Body of (23 yr. old) Iraq war vet found in Martic Twp. (suicide)

[UpInArms]

http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/21215

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - A suicide note was found beside the man, 23, who police said died from a gunshot wound.

The body of a 23-year-old veteran of the war in Iraq was found recently on a hiking trail in Martic Township.

Donald Wade Woodward, who served with the U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom, committed suicide, an official said.

<snip>

Woodward, of 1101 Millersville Pike, Apt. 5, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A suicide note was found with the body, Lancaster County Deputy Coroner Jane Howett said.

A public affairs officer for the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, did not return a telephone call for comment Tuesday.

Woodward was married for five years. He was an HVAC technician for Haller Enterprises and enjoyed the outdoors.

...more...

:(

:cry:

[Fridays Child]

1. A casualty of combat, to be sure. But he'll never receive the recognition.

Nor will his family be properly compensated for their sacrfice. :(

[pocket]

2. overwhelming guilt

for destroying a country that posed no threat to us

[Botany]

3. Blessings and prayers for his soul and his family & friends

Donald Wade Woodward :patriot:

How many more George, how many?

[screembloodymurder]

4. OMG

What a tragedy.

[meganmonkey]

5. Rest in Peace, soldier

I am sorry you had to live in violence and horror :cry:

[0007]

6. The neocon's have created the ultimate Frankenstein.

The troops have been over extended, lied too, and cheated by our government...and the end product is this?

Why couldn't that arm waving, finger popping Rummy take a hike with the same results?

[UrbScotty]

7. If I could say just one thing

THIS MADNESS NEEDS TO STOP NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meanwhile, best wishes to his family. :-(

[MadMaddie]

8. This is going to be a trend that we are going to see

spiral upward....these men and women do not want to go back to the hell that the * cabal has created...

They come home and find out the America is in a desperate fight for her very soul, the very soul they thought they were protecting....

The come back and they are broken.....

Impeach the * cabal!!

[lyonn]

10. Moving Maddie, losing America's soul

Ya gotta know many of those troops know how futile the mission is and then come home after possibly 2 - 3 tours, and find we are losing our rights every day congress is in session. Secrets and lies are an everyday thing with this govt.

Does his note mention Iraq? Seeing and knowing each day over there could be yours or your friends last, or mutilated for a year at a time would drive anyone goofy. And for what? Most of us would fight for this country, but we all know this is a farce. Iraq is a game this admin played and are losing. Cheney, wolfie, Handley, Leeden, libby, bolton and no doubt bush had this game plan from day one, no doubt. Bush I believe is the most guilty of destroying Iraq. When one becomes President of this country it is their duty and Only theirs to make intelligent decisions. He allowed this disaster to happen for his own personal benefits. Nothing else makes sense.

[physioex]

12. This is just the beginning......

The Chickens are coming home to roost....And it ain't gonna be pretty.

[mod mom]

9. So sad that our "leaders" and media have let this go so far. There

should have been challenges to our elections. :(

[Voltaire99]

11. "You smug-faced crowds..."

Suicide in the Trenches

I knew a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.

In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.

Siegfried Sassoon, 1917

[Divernan]

14. War: The hell where youth and laughter go. Powerful line.

To view one's life - past or present - with the absolute despair which leads to suicide - and at the tender age of 23 - total tragedy.

[niallmac]

17. Thank you for that.n/t

[FtWayneBlue]

13. I wonder if he just got word he had to go back? n/t

[Divernan]

15. And what bar are the 23 year old Bush twins partying at tonight?

The same age!

[sutz12]

16. They are destroying another generation of America's youth

I guess they thought maybe we were finally recovering from Vietnam, and we can't have that now, can we?

War is brutal and it brutalizes everyone who participates.

[IndianaGreen]

18. Unlike Vietnam, these troops have to do more than one combat tour

This sucks big time!

The reason I hate this war is because all of these men and women that were killed and wounded, or otherwise traumatized, would be living happy and productive lives were it not for Bush/Cheney and those that supported this war from both parties.