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Thank you for your service, Mike. I'm not worthy. RIP

Last year at the Owl Creek Jamboree, a bluegrass festival in Humboldt Kansas, I met a hobo who goes by the name Coffee, yes like the beverage. Seriously, a true train hopping, living off the land and generosity of others hobo. He's also a 13 year Marine Infantry vet with two Afghanistan tours to under his belt. He never told me his rank but with that many years and two combat tours I'm assuming he's at least a sergeant, more likely a staff sergeant.
He said he was on patrol in a Humvee with three 19 year old's straight out of Boot when they came across a T intersection. He got on the com with LT and was directed to turn left. They made the turn and the next thing he knows he's waking up in a hospital in Berlin. IED, he was the only survivor. He was medically discharged shortly afterwards.
I saw him again at the Winfield Walnut Festival, still a nut bar and still self medicating his PTSD with booze and illicit drugs. Said he had hiked the Appalachian Trail, or as much of it as he could before hopping a train back to Winfield for the bluegrass fest.
I'm hoping to see him again at this years Owl Creek because the last time I saw him he wasn't doing too good emotionally, still struggling with his PTSD and survivors remorse.
Anyway, point is we loose far too many veterans every day to suicide especially when all it takes is someone willing to listen.

Sad stuff for sure. It’s not just the wars that ruin these peoples minds, though. I had a roommate that went through boot camp and was obviously damaged by whatever they put him through there. Was a very laid back free thinker before he went in and as soon as he got back you could see an instant change in his personality. It was very scary seeing how much they broke him down and reshaped his mind in such a short time. I understand they have to make killing machines, but it’s sad what they do to our soldiers mental health in the process. Add to that what they go through in an actual war and I can’t even begin to imagine how we can begin to fix the PTSD issues they go through. I have so much respect for anyone that sacrifices their mental well being to serve and protect us. I hope we can someday find a way to help them all cope with what they’ve been put through because of it.