Gulf War PTSD vet killed by police remembered

Matthew Speese, shot after he pointed gun at police, was a 'wonderful father,' relatives said
Published: Friday, June 03, 2011
By John Tunison
The Grand Rapids Press

MONTCALM COUNTY — When Matthew Speese returned from the Gulf War in the early 1990s, family members said he was a different person.

He had episodes of depression and unpredictable behavior that made his then-wife scared.

“He was my husband when he went over there, but when he came back, he was a completely different person,” said Tania Felix, who was married to Speese for nine years and had two children with him.
Felix believes his post-traumatic stress disorder may have played a role in the Wednesday police shooting and death of Speese, 47, near Howard City.

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Matthew Speese, shot after he pointed gun at police

Family of vet shot by police wants attention paid to post-combat stress
Published: Saturday, June 04, 2011
By Nate Reens
The Grand Rapids Press
MONTCALM COUNTY — A split-second decision by officers ended nearly 20 years of post-traumatic stress disorder that tormented Matthew Speese after he returned from multiple tours of duty in the first Gulf War.

Relatives of the 47-year-old victim of Wednesday’s fatal police-involved shooting, allegedly triggered when Speese raised a long gun at officers during an evening standoff, said Friday they hope discussion about the effects of war linger in the public consciousness.

“This is really bigger than Matt because there are so many people out there like him,” said Mark Speese, one of the victim’s five siblings. “These veterans come home from war and the impact is still there. It doesn’t just go away, and maybe this sheds some light on those troubles.”

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Family of vet shot by police wants attention paid to PTSD