Summary

In Chapter 10, Finkel follows the process through which the army goes when a soldier or veteran commits suicide. He uses Jessie as an example. As soon as he was declared dead of an acetaminophen dose, a Commander’s Suspected Suicide Event Report was begun. This report included details of Jessie’s life and manner of death. Another unit, the Army Medical Command, puts together another report about Jessie. A Fatality Review Board is also conducted by Fort Riley. A press release is put together for the media for all suicides in the same month as Jessie’s.

One battalion commander tells Finkel that during the investigation if it is discovered that the soldier who killed himself did not take suicide awareness training, that will automatically be assumed to be the cause of the soldier’s suicide.

Eight months after Jessie’s suicide, his case...