Tragic Report: U.S. Doctor in Iraq Driven to Suicide

[babylonsister]

Greg Mitchell

Author, 'Why Obama Won'
Posted January 22, 2009 | 11:42 AM (EST)

Tragic Report: U.S. Doctor in Iraq Driven to Suicide


Of the thousands of "noncombat" American deaths in Iraq - and I have covered many of them for almost six years, here and elsewhere -- one of the most haunting involved Army Capt. Roselle M. Hoffmaster. Now the Army's investigation into her death on Sept. 20, 2007, has finally been released.

Hoffmaster was young (age 32), a 2000 graduate of Smith College, a surgeon commissioned into the Medical Corps in 2004. She went to Iraq because, while happily married, she had no children so far and thought she should take the place of someone who did have kids. She appeared to be widely liked, admired, treasured. I've written about her twice in this space.

Last month, her husband notified me privately that he had just received the results of the probe and that, indeed, her death had been ruled a suicide. Now a local paper in Massachusetts, The Republican, has received the report and posted a summary. It reveals that she took her own life by shooting herself in the head while alone in her room.

Just hours before she killed herself, Hoffmaster, a surgeon commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in 2004, had been berated by a senior officer, the report shows. She later told another officer who counseled her that night that she "couldn't do it anymore" and wanted to quit the military, the report states.

The report includes a statement from one officer who believes the Army did Hoffmaster a disservice by failing to properly prepare her for duty in Iraq.

The investigation includes numerous interviews with military colleagues and family members, many of whom attested to Hoffmaster's positive attitude and expressed disbelief that she would commit suicide.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/tragic-report-us-doctor-i_b_160013.html

[bdamomma]

1. so sad, the bush regime has left a trail of dead bodies.

[midnight]

2. No one could do what our men and women were asked to do

in Iraq. Now Bring them home.

[w8liftinglady]

5. I have a vague idea what my son,a tank mechanic,was asked to do.

He finally disclosed this Christmas that he didn't hold a wrench his first deployment.I'll never forget something he said to me-"don't worry mom-we aim low with the kids"

[cliffordu]

3. I don't have words that are sufficient......

:cry:

[4 t 4]

4. Oh my

that's so very sad but remember * kept us safe YEA RIGHT !