A forgotten soldier.
By on Apr 23rd, 2007 at 11:11 pm
A forgotten soldier.
ABC’s Bob Woodruff reported tonight on Army Sgt. James Coons, an Iraq war veteran. Coons developed symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD during combat, apparently triggered by seeing a fellow soldier at a morgue. He was sent to Walter Reed hospital, where he was neglected and eventually hanged himself with a bed sheet in his room. Years later, his parents still can’t get the Army to turn over his medical records and personal belongings.
UPDATE: John Aravosis calls it “one of the most sickening, infuriating reports ever on ABC.”
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That is criminal.
No excuse.
I feel so badly for his family.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:16 pmThis administration is despicable. The spend and lose billions in a country they say hates us and our way of life and send the troops into a blender that tortures ones mind and soul and then fail to give them the respect and treatment they deserve because it’s more important to create and spend millions on smear campaigns.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:20 pmJesus Christ. It’s as if they’re TRYING to do this shit.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:22 pmIt’s criminal.
What the hell is wrong with our government!
Give them some closure, you g-damn pricks!
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:24 pmThis story needs to remain top of mind. This is the starkest example of the “compassion” of the modern Republican party.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:26 pm#3 They aren’t trying. They just don’t give a sh!t. They don’t care one iota about the troops once the leave the theater unless they can bring them back. Disgusting fu$kers.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:27 pmthis needs to remain top of mind (and on newspaper pages). It presents the starkest example of GOP compassion, accountability and responsibility. God – enough. What else will it take? How much more can we bear??!
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:27 pmI do hope everyone considering military service keeps this in mind.
Those that DO still sign up, I respect your decision.
But when this happens to you?
You were warned. You saw it happening. You signed up for it.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:34 pmThis while Karl Rove was dancing around like a fool as McRove. This while brush was being cleared in crawford, this as Cheney shopped with his daughter, this while Alberto lied under oath, this as official after lobbyists caught in corruuption, this as the best and brightest forget and could not recall simple conversatoin and emails, this as port deals and tainted war, spoiled food and lack of armor. This as Wolfowitz plat pimp to his partner, world bank style. This as Exxon ceos get bonuses for 400 million, this as bridges to nowhere are built and paid for…..
You ought to be damned ashamed of yourself elected official. Damn ashamed.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:38 pmthat’s so disturbing I don’t even want to watch it…
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:43 pmYou were warned. You saw it happening. You signed up for it.
Comment by piltdown
What is gonna happen when no one volunteers for this freedom operation of Dubyas? Our Congress gets great medical benefits and they didn’t sign up for squat. Bush talks about supporting the troops let’s see him keep his word.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:45 pmYou were warned. You saw it happening. You signed up for it.
Comment by piltdown
What? A parade of Roses? A democracy in Iraq? Purple fingered Iraqis? The fibb of freeing a people from oppression? The fibb of ‘not using or troops for nation building? The fib of WMD? The fib of yellowcake?
You didn’t even see it coming piltdown?, now they call it a war and thru our 36 hour media memory people now call peace, or democracy, a war…..
When did you not notice that happen to our thinking?
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:50 pm#12 I see his point. If you sign up at this point in time you know exactly what you are going to get.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:55 pmIf you sign up at this point in time you know exactly what you are going to get. Comment by JPa
All I can say is I hope they get drafted and see what they didn’t sign up for.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:04 am#14 I am all for drafting the richest first. Imagine how quickly the ‘war” would end?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:05 amJake go ahead and dodge that downpoor of truth rain drops.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:07 amYou guys stop smearing me. Our army guys will get the best food. Better than they get in those ghettos we get em from. Now you just get up and go down to enlist. You will earn some respect you aint gettin from your shack you’re typing in right now
I don’t let nobody take pictures of the dead ones because I have respect for the troops. Nobody wants to see dead troops on TV. And they dont want to see no terrerist coming over here. So I am going to make sure we get more army guys to stay over there.
Now you guys just stop it with your evil talk and all. I got some camps just waiting for the likes of you folks. Just keep it up. Just keep it up and you’ll see!
April 24th, 2007 at 12:21 amYou guys stop smearing me. Our army guys will get the best food. -GWB
Plastic turkeys aren’t edible George….
April 24th, 2007 at 12:28 am“Jesus Christ. It’s as if they’re TRYING to do this shit.
It’s criminal.
Comment by Zooey — April 23, 2007″
And you can provide credible examples of your stupid allegation?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:36 am“What the hell is wrong with our government!
Give them some closure, you g-damn pricks!
Comment by George — April 23, 2007″
How about moving to Mexico>
April 24th, 2007 at 12:37 am?
“#
This story needs to remain top of mind. This is the starkest example of the “compassion†of the modern Republican party.
Comment by veritas — April 23, 2007″
How about an example?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:37 amSome background info:
A father of two and the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Army’s 385th Signal Company, Coons was awarded a bronze star for his service in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. He had served in the military for more than 16 years, and family and friends have said the Army was his life.
Coons, 35, reported having visions of a colleague killed in action, and had been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and acute stress disorder.
After taking an overdose of sleeping pills in Kuwait, he was sent to a military hospital in Germany. A week later he was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and assigned a room in the Mologne House, an outpatient hotel.
Coroners would later state that James had been dead for at least two days. No-one had checked up on him even after missing three appointments.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:38 am#20 How about auto-fellating yourself?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:40 amIts obvious to me that michael has a crush on Zooey. And I’m a newbie here.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:40 amMichael, do you have a brain other than the one Karl lends you at 10pm-2am every night?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:40 amAnd you can provide credible examples of your stupid allegation?
Comment by michael
michael an allegation is exactly that. An allegation. Thats why reporters use the word alleged. The alleged homosexual michael.
It means it’s alleged. What school did you graduate from again?
And I allege your allegation is stupid michael.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:41 am#9 — exactly — now some songwright bend a melody around it, some oliver stone turn it into a movie, some democratic politician grow some balls and make an add out of it and run it until it’s as seared into the american psyche as willie horton.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:41 amIts obvious to me that michael has a crush on Zooey. And I’m a newbie here. Comment by noob
michael is more like the seventy pound weekling at the beach who got sand kicked in his eyes but yet another woman.
It has driven him batty for months noob.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:43 am“#3 They aren’t trying. They just don’t give a sh!t. They don’t care one iota about the troops once the leave the theater unless they can bring them back. Disgusting fu$kers.
Comment by JPark — April 23, 2007″
Maybe if you political correct cowards would get out of the way and let the most powerful military this world has ever seen do what they were trained to do this would have been over a long time ago. But no, we must negotiate with animals like Arafat! There is only one answer for the Middle East! Nuclear destruction! If anyone thinks that they can reason with these crazies, I surely hope they are not part of our government!
April 24th, 2007 at 12:45 amHow about moving to Mexico?
Comment by michael — April 24, 2007 @ 12:37 am
michael, if all the brave people here went to Mexico, then there would be no brave souls to protect this country from the facsist takeover that is happening right now. There would only be a bunch of keyboard sissys like you left and this country would no longer exist. Just an empty core left over.
Now, if YOU moved to Iraq, maybe you could actually serve your country and learn some courage. I know it’s a scary thought but.. How about it? Iraq for michael?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:45 am“And you can provide credible examples of your stupid allegation?
Comment by michael
michael an allegation is exactly that. An allegation. Thats why reporters use the word alleged. The alleged homosexual michael.
It means it’s alleged. What school did you graduate from again?
And I allege your allegation is stupid michael.
Comment by Scalar Sceptic — April 24, 2007″
We on the right are used to your stupid allegations, we prefer facts. Got any?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:47 ammichael, nobody was standing in there way! They did what they could. It’s not the troops who have lost this war, it’s the Bush cronies.
So you think Nuclear destruction is the only answer? What about our allies over there? What about Isreal? Are you saying that you would kill all of them just so you can be happy and masterbate all over yourself? Get real kid. Get a gun, point it at your thick head, and pull that trigger!
April 24th, 2007 at 12:50 am“Now, if YOU moved to Iraq, maybe you could actually serve your country and learn some courage. I know it’s a scary thought but.. How about it? Iraq for michael?
Comment by war vet — April 24, 2007 ”
I’ve served in the U.S. Navy from 1965 – 1971.
What’s your stupid point?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:51 amWhy do you hate the troops, Mikey?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:51 amMichael sez: There is only one answer for the Middle East! Nuclear destruction!
Ah! The old glass parking lot scenario.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:51 amYeah, Sure that’ll work.
You sure are one crazeee dude.
Comment by dog-walker — April 24, 2007 @ 12:41 am
Perhaps those words will echo, perhaps not. I hope they resonate thru many minds. =)
April 24th, 2007 at 12:54 amWe on the right are used to your stupid allegations
Comment by michael
Say what about that yellowcake allegation? Parades of flowers allegation? WMD allegations? Alumimium tube allegations?
Question? No, I think you answered your own inane allegations.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:58 amMichael sez: There is only one answer for the Middle East! Nuclear destruction!
But michael you will be blowing up Halliburtons projects and not freeing the oppressed people you spent billions to free? Do you really want to blow up your trillion dollar terrorist investment??
April 24th, 2007 at 1:00 amPlease respond to Mikey with stupid questions along the lines of his own. It is what he deserves.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:02 amWhat’s your stupid point?
Comment by michael — April 24, 2007 @ 12:51 am
You really shouldn’t look at the top of your head, when you post…
April 24th, 2007 at 1:10 amWe on the right are used to your stupid allegations, we prefer facts. Got any? Comment by michael — April 24, 2007 @ 12:47 am
You are used to st*pid allegations, because they come out of your own mouth. You prefer facts, but only from the other side, so you can distort them with “talking points”, and “meaningless rhetoric”…
Poor little coward…
April 24th, 2007 at 1:11 amI f you think that’s sickening,
DON’T LOOK HERE!
http://alaskafreepress.com/msgboard/board/1305
April 24th, 2007 at 1:12 amignore michael. he and all his tribe are an historical dead end, an evolutionary culdesac. the job we have to do is to burn the stark, flat truth of scalar’s comment #9 onto the pages of history so it becomes the image of the “bush era” as they’ll be calling it soon enough.
it’s so perfect an encapsulation. it’s so elemental, human and inescapably moving. this is the one to pounce on and carve into the mountainsides.
maybe i’m going crazy. but this one might just make it through the flak. it’s a parable, a ballad waiting to happen.
bruce? bob?
April 24th, 2007 at 1:16 amgrr. grr. grr.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:17 ammy dog says i have to take him out and go to bed.
the rest of you: CHEW THIS RAG UNTIL THE GOLD COMES OUT. this is the one. you can do it.
i’ll check back in the morning.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:18 amIf there is a hell, republicans are on the fast track. Who does Bush pray to? Not to the Jesus in the bible.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:18 amit’s so perfect an encapsulation. it’s so elemental, human and inescapably moving. this is the one to pounce on and carve into the mountainsides. maybe i’m going crazy. but this one might just make it through the flak. it’s a parable, a ballad waiting to happen.
bruce? bob?
Comment by dog-walker
Thanks for the compliment, but as prose it would very much suck.
Anyway, I was just venting..Carry on nothing to see hear now then where here who why?
April 24th, 2007 at 1:30 amIf there is a hell, republicans are on the fast track. Who does Bush pray to? Not to the Jesus in the bible.
Comment by Laura — April 24, 2007 @ 1:18 am
The God he prays to has a tail and horns.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:31 am“We provide warrior care”…posted as the tagline on the website.
What an absolute piece of f-ing BS.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:37 am“The God he prays to has a tail and horns”
LOL! My gas guzzling SUV is leaking fossil fuels. That damn Bush!
April 24th, 2007 at 1:39 amI see two unfounded assumptions in your question, Scalar.
1. That he graduated from school.
2. That he even went to school.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:51 amLOL! My gas guzzling SUV is leaking fossil fuels. That damn Bush!
Comment by Born Dumocrat
Your wife is leaking VAS OHHHH LEAN fossil fuel!! That damn Clinton!!
wiff lub, Born Restupidican.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:56 amI see two unfounded assumptions in your question, Scalar.
Assuming facts not in evidence! I vocalized two unfounded assumptions. One that he went to school. The others, of many, remain unspoken. And Well I don’t recall.
Why many high dollar institutions exist for a early age, such as Kinder Care and I’ll have you know that many a child graduated henceforth and thuswithly from such fine insitutions of education!
I do not assume that michaels intelligence is proven. I assume he graduated from said privatized education.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:06 amAnd may I remind you BNF that an education today is but a credit card slip in a bankruptcy case?
I argue that our trolls are educated!
April 24th, 2007 at 2:35 am… There is only one answer for the Middle East! Nuclear destruction! If anyone thinks that they can reason with these crazies, I surely hope they are not part of our government!
Comment by michael
You are advocating the deaths of millions of people in this sentence. Are you insane? Are these your real wishes or is this some kind of weird joke? Do you honestly expect anyone to take you seriously when you make comments like this?
Of course, like most trolls, you just put in obscene comments to distract everyone from the real theme of the post. In this post, as you may have forgot, TP just pointed out what complete bulls**t the Bush admin line is that they “Support the troops”. I know it’s hard to realize that your heroes are complete liars and you have been falling for their lies for years.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:51 amBush Regime uses soldiers as cannon fodder to control the OIL reserves of Iraq, and to guard pipelines in Afghanistan, so when they become unusefull then he discards them.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:53 am>We on the right are used to your stupid allegations, we prefer facts.
WE KNOW WHERE THE WEAPONS ARE
WE KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT SADDAM HUSSIEN HAS WMD
I WILL FIRE ANYONE WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LEAK
SADDAM HAS TIES TO AL-QUEDA
I NEVER SAID SADDAM HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH 9-11
thanks for the facts assh@t
April 24th, 2007 at 6:02 amSix years of Republican rule have taken their toll. Will we ever repair the damage?
April 24th, 2007 at 6:25 amPerry: I think the REAL GOP task before 2008 will be to convince America Republicans are the right ones who can fix the mess they made.
April 24th, 2007 at 6:55 amThe Army hasn’t even responded to the family? Hasn’t even responded?? Them’s some family values, for sure.
April 24th, 2007 at 7:55 am#31 – “We on the right are used to your stupid allegations, we prefer facts.” Comment by michael — April 24, 2007 @ 12:47 am
How about the FACT that Pres. Bush LIED the US into war!?!?
How about the FACT that Pres. Bush refused to commit sufficient funding for armouring our troops vehicles!?!?
How about the FACT that Republicans tried to cover-up the sordid conditions of the VA!?!?!
How about the FACT that the Republicans refused to fully fund the VA!?!!?!?
Yeah, your facts don’t help your extremist cause very much.
April 24th, 2007 at 8:11 amThanks go to Bob Woodruff for returning home and assisting fellow Americans suffering from combat-related brain injuries and mental conditions. This level of professional journalism and humanitarian activities deserves a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
April 24th, 2007 at 8:44 am“This is the starkest example of the “compassion†of the modern Republican party.”
“How about an example?”
I don’t know Michael. How about you come up with an example of the compassion of this administration. I’ll give you another example of this administration’s “compassion”. Pat Tillman. Need I say more?
April 24th, 2007 at 9:50 amAnd you can provide credible examples of your stupid allegation?
Comment by michael
Michael, you are credible proof of someone “trying” to be as stupid as possible!!!! Moron.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:17 amListen up people . His parents said they called and called trying to reach their son. They ask people to go over to building 17 please someone go check on our son. No one did !!!! I say to all parents if your sons and daughters are recoving on their own from debilitating injuries TAKE YOUR ASSES to them . Only you ,do you hear me ,ONLY YOU CAN INSURE YOUR GROWN CHILDREN ARE GIVEN THE CARE THEY DESERVE .
April 24th, 2007 at 10:28 amiTS A DISGRACE HOW THIS WAR RUINED THIS MAN ‘S LIFE . !!!!!
BEFORE IRAQ HE SERVED 16 YEARS IN THE SERVICE. thEY
BUSH’S WAR BROKE HIM THEN KILLED HIM.
HOW MANY OTHERS ARE OUT THERE. ????
gO TO YOUR CHILDREN BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.
Its a sad day here in American when we cannot help those who served our country. Even when they return to their homes, we should be checking on them. If you have ever gone through a battle, days on end fire fights, your buddy laying next to you, not moving, you have no idea what affect it has ton you. The picture NEVER leaves you mind. The Department of defense has to be more cognoscente of these returning troops.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:31 amGob Bless then all.
Viet Vet
While accroding to the republican party, these men and women knew what they were siging up for. Why in the hell does the military side with the “Repukes”? Republicans don’t give a s*** about the military or their families, when will they wake up and realize this? God bless you James Coons.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:28 amIts obvious to me that michael has a crush on Zooey. And I’m a newbie here.
Comment by noob
I rather think he has an OBSESSION. There’s a difference.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:08 pmMichael,
April 24th, 2007 at 1:13 pmIt’s pronounced “nukular” according Dumbya, your stupid leader.
Now get it right, GOPer butt-boy!!!
Those “compassionate” conservatives get me every time!
April 24th, 2007 at 1:53 pmI just hear bush sr. say that he and barbra have 4 hips between them. how obscene that the connected and the wealthy can get expensive surgery AT WILL when we have actual fighters not able to get the care they need. What the hell?
April 24th, 2007 at 8:58 pmAs the daughter of vets and the sister of a CPO in the Seabees I am out raged. This video says it best.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:54 pmhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=7HxOJPj59-g
YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
April 25th, 2007 at 12:00 am
I knew MSG Coons.
His death was a tragic loss to the Signal Corp, the NCO Corp and the Army of this nation.
Don’t misunderstand or misconstrue; he was a patriot and loved this country and his Army.
He would not have wanted his death to be used as the basis for a socio-political commentary for Republican or Democratic bashing. Nor would he have agreed to his death being used as a commentary on the war for political purposes. He would not have agreed with most of the drivel that is being written below. If anything he would have wanted people to understand his frustration and sorrow and place that understanding in an effort to fix the military medical establishment.
For better or for worse Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines serve at the will of the Nation and its Commander in Chief. A service member serving in ANY war, regardless if a typical American citizen deems it JUST or UNJUST, is entitled to proper medical care.
April 25th, 2007 at 10:31 am[...] LeBron James.”http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/04/13/features/synergy/synergy682.txtVideo He Checked Into Walter Reed, Was Forgotten — Then Hung HimselfABC’s Bob Woodruff reports on Sgt. james Coons, who checked into Walter Reed, was forgotten and then [...]
April 14th, 2008 at 12:05 am