Seventeen Year Battle Ended When Gulf War Veteran Committed Suicide Outside Church

Veteran talked to KXLY4 about mental health issues years before suicide
KXLY News
Author: Ariana Cohen, Good Morning Northwest reporter
November 7, 2016

But, not enough to save Belieu, who 17 years ago began asking for help for this disease.

POST FALLS, Idaho - It was a shocking scene outside a large church in Post Falls Sunday as hundreds of worshipers were gathered at Real Life Ministries, when a Gulf War veteran took his own life right outside the church doors.

59-year-old Dale Belieu had suffered from debilitating illness for years and spoke out against the lack of help from the Veteran's Administration.

Back in the 90s, an Idaho congresswoman tried to help Belieu with his case against the VA.

He said he suffered from Gulf War syndrome and that he wasn't given the help he needed.

He shared that story with KXLY4 News, and Monday, we found the heartbreaking evidence that Belieu had long struggled to find help.

"I guess I'm not one of those weirded out crazed insane veterans sitting on some park looking wacked out," said Belieu in a 1999 interview with KXLY. He lived with physical and emotional pain for decades.

"So, they don't want to deal with it," he said. "Someone in Congress, the decision makers need to come in line."
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