Curt Fike fought with Marine in Iraq 3 times, lost fight to PTSD

Fallen Marine's mom upset with Dayton VA cemetery
WHIO News
By Sandy Collins and John Bedell
Staff Writer
October 8, 2014

DAYTON — A local mother is upset with the Dayton National Cemetery at the Veteran's Administration for enforcing their grave decoration policy.

Jody Merrill of Hamilton says she was contacted by the Director of the National Cemetery, Michael Henshaw. He offered condolences on the loss of her son, then explained the decorations and personal items left at her son's grave were prohibited and needed to be removed.

Her son, Curt Fike, served as a Marine for three tours in Iraq. He returned to the Miami Valley suffering from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and took his own life in early 2012.

"He fought hard and long with PTSD," said Merrill, "and after he passed away, we also found out that he had a traumatic brain injury."

Henshaw indicated in his letter to Merrill that the items which don't meet the policy guidelines will be removed "so that we may re-establish the grass and (to) properly maintain the gravesite."
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