Soldier's mother says military let her son down

Soldier's mother says military let her son down
Goldstream Gazette

Two and a half years after her son’s suicide, a Victoria woman’s struggles with the Department of National Defence have finally been acknowledged at the highest level.

A long-awaited apology came only after Sheila Fynes made a trip to Ottawa to share her story with the national media.

Backed by Victoria MP Denise Savoie, Fynes spoke out about the military’s handling of her son’s post-traumatic stress disorder (a psychological condition sometimes seen in soldiers who have served in a battle zone) and subsequent mistreatment of the family.

“We believe that there has been a concerted effort on the part of the Department (of National Defence) to tarnish our son’s reputation and memory to absolve it of any responsibility,” Fynes said. “Our hope is that never again should a soldier or soldier’s family suffer as ours has.”

On March 15, 2008, Cpl. Stuart Langridge, then 28, hanged himself in his barracks at CFB Edmonton.

He had served tours of duty in Bosnia and Afghanistan starting in 2002 and had an outstanding military record until 2006.

Troubles started in 2007.

According to files compiled by Savoie’s office, Langridge was medicated for an anxiety-related issue in March. Until his death a year later, he struggled with substance abuse and attempted suicide six times.

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Soldier's mother says military let her son down