Lance Corporal Prevented 100th Attempted Suicide For 2015

Lance corporal awarded medal for preventing fellow Marine's suicide 
Marine Corps Times
By Derrick Perkins, Staff writer
June 7, 2015

The attempt is one of 100 recorded by Corps officials through April 30. At least eight deaths among active duty and reservists were ruled suicides since the start of the year, according to the Marine and Family Programs Division.

Lance Cpl. Victor Padilla, right, received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation
Medal for intervening in his best friend's suicide attempt in April. (Photo: Courtesy)

Lance Cpl. Victor Padilla never saw his best friend's suicide attempt coming.

Hours before the fellow Marine tried to take his life April 11, he and Padilla were fishing together. Spirits were high despite not catching anything, said Padilla, a corrections specialist aboard Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston, South Carolina.

The other Marine seemed excited even, Padilla said, looking forward to meeting up with a longtime friend for dinner.

The pair returned to the barracks so Padilla's friend could shower and prepare for the evening. By then, though, his mood had changed, Padilla said.

"He wasn't doing too well," Padilla said. "He was moving around kinda quick, kinda upset."

Knowing his friend had a short temper, Padilla decided to let him blow off steam privately. But after a few minutes passed, he went searching through the second-floor residence.

And that's when he came across his friend, hanging from the balcony by two belts, tied together. Padilla does not remember much of what followed, but he got out beyond the railing and hauled his friend to safety.
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