Navy SEAL Dies of Apparent Suicide in Afghanistan
A Navy SEAL has died of an apparent suicide, reports state. Navy SEAL Cdr. Job W. Price, 42, died while serving in Afghanistan, a military official told reporters.
"The Naval Special Warfare family is deeply saddened by the loss of our teammate," Captain Robert Smith, Commander of Naval Special Warfare Group Two, told the Huffington Post. "We extend our condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and NSW community during this time of grieving."
Price served with the Virginia-based SEAL Team 4, which works with Afghan local police to help fight and stave off the Taliban in parts of the country. He was only 42, and a U.S. military official told the press Price's death "appears to be the result of suicide," but could not provide further comment due to an ongoing investigation.
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According to Megan McCloskey of Stripes.com, a military-news website, there have been more suicides than combat deaths in 2012.
"Through November this year, potentially 303 active-duty, Reserve and National Guard soldiers took their own lives. In Afghanistan, 212 soldiers were killed as of Dec. 7. The trajectory for soldier suicides keeps getting worse," McCloskey wrote.
The Army, and all branches of the military, has been aware of the rising number of suicides by soldiers. Head injuries, as well as increased cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, have contributed to the higher number of suicides.
"These guys have worked so hard to get to the level they are, to get the skill level and respect level and the loyalty level, that help-seeking becomes really something that they avoid," Kim Ruocco, director at Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), told USA Today.
"These guys have been under tremendous pressure. They have given over and over again without complaining … and then, when they do have issues, spend a lot of time hiding it. All of a sudden, the guy's so sick, it's almost too late because their world is falling apart," she explained.
Price is survived by a wife and daughter.
