John asks about the facts about the facts

From occasional poster John, who is a retired USAF reserve JAG officer, comes this question and observation:

Are we getting the truth about the noncombat military casualties in Iraq? The recent suicide of an Army supply sergeant who was accused of homicide here in Pima County, Arizona, brings to mind the issue of how many noncombat deaths in Iraq are suicides or homocides. This soldier's use of deadly force to kill a thief was probably triggered by his recent combat experience in Iraq.

The military conducts an investigation in each noncombat death of active duty personnel. Yet no information is released concerning how many noncombat deaths are not in line of duty due to suicide or are related to negligent or intentional acts by other military due to the stress of being in a combat situation.

I suspect that statistics about the suicides and homocides of military personnel who have served or are now serving on active duty in Iraq may reveal a human cost to our sons and daughters comparable to the psychological damage inflicted by combat in Vietnam.