Amy Goodman: The war condolences Obama won't deliver

U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Chancellor Keesling died in Iraq June 19, 2009, from “a non-combat related incident,” according to the Pentagon. Keesling had killed himself. He was just one in what is turning out to be a record year for suicides in the U.S. military.

In August, President Barack Obama addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention, saying, “(T)here is nothing more sobering than signing a letter of condolence to the family of serviceman or -woman who has given their life for our country.” To their surprise, Jannett and Gregg Keesling, Chance's parents, won't be getting such a letter. Obama does not write condolence letters to loved ones of those who commit suicide in the theater of combat.

Chance was very troubled during his first tour of duty in Iraq, although he performed admirably by all accounts. At one point he was put on a suicide watch and had his ammunition taken away for a week. After Iraq, Chance declined a $27,000 re-enlistment bonus and transitioned to the U.S. Army Reserves, hoping to avoid another deployment. He sought and was receiving treatment at a Veterans Affairs facility. Gregg said, “We sat down as a family, and we said, 'President Obama is going to be elected, and President Obama will end this war, and you won't have to go.” But then his son's orders to deploy came again.

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