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Combatants have to be taught to kill. Many do it reluctantly. Others abstain or try to. Either way takes a toll.
Killing "comes with a price, and societies must learn that their soldiers will have to spend the rest of their lives living with what they have done," said Grossman.
Jobs involved in harming others cut both ways. War is hell. Who knows better than combat vets. Understated VA data say plenty. Its 2012 Suicide Data Report said about 22 vets commit suicide daily.
Double the number wouldn't surprise. Only 16 states indicate cause of veterans' deaths. VA uses three-year old data.
Many deaths aren't called suicide. They slip under the radar unnoticed. Many war zone-related suicides are misreported.
Those that are outnumber combat deaths. Officials numbers reflect nearly one a day. DOD and VA officials shun publicity. Getting it harms recruiting. Unwary kids are mislead. They're unaware what awaits them.
Many suicide victims are age 50 or older. Combat-related trauma is long-lasting. According to a Center for a New American Security (CNAS) suicide report, veterans commit suicide every 80 minutes.
Study authors Margaret Harrell and Nancy Berglass said:
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