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(this is a sad story, especially since I‘m told several Canadian reservists just returned from Afghanistan are now unemployed ... by the Army ... kind of makes a mockery of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council efforts to convince civilian employers to give reservists their jobs back when they return from overseas missions ...)
Reservist commits suicide over city job
By KATE ROBERTS
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Friday, March 19, 2004 · Last updated 4:33 p.m. PT
Army reservist Lt. Brandon Ratliff is shown in this undated photo released by his family Friday, March 19, 2004. Ratliff, a decorated Army reservist, committed suicide in the midst of fighting the city health department for a promotion he was promised before being deployed to Afghanistan, a family member said. Ratliff was executive officer of the Army Reserve‘s 909th Forward Surgical Team. The unit provides medical care on the front lines, and Ratliff‘s duties included retrieving wounded soldiers fromthe battlefield. He was decorated eight times and at least one award was for bravery, family members said. (AP Photo/Ratliff family)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An Army reservist who unsuccessfully fought city officials for an expected promotion after he returned from service in Afghanistan has committed suicide, police said.
Lt. Brandon Ratliff was upset that he could not afford to pay for an attorney to fight the city to get the job, according to an e-mail sent from Ratliff‘s account to The Columbus Dispatch on Thursday.
The newspaper said Ratliff was found dead in his home with a bullet wound to the head about three hours after the e-mail was sent. Police spokeswoman Sherry Mercurio said Ratliff‘s death was ruled a suicide.
Ratliff said he was promised a promotion and a raise in September 2002 before he left to serve in a medical unit in Afghanistan. When he returned, the higher-level job had been filled and he was forced to resume his old job, which pays $4,000 less per year.
"I didn‘t think that I‘d have to fight over there and come back and fight these guys," he said last week.
By law, employers must take back reservists returning from military service, with few exceptions.
According to the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, employers must reinstate reservists returning from military service to the job they would have attained had they not been absent. Health department spokeswoman Liane Egle said Ratliff did not formally accept the promotion before his deployment and the city believed it did not have to hold the higher job for him.
A department statement said: "Brandon served this department, this community and this country with high honor and valor. His death is a tragic loss." The department declined to comment further.
His cousin, Cynthia Hellman, said Ratliff was "fed up" and felt he didn‘t get the respect he deserved. "It all comes down to our military personnel not being treated well during and after their deployment," she said.
The Army had no immediate comment, spokeswoman Martha Rudd said Friday.
Kelly Hennen, a co-worker and friend of Ratliff, said whatever anger Ratliff had about his work was tied to depression he‘d suffered after returning from Afghanistan. "He had seen children die," she said.
Ratliff commanded the Army Reserve‘s 909th Forward Surgical Team. The unit provides medical care on the front lines, and Ratliff‘s duties included retrieving wounded soldiers from the battlefield and tallying the dead and wounded. He was decorated eight times, his family said.
Lt Ratliff
Reservist commits suicide over city job
By KATE ROBERTS
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Friday, March 19, 2004 · Last updated 4:33 p.m. PT
Army reservist Lt. Brandon Ratliff is shown in this undated photo released by his family Friday, March 19, 2004. Ratliff, a decorated Army reservist, committed suicide in the midst of fighting the city health department for a promotion he was promised before being deployed to Afghanistan, a family member said. Ratliff was executive officer of the Army Reserve‘s 909th Forward Surgical Team. The unit provides medical care on the front lines, and Ratliff‘s duties included retrieving wounded soldiers fromthe battlefield. He was decorated eight times and at least one award was for bravery, family members said. (AP Photo/Ratliff family)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An Army reservist who unsuccessfully fought city officials for an expected promotion after he returned from service in Afghanistan has committed suicide, police said.
Lt. Brandon Ratliff was upset that he could not afford to pay for an attorney to fight the city to get the job, according to an e-mail sent from Ratliff‘s account to The Columbus Dispatch on Thursday.
The newspaper said Ratliff was found dead in his home with a bullet wound to the head about three hours after the e-mail was sent. Police spokeswoman Sherry Mercurio said Ratliff‘s death was ruled a suicide.
Ratliff said he was promised a promotion and a raise in September 2002 before he left to serve in a medical unit in Afghanistan. When he returned, the higher-level job had been filled and he was forced to resume his old job, which pays $4,000 less per year.
"I didn‘t think that I‘d have to fight over there and come back and fight these guys," he said last week.
By law, employers must take back reservists returning from military service, with few exceptions.
According to the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, employers must reinstate reservists returning from military service to the job they would have attained had they not been absent. Health department spokeswoman Liane Egle said Ratliff did not formally accept the promotion before his deployment and the city believed it did not have to hold the higher job for him.
A department statement said: "Brandon served this department, this community and this country with high honor and valor. His death is a tragic loss." The department declined to comment further.
His cousin, Cynthia Hellman, said Ratliff was "fed up" and felt he didn‘t get the respect he deserved. "It all comes down to our military personnel not being treated well during and after their deployment," she said.
The Army had no immediate comment, spokeswoman Martha Rudd said Friday.
Kelly Hennen, a co-worker and friend of Ratliff, said whatever anger Ratliff had about his work was tied to depression he‘d suffered after returning from Afghanistan. "He had seen children die," she said.
Ratliff commanded the Army Reserve‘s 909th Forward Surgical Team. The unit provides medical care on the front lines, and Ratliff‘s duties included retrieving wounded soldiers from the battlefield and tallying the dead and wounded. He was decorated eight times, his family said.
Lt Ratliff
