The Ramos Family

Jeramie Ibarra
3 days ago
2 min read

As a baby boomer ( I am 63) I was fortunate to be raised with the greatest generation. My parents came from families of 12 and 10, which meant I had a ton of uncles and aunts. In my youth I spent time with 15 veterans of WW2, Korea and Vietnam – all my uncles and my father – each of them knowing what sacrifice, honor, patriotism and duty meant. Our family was more fortunate than most, none returned under an American Flag. But they didn’t come home unaffected. They lost friends and witnessed what no one ever forgets. Some brought that pain back too. They suffered in silence, society not yet knowing what it was or how to help them.

Fast forward to 1981 – I felt a call to serve and I then I raised my right and swore an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States of America, just like most of my uncles.

In 1990 I was 27 years old and an Army Engineer Officer – on a cool January afternoon I stood behind my father at the family cemetery plot and witnessed something I had never seen – my father crying. I had never seen him in so much pain. He yelled and screamed and cussed and then cried – he was so angry at his older brother, my uncle, who had shot himself the week before. He yelled” Why? Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you get help?”

As an army sergeant my uncle was a WW2 combat veteran. He always the quiet one, never married, no kids, he was a hard-working rancher in South Texas . Everyone thought that’s just the way he was and he was fine. He left no notes, letters or clues – but looking back, I can now see that he carried a burden, not sure if was pain, guilt or sadness or something else brought on by a tough life or the war.

What I witnessed that afternoon affected me greatly. We will never know what is under the surface unless you ask and dig and show you care. And even then we may never know. If you think someone is struggling, soldier or not, help them or get them help. One act of kindness can make all the difference in the world if someone is at the edge of hopelessness.

Was it soldier suicide? Or just a depressed old man? We will never know.

Every one of us will we touched by suicide in our lifetime. Could be family member, a friend, a coworker or a neighbor. You never know what battles they fight deep in the heart and mind. Reach out a hand to help – you could save their life.

Operation Salvations was created to provide a path so those who are struggling won’t choose a path to end their lives.

For my Uncles and Dad: