Vietnam vet talks suicide prevention

Photo By Sgt. Eric Glassey | Col. Joel Hamilton, garrison commander, Fort Carson, thanks Vietnam veteran Dave Roever for serving as the guest speaker during the Suicide Prevention Prayer Breakfast at the Special Event Center, Fort Carson, Colo., Sept. 25, 2014. Roever spoke about his experience in Vietnam including his injuries, suicide attempt and his perseverance to stay alive. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Eric Glassey, 4th Infantry Division PAO)  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

09.25.2014

Story by Sgt. Eric Glassey 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORT CARSON, Colo. – Vietnam veteran Dave Roever served as the guest speaker for the Suicide Prevention Prayer Breakfast at the Special Events Center on Fort Carson, Sept. 25.

Roever served as a river boat gunner in Vietnam until a phosphorous grenade exploded in his hand before he could throw it. He received third degree burns to 50 percent of his body.

Roever said he attempted suicide by pulling out the tubes keeping him alive – a reaction after seeing his physical condition – while recovering in a hospital in Japan.

“I thank God I pulled the wrong tube that day,” Roever said. “I’ve been fighting the suicide demon for 20 years.”

Suicide is an epidemic plaguing service members and veterans.

“We have 22 veterans commit suicide every day nationwide,” said Col. Joel Hamilton, garrison commander, Fort Carson. “We have to work on taking care each other.”

Roever talked about the importance of watching out for your comrades.

“I had a friend who watched out for me,” Roever said. “He saw my moments of depression, and when he saw something, he said something.

“We are our brother’s keepers,” Roever said. “We have a responsibility when we see something different, like, they don’t show up like they normally do, or something is out of place ... take the time to help them; take them somewhere they can get help.”

Roever’s story made an impact on the Soldiers in attendance.

“I thought it was tremendous,” said Master Sgt. Pablo Jimenez, operations noncommissioned officer in charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. “I have been deployed several times so I’ve seen burned people. I understand a little bit of what he has been through, and I wished I had 10 percent of his intestinal fortitude. I’m proud to be here to listen to his story.”

• Date Taken: 09.25.2014
• Date Posted: 09.25.2014 19:44
• Story ID: 143332
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US