Veterans need to vent

In the fall of 1974, I got into a heated argument with a shipmate over the last seat on the liberty boat departing to the aircraft carrier that we were stationed on, which was anchored in Chesapeake Bay. I was given the seat, and my shipmate was so angry and, screaming, took off to the parking lot. The next morning, I found out he had committed suicide.

I felt terrible about what happened. It wasn’t until two years later that I found out that when he got home he found his wife in bed with another man, went into the next room, and killed himself with a shotgun. Those details helped me to feel better, and I stopped blaming myself for his death.

I guess the point that I am attempting to make is that I see the Veterans Administration doing a lot of good for veterans. If veterans would open up more about what hurts and troubles them, chances are life would get easier. I see more veterans helping veterans transition back to civilian life. The more ears listening to veterans will help create an environment of fewer suicides.

James Gordon Perkins

Colville