The Military, John Needham and PTSD

This is a guest post by Elaine Hirsch who describes herself as "kind of a jack-of-all-interests, from education and history to medicine and videogames. This makes it difficult to choose just one life path, so she is currently working as a writer for various education-related sites and writing about all these things instead." Read more of her work at http://www.mastersdegree.net/

Herd behavior and groupthink are not new topics when it comes to high-pressure situations such as the armed forces.  A decorated Iraqi war veteran, John Needham returned to the United States after his deployment in 2008 with a Purple Heart. Later that year, he was arrested after police found him in his condominium covered in blood from beating his girlfriend to death. Following his being placed under house arrest, Needham was found dead in 2010 after overdosing on painkillers. Although this scenario displays many traits of a domestic violence case, both Needham and his family members have expressed the possibility of his time serving the Army as a factor in his mental degradation.

John Needham, a veteran who served in Iraq, recently reemerged in the news as a result of a possible negligence case against the US Army. In a letter to his superiors, the Iraq veteran complained that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression as a direct result of having witnessed war crimes during his deployment.  In his letter, Needham provided detailed information about dismemberment of bodies, removal of brains and beatings of Iraqis minors. He also included photographs as proof. Needham requested an investigation and transfer, but was denied the opportunity.

While Needham believed that the Army took his testimony but never did anything to follow-up,  documents secured by a team of investigative reporters from the television program, “48 Hour Mystery” showed that the Army had conducted an investigation and came to the conclusion that there were no war crimes committed. The Army has been reluctant to supply information and has remained silent when asked for comments. Mike Needham Sr., John’s father, believes the Army failed his son.

A failed attempt at suicide in Iraq placed Needham in solitary confinement despite one of Needham's unit members stating that Needham needed psychiatric help instead of confinement.  While a psychiatrist did see Needham after several days of confinement and recommended further action, military officials decided on a general court martial. Recognizing his son’s urgent need for help, Mike Needham made numerous calls to the Pentagon and eventually arranged for John to be sent to Walter Reed Army Hospital, where he was diagnosed with PTSD. Less than a month later, John Needham was transferred to Fort Carson in Colorado for regular duty. While his father orchestrated another transfer to San Diego. Needham’s treatment was limited to his receiving prescription drugs until he was given a medical discharge that did not include medals that were due him.

Eight months later John Needham killed his girlfriend and eventually committed suicide. This case is not an isolated incident and PTSD has been used as a legal defense on other murder cases committed by Iraq veterans.  Along with thoughts of murder and suicide being reported in PTSD cases, other symptoms include flashbacks, rage, depression, insomnia and hyper arousal, issues that require mental health therapy.

Despite increasing recognition of the need for treatment of PTSD symptoms in returning veterans, many soldiers with symptoms of PTSD often experience harassment from fellow troop members and indifference from military superiors. Needham claimed he was subjected to this kind of harassment.

Recently released figures show that 40,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan were diagnosed with PTSD in 2007. Needham’s father believes that if the Army had properly dealt with Needham’s PTSD a young woman and his son would still be alive. It appears the Army’s negligence and apathy towards PTSD carries some responsibility for Needham and other Iraq veterans’ breakdowns.  John Needham’s case demonstrates inherent structural problems which are deeply rooted in the culture of the United States Armed Forces. Illuminating individual issues such as those in John Needham's case is an important step in revealing the psychiatric problems soldiers are bombarded with, but change on a grander scale will be needed to prevent future tragedies.

Comments

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