Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Body of missing Iraq veteran found in river

Man found in Anacostia River was Iraq war veteran
Washington Post
By Peter Hermann
Published: April 2

He followed his father, a veteran of Vietnam, into the Army, and spent a year fighting in Iraq. Arlester Jay returned home addicted to drugs and alcohol, his father said, and he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He was homeless for a time, unable to hold even a menial job.

D.C. police pulled Jay’s body from the Anacostia River on Monday after a rower spotted it floating near the Langston Golf Course in Northeast. The discovery ended a nearly four-week search after Jay’s family reported him missing in early March.

For Jay’s father, the gruesome discovery brought one small part of sad relief over a life that had spiraled out of control into petty crime and substance abuse. But it was much more a moment to vent years of pent-up anger at the way he believes veterans are treated after they come home from war.

“That boy gave his all for his country,” said Ernest Jay Jr., a 71-year-old Methodist minister, just hours after learning of his son’s death Tuesday. “And they did nothing.”
read more here

1 comment:

  1. If we can't say anything nice about the death of this Iraq veteran, don't say anything at all. Let this young man Rest in Peace.

    ReplyDelete

If it is not helpful, do not be hurtful. Spam removed so do not try putting up free ad.