Fellow Americans,
Warfighters in Arms Inc. is a Veterans organization of men and women who served America, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Together their ongoing mission - to support each other and to bring attention to the numbers of isolated Veterans, who have returned with the invisible wounds of war, some even succumbing to suicide.
The suicide rate among veterans has surged 35 percent, driven in part by sharp increases among those who have served since 2001. Statistics show veterans take their lives, at the rate of 20 per day, 6 of those lost, were in VA care for at least one year, prior to their death; the other 14 were not. The Veterans Affairs Department is ratcheting up efforts to address the high rate of suicide. They are bringing in mental health experts, affected families and advocates to help formulate a plan. Although this is a step in the right direction it is not enough. It is incumbent upon all Americans; veterans, families, friends, citizens – along with the agencies of government, to overcome all barriers and to bring the needed public attention to this tragedy. Many suicides are preventable.... One veteran suicide is one too many.
Warfighters in Arms have become aware of one of their own, Sgt Randall Hansen USMC, a veteran of two combat tours of duty in Fallujah, Iraq. He returned suffering from PTSD and succumbed to the demons that haunted him. Randall was a resident of Jacksonville. He was a graduate of Fletcher HS, became a student at UNF, before being deployed again to combat in Iraq.
In an effort to heighten awareness of PTSD and suicide
among Veterans, we request your support in getting the
city of Jacksonville to recognize one of its Hometown Warriors, by engraving his name on the Veterans Memorial Wall. Sgt Randall Hansen is worthy of this honor.
It would help in raising awareness of the issues and effects of the invisible wounds of war experienced by so many of our returning warriors which caused him to become VA suicide statistic.
We would like to thank you for your support.
Respectfully
Warfighters in Arms & The Semper Fidelis Society
Jarrod Smith
President
Warfighters in Arms Inc.
jarrodsmith.warfighters@gmail.com
904-704-1988
