They’re all victims of war

Re “Death rate unusually high for young vets,” Dec. 17

I want to commend The Times for printing an important and very insightful article on the front page.

As a psychotherapist working with veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, I have heard of behaviors that are risky, such as refusing to wear a helmet while riding a bike or motorcycle. Attempts to shed light on these behaviors were not productive. Now I can use this article as a springboard to reopen the discussion.

Epidemiologist Robert Bossarte was quoted as saying that this self-directed violence may border on an ambivalence about life. Soldiers become very bonded to one another when facing the dangers of war, and they often witness someone to whom they felt very connected being shot or blown to pieces. The shock, rage and despair they feel and don’t talk about may turn into this ambivalence regarding their own lives.

I appreciate this article because it will help me be a more effective therapist.

Evelyn Goodman
Culver City

I am a Vietnam War researcher, and your article confirms a trend I have observed while photographing the graves of the war dead. Often buried alongside them are young veterans of the same war whose names are not on the rolls of those killed in action, yet their ages suggest that their demise occurred shortly after separation from the service.

It is about time the Pentagon constructed a “national death index.” The sacrifices of our veterans continue far beyond the time of their service, and their anguish deserves attention and remediation.

William M. Killian
San Luis Obispo

More letters to the editor ...