Advertisement
Science & Medicine

Military suicides

Megan Griffin is the widow of Michael Griffin (pictured lower left), who committed suicide in 2009, eight months after enlisting in the Army. Megan Griffin holds a flag that was used at his funeral.

Megan Griffin is the widow of Michael Griffin (pictured lower left), who committed suicide in 2009, eight months after enlisting in the Army. Megan Griffin holds a flag that was used at his funeral.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Share

The most recent Pentagon data show that a slight majority -- 52% -- of troops who committed suicide in 2008-11 while on active duty were never assigned to Afghanistan or Iraq.
Read more: Deployment to war doesn’t figure in majority of military suicides

Remembered

Megan Griffin holds her son Corey, 6, next to the gold star that she hangs in her window in honor of her husband, Michael Griffin, who committed suicide.   (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

A happier past

An assortment of family photos shows Megan and Michael Griffin together. Michael Griffin committed suicide in 2009. Megan Griffin and her son, Corey, live with her parents in Lakewood.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Family

Megan and Michael Griffin are shown in a family snapshot shortly after their son, Corey, was born in 2007.   (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Playtime

Megan Griffin plays with her son, Corey, on his bedroom floor.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Moving on

Catherine Evans embraces her friend Danielle Bousha at the end of a birthday party for her 11-year-old daughter, Bridgett. Evans had recently divorced her husband, Nate, when he committed suicide last November. He enlisted in the military in 2008 but to his disappointment was never sent to war.   (Trent Nelson / For the Los Angeles Times)

Aftermath

Catherine Evans is shown with her 13-year-old son, James. When her ex-husband committed suicide, he left her with three children.  (Trent Nelson / For the Los Angeles Times)

Science & Medicine

More From the Los Angeles Times

Advertisement