Two veterans committed suicide at the same VA facility in less than a year, both while sitting on their military records.
The most recent incident occurred at the Bay Pines National Cemetery during the week of Oct. 7, when a Vietnam veteran identified in a Facebook post only as “Mark,” shot himself while at the facility.
“My father-in-law who was a Navy Vet with 3 tours in Vietnam as a radioman for Marine units took his own life yesterday,” Doug Morgan posted on Facebook. “He did it at the Bay Pines VA cemetery while sitting on his medical records.”
It’s the sixth suicide on Bay Pines grounds in six years, and the 35th on VA public space in the past two.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones affected by this untimely death,” VA Press Secretary Christina Mandreucci told the Washington Examiner. “Due to privacy concerns, we will not be discussing the specifics of this case.”
The October case was eerily similar to that of retired Marine Corps Col. James Turner, who on Dec. 19 donned his dress blue uniform, drove to a section near a fishing pier at the idyllic-seeming Bay Pines, and took his own with a rifle while sitting on his military and VA records. He had texted with his son along the way, according to his ex-wife, Jennifer. A suicide note left at the scene chastised the VA for its failures.
[Related: 6,000 veterans have committed suicide each year for a decade, VA finds]
“I bet if you look at the 22 suicides a day you will see VA screwed up in 90%,” Turner wrote. “I did 20+ years, had PTSD and still had to pay over $1,000 a month health care.”
Jennifer knew something was wrong when she went to Turner’s house and saw that someone had gone through his box of medals, and found his uniform hangers on the bed.
“And I thought, ‘Oh my God,’” Jennifer told the Washington Examiner.
A military chaplain arrived later, confirming her worst fears.
“It was unbelievable. I couldn’t breathe, I fell to the ground. It was awful,” she said.
While in the Marine Corps, Turner flew F-18 fighter jets and served as an infantry officer. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and spent a decade working at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida.
But Turner seemed to have lost his identity after retiring in 2015, according to Jennifer. The couple’s recent separation compounded his troubles, but there was a noticeable shift after he left the service.
“Something definitely changed in him,” Jennifer said. “Just his anger and rage was crazy.”
Turner sought assistance from the VA, but Jennifer thinks he may have reached his limit while waiting for help. She believes her ex-husband was sending a message to the department by taking his life at Bay Pines. She also believes the VA’s suicide prevention strategy has proven insufficient and should focus on military families, in addition to the veterans themselves.
“It’s just not a one-person thing, it’s really just not,” she said. “It’s a family thing.”
The Bay Pines cases are two examples of the 466 suicide attempts that have taken place on VA grounds nationwide between the start of 2018 and Oct. 21. Of that number, Mandreucci said, 89% were interrupted.
“Suicide prevention is VA’s highest clinical priority, and the department is taking significant steps to address the issue,” Mandreucci said. “On-campus suicide events are a diverse population representing Veteran patients in active care, veterans seeking care or recently treated, and veterans not seeking care.”
By press time, Mark’s family did not respond to requests to speak to the Washington Examiner.
Any veteran struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide can call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.
[Read more: ‘It’s scary’: VA grapples with wall of silence over rising veteran suicides]
