the legitimacy of PTSD :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

The blood is on their hands, and though I'm agnostic I hope there is a HELL so they can BURN there for what they've done to our men and to the world!!!

[tanyev]

7. RIP, Spc. Douglas Barber.

Pentagon to families: Go ahead, laugh

When the stress of the war in Iraq becomes too severe, the Pentagon has a suggestion for military families: Learn how to laugh.
With help from the Pentagon's chief laughter instructor, families of National Guard members are learning to walk like a penguin, laugh like a lion and blurt "ha, ha, hee, hee and ho, ho."

No joke.

"I laugh every chance I get," says the instructor, retired Army colonel James "Scotty" Scott. "That's why I'm blessed to be at the Pentagon, where we definitely need a lot of laughter in our lives."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-01-12-pentagon-laughter_x.htm

[astonamous]

8. Bush once again is responsible for the loss of another great human.

[Guaranteed]

9. Neocons are scum. nt

[NMDemDist2]

10. send this to Big Eddie Schulz

www.wegoted.com

[tlsmith1963]

11. Every Military Suicide is On Bush's Head

I blame him completely. This Iraq War is ruining another generation of soldiers, just like Vietnam. I think that war should be only used as a last resort. These unjustified wars are the reason that so many soldiers have been coming home completely messed up. They figure out that they are really fighting for nothing, & they can't take it. It's disgusting.

Tammy

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Poor kid. Poor family.

:cry:

[leftchick]

13. How much longer?

today is too much longer. :cry:

[greiner3]

14. A literal 'tip-of -the-iceberg! n/t