Family sues over soldier's suicide

Family sues over soldier's suicide
Says VA center failed Penn Manor grad

By LARRY ALEXANDER, Staff Writer

Donald Woodward's tormented life ended on March 3, 2006.

An Iraqi war veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Woodward's body was found at one of his favorite hiking spots along the Enola Low-Grade Line.

The anguished young man had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 23.

While Woodward's pain is over, his family's continues, and on Monday, his widow, Tiera Woodward, filed a $2 million wrongful death suit against the United States government.

Her attorneys filed the lawsuit Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Tiera Woodward and the entire Woodward family blame Donald's death on the Lebanon Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lebanon, where the young man had turned for help.

The suit, filed by the Pittsburgh-based law firm of Seewald, Mielnicki and Petro, claims the medical center "acted negligently, grossly negligent, carelessly and recklessly in treating" Woodward.

He enlisted in the Army and was attached to the 4th Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003, where he served until August 2003.

During his tour of duty, Woodward killed three Iraqis during a battle with an enemy tank. His lieutenant also was killed.

He was discharged from the Army in November 2003.

Woodward's health issues began surfacing in October 2004, when, according to the suit, he became "different," "quiet" and "withdrawn."

He enrolled at Millersville University, where he studied biology, but dropped out after a semester. Next came a series of jobs, including security work and the installation of heating and air conditioning units.

In July 2005, his wife sought help for her husband at the Lebanon VA Medical Center. She was told her husband would have to "come in voluntarily."

On Nov. 19, Woodward set his pickup truck on fire and then climbed inside in an attempt to end his life, according to the suit. He was saved by his wife, and the suicide attempt was reported to Lebanon medical center officials.



It was one of three suicide attempts.
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