SOLDIER LETTERS

From: _________
To: mmflint@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 1:19 AM
Subject: an old military experience

Dear Mike:

I am going to share something with you that I haven't talked about for over 30 years. You may use it anyway you like with the understanding that I can not be identified in any way. This government is vengeful and I may be in a position where they can adversely affect me.

But I am extremely saddened when I hear about the young soldiers in Iraq being so overwhelmed by the shithole they find themselves in that they kill themselves. I was a medic and I had to deal with suicides among other things. Two of those guys were my friends.

Currently I am being treated for depression.

The story took place over 30 years ago in another country. One night, a group of young soldiers were drinking too much in their quarters. The next morning, the company's first sergeant showed up at the dispensary. The medic was concerned because he saw that look on the first sergeant's face before. It happened when there was death. The first sergeant asked the medic do a medical evaluation of two soldiers that he found in bed together. He said they were homosexuals and he wanted them shipped out immediately. They were going to get a medical discharge out of the army.

The medic talked to the two soldiers and told them what was happening. The two soldiers said they had too much to drink the night before and just passed out. They were found in the same bunk the next morning. One soldier said that he was not queer.

The other soldier said, "Do you want to stay here?"

The first soldier said, "Alright I'm fucking queer."

They received medical discharges.

Use this story in whatever way you can. But I can not be identified in any way. I just want those youngsters to know that there are other ways besides killing themselves.

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