After the American Civil War, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, in a speech to a graduating class, made his now famous statement, "War is hell!" The simplicity and the all-encompassing meaning of that quote has been affirmed and re-affirmed following countless wars that have since ensued.
Currently, there is an unknown war being fought on the home front by our returning soldiers. The article ("Berkshire County honors hero," May 25) draws attention to one of those casualties, and in many ways is the most tragic story of all.
The death of Marine Sgt. Edward Passetto you might say is just another casualty of war; but the difference is he did not die on the battlefield but took his own life after suffering from PTSD and being abandoned by his country after distinguishing himself in Afghanistan by saving the lives of his fellow Marines in a downed helicopter.
After his medical discharge in 2009, he contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs for help. He was informed his claim would not be processed until 2015. He then wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama, which was ignored. Shortly afterward, in utter despair, he killed himself.
The last conscious thought in this brave young man's life was that his country, whom he so gallantly served, deserted him in his hour of need.
You might assume Sgt. Passetto's death was an anomaly; someone who just fell through the bureaucratic cracks. Unfortunately, to our country's utter shame, it is a microcosm of a widespread policy of neglect aimed at our returning warriors.
War is hell, indeed, and apparently the hell continues for many after the battle has ended.
Bob Hendrick
Colonie