Posted on Dec 2, 2018
Top Navy admiral was found dead in 'apparent suicide'
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To our Navy family, I am so sorry for your loss of a distinguished and incredibly long-serving commander. There is not a single one of the nearly 45,000 annual American deaths by self-infliction, including a highly-disproportionate number of Veterans, is any more or less tragic. What I think we learn here is that no one, ABSOLUTELY no-one is immune.
Top Navy admiral was found dead in 'apparent suicide'
Posted from thehill.com
Suicide
Memorial
Stigma
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Mental Health
Posted 6 y ago
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I'm upset. We have commanders with issues and/or substance abuse issues that are too stubborn to seek help.We lost a 2 star General 2 years ago under similar mysterious suicide circumstances. My thoughts are out to love one but the military has a culture of drinking. I can't prove that it's either of those flag officers that I can almost bet money on this. I bet you if they were despondent that alcohol was the final trigger that made them kill themselves. This is not help your subordinates deal with day-to-day issues if the leadership can't show the same mental toughness. Don't drink, do abuse of drugs or smoke. All these crutches can really lead to further issues. My sister committed suicide on July 4th 2015. She had a drinking and painkiller issue and she was involved with domestic violence with her third husband.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/army-two-star-general-committed-suicide-alabama-military-base/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/army-two-star-general-committed-suicide-alabama-military-base/
Army: Two-star general committed suicide on Alabama military base
Maj. Gen. John Rossi was found dead in his home on Alabama military base over the summer
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LTC Peter Hartman
Yes, suicide is an extremely selfish act. It wrecks the lives of those you leave behind. As for your step-daughters, I hope they get help sooner rather than later. But it is tough to want loved ones to get help when they don't want help or do not think that they have a problem.
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LTC (Join to see)
LTC Peter Hartman the science of stupid by choice and now by mental issues from the drugs and happy to be on welfare to enable their continued addictions in liberal Alberta Canada
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CPO Nate S.
LTC (Join to see) - Sir, you are most welcome. Any time! If ever we have a F2F lets have dinner. I will have a wine or beer with our meal and will respect your choice to not have one. We, as leaders, have a, as you have articulated in separate correspondence, special responsibility to set the example.
My first Master Chief, Richard "Dick" Fridley was a recovering alcoholic. I remember I was a conference in Norfolk and did not realize he would be their, but he was! He sat down and asked how many I had had. I had actually, just sat down and was sipping on my drink when I felt a very firm hand on my right shoulder. "How are you sailor". I knew that voice!
He sat at the bar and ordered a Pepsi. "Master Chief, I just sat down so was just relaxing after a long day and getting ready to order dinner. Join me?!" I must have sipped on that drink for an hour in between bites of dinner! I share this because there is nothing wrong with consuming alcohol in a responsible manner. Master Chief, was not a "recovering zealot". Instead, he wanted to have conversations and not preach. He felt it better to open lines of communication so that, while he was a Master Chief, you were free to know you were either subordinate or superior in terms of rank, but he was always your friend and available for you! The next day he came up to me again at the same bar and this time I was drinking water with lemon and coffee, again getting ready to eat. But, I could tell by how he raised his thick and bushy eyebrows in his quiet approval, while the day before his poker face never revealed approval or disapproval. I always respected that. At the end of my naval career and in part the reason I chose to retire earlier than I planned (I planned 30-yrs) was because of a Master Chief, who was a zealot and had he been my Master Chief at the beginning of my career, I would not have stayed for a full tour to achieve retirement. When you are spoiled by genuine leadership, it is very hard to expect much less!!!
I share this story because there subtle yet important lessons laced within.
1 - Leadership counts!
2 - Insights into the human soul counts!
3 - Personal responsibility counts!
4 - Sincerity toward service to others counts!
L.I.P.S. and from them comes healing waters.
My first Master Chief, Richard "Dick" Fridley was a recovering alcoholic. I remember I was a conference in Norfolk and did not realize he would be their, but he was! He sat down and asked how many I had had. I had actually, just sat down and was sipping on my drink when I felt a very firm hand on my right shoulder. "How are you sailor". I knew that voice!
He sat at the bar and ordered a Pepsi. "Master Chief, I just sat down so was just relaxing after a long day and getting ready to order dinner. Join me?!" I must have sipped on that drink for an hour in between bites of dinner! I share this because there is nothing wrong with consuming alcohol in a responsible manner. Master Chief, was not a "recovering zealot". Instead, he wanted to have conversations and not preach. He felt it better to open lines of communication so that, while he was a Master Chief, you were free to know you were either subordinate or superior in terms of rank, but he was always your friend and available for you! The next day he came up to me again at the same bar and this time I was drinking water with lemon and coffee, again getting ready to eat. But, I could tell by how he raised his thick and bushy eyebrows in his quiet approval, while the day before his poker face never revealed approval or disapproval. I always respected that. At the end of my naval career and in part the reason I chose to retire earlier than I planned (I planned 30-yrs) was because of a Master Chief, who was a zealot and had he been my Master Chief at the beginning of my career, I would not have stayed for a full tour to achieve retirement. When you are spoiled by genuine leadership, it is very hard to expect much less!!!
I share this story because there subtle yet important lessons laced within.
1 - Leadership counts!
2 - Insights into the human soul counts!
3 - Personal responsibility counts!
4 - Sincerity toward service to others counts!
L.I.P.S. and from them comes healing waters.
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CPO Nate S.
LTC (Join to see) - Nice video! Hey, I may 62 and a little out of shape, but while my wife may thing it crazy, might be fun to come to Canada and hang out with the troops. Think an "ole Navy Corpsman" could hangout?
Last time I was in Canada was Halifax on the last port call for the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) aka the Grand Old Lady! What a great place and great people I experienced. The best and the most inexpensive seafood I have ever eaten. We'll except for Japan perhaps.
Last time I was in Canada was Halifax on the last port call for the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) aka the Grand Old Lady! What a great place and great people I experienced. The best and the most inexpensive seafood I have ever eaten. We'll except for Japan perhaps.
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Please don't drink or do drugs because this often leads to suicide. If you feel despondent, please call this number.
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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Nicci Eisenhauer
Thank you for posting! Suicide Prevention Lifeline also has Veterans-specific help.
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