Akron soldier ends war's pain with his suicide

Akron soldier ends war's pain with his suicide
Returning from Iraq left Derrick Hendon changed and troubled, says his grieving family

By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer


Published on Friday, Aug 15, 2008

With an honor guard from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9520 in Brunswick and three soldiers participating in the solemn ceremony, Iraq War veteran Derrick Hendon was buried this week at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman.

He wasn't killed by a bullet or bomb.

He died at home in Akron, three years after leaving the fighting.

But he was one of the war's casualties.

''I think our whole family was a casualty of war,'' ex-wife Maya Hendon said in an e-mail from Israel, where she now lives.

Derrick Hendon, 25, was found in the early morning of July 31, hanging by an extension cord in the garage of his North Akron home.

''I'm just tired,'' the Ohio Army National Guardsman wrote in a suicide note.

Both Maya Hendon, who moved to Israel in 2007 with the couple's two children, and Tina Evans, the soldier's sister, say Hendon was changed by the war. They believe all returning servicemen and women should be required to get psychological counseling.




''I want something to be put in effect for the rest of the soldiers that are coming home,'' said Evans, who lives in Akron. ''They need mandatory counseling. We as families, husbands and wives,'' and brothers and sisters, need counseling as well, ''so we know how to deal with things.''


Decorated soldier


Mark Wayda, director of government and public affairs for the Ohio National Guard, said Hendon joined the Guard in May 2003 and served through July 2005. He was with Company C of the 1-107th Armor Battalion out of Stow and later served with the headquarters company of 1-107th Armor Battalion.

He was in Iraq in 2005 and received the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

After he came home, Hendon worked three jobs — in the pharmacy at Akron General Medical Center, at Starbucks in Chapel Hill Mall and as a model.

But his sister said he was not the same when he returned to civilian life.

''I think he died in Iraq,'' Evans said.


go here for more
http://www.ohio.com/news/27007569.html