Transcript
One time when I was a policeman I had a fatal accident
with two teenage kids and they both died in my arms.
I was a first responder because I was a Sergeant.
I could go anywhere.
I knew all the city streets like the back of my hand.
I knew the fastest way from one point
to the other and this and that.
These kids were racing and one of them hit a big tree
and I wasn't that far behind.
I wasn't chasing them.
I just happened to be in the neighborhood
when all the lights went out.
It was raining and I ran up to one of the kids
and he was laying there.
He was all busted up and he's crying
for his mother and he passed on.
And another kid, went over to him and he died in my arms.
The section car showed up.
I told him, I said, "Take over.
I gotta get out of here."
I drove to a very quiet place
and it's the closest I ever came to ending my life.
And I know that's a real common thing with Vietnam Vets.
I don't have those thoughts any more,
since I've been getting help with the VA.
I'm sharing that with you
because I think it's really important.
A lot of guys have that and with help from your peers
and the guidance of clinicians and doctors at the VA,
it makes things a lot better.
It teaches you how to deal with it.