The problem defined : "Even grasshoppers hate me." -- The effects of PTSD : "It's 1999, and my husband just died from the Vietnam War." -- The morality of killing : "I'm a murderer." -- The individual is blamed : "It was hard for her to be aggressive to prisoners. She thought we were cruel to them" -- The Dark side of nationalism : "We're the future leaders of America. It's our duty to serve." -- The challenges coming home : "He really left us a long time ago." -- The road to answers : "Becomes much excited. Supposes he is in battle; gives commands." -- Appendices : A. About Suicide ; B. Resources ; C. Glossary.
Summary:
"Nearly every day an active-duty soldier in the United States military resorts to suicide, and nearly every hour a veteran does the same. In recent years the problem of military suicides has reached epidemic proportions, but it's all too easy for most of us to gloss over the headlines or tune out the details. In The Last and Greatest Battle--the first book devoted exclusively to the problem of military suicides--John Bateson brings this neglected crisis into the spotlight. Bateson, the former executive director of a nationally certified suicide prevention center, surveys the history of suicide in the United States military from the Civil War to the present day and outlines a plan to save lives-and ultimately end the tragedy of military suicides. He uses the stories of individual soldiers to illuminate the unique challenges faced by American troops today. Transitioning from the front lines to the home front is difficult for many service members, and many need help both during and after their deployments. But even though the military is spending millions of dollars on suicide prevention programs, record numbers of soldiers continue to take their lives. To that end, Bateson outlines a plan of action. If the military works to remove stigma, to make treatment more effective and more accessible, and to limit risk factors for suicide in the first place by taking measures like reducing the number and length of deployments and adjusting pre-deployment training to take into account the way that wars are waged today, an end to the problem of military suicide is as possible as it is essential"-- Provided by publisher. "In The Last and Greatest Battle--the first book devoted exclusively to the problem of military suicides--John Bateson brings this neglected crisis into the spotlight"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.