In my last article, I listed the many benefits of weblogs, including the sense of community they create. In the past two days I have witnessed that community in spades.

You see, blogging has led to the prevention of two possible suicides and has set wheels in motion for studies on soldiers returning from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder. But this isn’t a story I found on CNN or the local news. This story unfolded within a blog I visit everyday—and within my own living room.

On November 23rd, a soldier with post-traumatic stress disorder commented on a post by Matthew Good that he was planning to take his own life. This may seem to most to be an odd place to cry for help. But besides being a blogger concerned with human rights and political atrocities, Matthew Good is also a respected musician whose songs are enjoyed by many. The soldier communicated in his comment that he planned to kill himself while listening to Good’s music, because of the pain he felt from being in Iraq and finding out his wife had been unfaithful.

Some may have seen this comment and dismissed it as a prank. But I would hope most would understand that anyone who would take the time to post such a comment is in need of help and not sure where to get it. The site’s visitors did understand and many posted comments pleading with him to not give up. But what else could they do but comment?

It’s by pure luck that several individuals’ paths crossed who could offer some assistance. Matthew Good was very concerned and took immediate action. By sheer happenstance, my husband Theron had begun speaking with Good just the week before and has been helping him with his web site. After seeing the soldier’s comment, he was able to get an approximate location for him based on the IP address that was logged in the blog software. The soldier had signed his full name, so armed with that information, Good then turned to two more readers (who are themselves soldiers) to see what they could do.

The military was able to locate the soldier and bring him in for 48 hour observation. Upon inspection of his home, a note had been found that appeared to be a suicide note. But that’s not the end of this tale. As it turns out, the soldier brought in for observation was not the same one that left the comment.

From an update on this story by Ben Allbright:

I received an email from Matt (who had received a reply from Chris) describing conflicting reports about what had happened. Chris told Matt he was OK, surprised by Matt’s response, but he hadn’t carried through with it. Matt asked if the military had contacted him and Chris said they hadn’t. This baffled me as I had received word from the military police that they had someone in custody for observation for 48 hours.

Matt gave me the number Chris had left to get ahold of him, and I decided to call and see if I could get to the bottom of what was going on. I got ahold of Chris’ father who put me in touch with Chris.

Chris explained his situation to me and confirmed that the army had not, in fact, taken him anywhere, much less shown up at all. I now began wondering who the military police had hauled in and why. After leaving my contact information with Chris, and being assured that communication between us would continue, I called down to the staff duty office I had called the previous night. They again confirmed they had a “Mr. Taylor” in custody.

The officer on duty called in the Lieutenant from the previous night and we proceeded to sort through the information I had left with him, and find out who (and why) was in custody now.

It seems that when running the search we came across the correct Christopher Taylor. Christopher Len Taylor to be exact. When I relayed this information to the staff duty office of the unit he was listed with, the officer on duty either didn’t hear correctly or wasn’t paying attention. He wrote down the name Glen Taylor, and sent the dispatch information over to the military police.

The MPs, upon receiving the information from the staff duty officer, instantly took it seriously. It seems that they had been called out after a Glen Taylor had admitted a desire to commit suicide before to his wife. Without thinking twice they went to his house, located Mr. (Glen) Taylor and searched around a bit. During their search they found a note written by Mr. Glen Taylor, a suicide note, and decided to pull him in for observation. The officer on duty then called me back to confirm that they had “Mr. Taylor” in custody. Since he used the words “Mr. Taylor” and told me they had found a note, I had no reason to suspect that 2 soldiers from the same division would be contemplating suicide at the same time.

After comparing notes the MP’s, staff duty officers, and I got caught up to speed. We decided to turn over the information to the division office in an effort to see if there are/were any more soldiers with similar problems, and what help is available for them.

It seems these two soldiers are not the only ones suffering from suicidal tendencies due to the trauma of PTSD. Many soldiers have come forward since their deployment, and the army has been using the same protocols since Vietnam (and we saw how well those worked) to deal with the situation. I talked briefly with a Colonel and 2 star General about the issue, and asked them what it would take to get a task force on this situation immediately. Lives are at stake, and 60’s and 70’s era psychology are not what we should entrust these lives to.

Both agreed and have set up an immediate study of soldiers returning from Iraq. They hope the study will yield better methods of dealing with deployments and the stress caused by them.

I decided to share this story here for many reasons. One reason is to reiterate the value of blogging. A second reason is to illuminate how truly amazing people can be. But the most important reason for writing this post is to remind everyone of the power and value of one. One man in despair stands for many. One person choosing to take action inspires others. Each person at some point needs help and also has the capacity to give it.

Many people say that technology and the internet have served to isolate people. After hearing this story, I disagree.

Posted in -Kara | November 28, 2005