Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Obit Reveals: Ex-Commander in Iraq Dies -- Suffering from 'Depression'

Obit Reveals: Ex-Commander in Iraq Dies -- Suffering from 'Depression' 
By Greg Mitchell 
Published: April 29, 2008 11:55 AM ET 
NEW YORK Even after so many tragic final chapters in the lives of so many
U.S. military personnel in Iraq or veterans back home, the brutally frank
opening line in a newspaper obituary from five days ago seemed
particularly haunting: "Donald P. Christy, Lt. Col, USAF, passed away
April 21, 2008 in Colorado Springs after an extended bout of anxiety and
depression."
Further on, the obit mentioned that in 2004 "Don served a tour of duty as
the Deputy Commander at Baghdad Airport in Iraq" -- which must have been
one of the most stressful jobs in all of Iraq at that time, in light of
insurgent attacks and the controversy over a prison based there. 
The little-noted obituary does not reveal how Christy died, or exactly
why. But the report comes on the heels of a Veterans Administration
cover-up of the shockingly high number of suicide attempts by vets (1,000
a month) and a Rand Corp. study revealing that 300,000 who served in Iraq
or Afghanistan now suffer from various mental problems. It's not known,
however, if this is another case of suicide. 
The Christy obit, which presumably was composed by his family (he leaves
parents, two sons, an ex-wife) was published in the Colorado Springs
Gazette last Thursday, and picked up by Legacy.com, which also carries a
tribute board. Christy was 42. Interment took place this morning with full
military honors at the Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs. In lieu of
flowers, the family requests donations be made to their charity of choice.
Christy hailed from Johnson City, N.Y., and his obit explains that after
returning to the U.S. following his Baghdad Airport posting, "he attended
the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was then reassigned to
the Air Force Space Command in Colorado Springs."
Among the tributes at Legacy.com is one that is addressed directly to him
by a man from Foster City, Ca., who served with him:
"Don, it seems like yesterday that you and I were young lieutenants in
Grand Forks. Back then your greatest worry was which video game you could
borrow from me. I'm sorry that I lost touch over the years. I'm also sorry
to hear that your life was in turmoil. My prayers are with you and your
family. RIP, my friend. I hope you have found peace and may your family
find solace in this difficult time. As with your family's wishes, I will
be making a donation to a charity in your name."
And a woman from Texas writes to Christy's mom: "I too lost my son to
depression. Mother to mother I know this loss is so very great. I will
keep you family in my prayers and know that Donald is in the arms of the
angels."
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 Greg Mitchell
Questa la so.
E' un fascista.
-- 
 Bak [ ICQ 13249673 ]
"Orwell was an optimist"
  Kibo