Iraq Vet Kills Self
Colorado Green Beret, Chief Warrant Officer William Howell, killed himself during a confrontation with police who had responded to his home on a domestic disturbance call. He returned from Iraq three weeks ago. He was 36.
The military requires troops returning from combat to be screened for post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems. The policy was enacted after four military wives of special forces soldiers returning from Afghanistan were killed by their husbands at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 2002.
Steve Robinson, executive director of the National Gulf War Resource Center, an advocacy group for veterans of both conflicts, said at least 23 service members committed suicide in Iraq since the war started and six, excluding Howell, killed themselves after returning stateside.
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