Another family shares pain of soldier son's suicide

Thomasville veteran ends his struggle with PTSD. His family tells their story
WALB-TV - Albany,GA,USA
Posted: Feb 6, 2009 06:53 PM EST
By Christian Jennings - bio email

February 6, 2009

THOMASVILLE, GA (WALB) - Soldier suicide rates are up drastically and are continuing to grow. The Army reported that 24 soldiers are believe to have committed suicide in January alone.

And many veteran suicides are a result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. One family in Thomasville knows first hand what it's like to loose a son struggling with PTSD.

Pvt. Joseph McMath died at the young age of 24 on January 13, 2009, from a drug overdose.

Proud parents David and Linda McMath can only smile at the memory of their beloved son.

"He was just a good hearted person," said Joseph's mother Linda McMath.

Pvt. Joseph Aaron McMath was a veteran of the United States Army. He served in the Striker Brigade Unit in Iraq.

"It was 9/11/2001...he signed up, and went to Iraq in 2004, and he did 2 tours of duty, back to back," she said.

He was stationed in Ft. Lewis, Washington for three years....but it was his year overseas that changed him forever.

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