GI arrested in bomb case

Source: ThsState.com South Carolina

Sgt. Paul Miles' family knew something was different about him when he came back from Iraq. The Eagle Scout and former church missionary was jumpy. Behind the wheel, he would suddenly drive as if under attack. Later they would learn he built a bomb and used it to damage a statue of the Virgin Mary. Then, he killed a cat.

Ultimately, the 22-year-old National Guardsman was arrested in November on federal charges, accused of building explosives in his apartment, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or manic depression. He could get 10 years in prison.

Thousands of soldiers and Marines who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are believed to have been damaged psychologically by the experience. Whether the 22-year-old Miles is one of them - whether he was unhinged by the war, as his family suspects, and a psychiatrist who examined him says is possible - is not clear.

<snip>

Miles and his roommate detonated a bomb at the base of a Virgin Mary statue, according to police and Miles' lawyer. In October, Miles killed a stray kitten for kicks. Then, Miles assaulted his roommate, police said. When police arrived, they found a bomb in the closet.



Read more: http://www.thestate.com/361/story/41845.html

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This guy sounds like a time bomb - hope he gets help.

So we drove over to his house and found him surrounded by Houston cops in his front yard, AK47 at his feet and his truck shot full of holes.

I hollered at him from the street and asked him just what the hell did he think he was doing.

He said that he had changed his mind and decided to kill his truck instead of himself.

The cops asked me how I knew what was going on and I told them that we had been in the service together and that I was really worried about him.

They let me go up to him, take his hand and lead him down the driveway like a child.

Then they jumped us both, hog-tied Paul and handcuffed me (for "safety's sake" they would later testify).

Hauled him off to jail.

Paul hanged himself in jail that night.

He did not kill himself.

Vietnam killed him.

I'm sure we'll see many more incidents like this and the one you just described.

:cry:

I suppose a suicide watch never occured to the cops, or a mental hospital admission?

I'm sorry.

just...man...the words escape me.

I just type way too slow to do it again.

:hug:

Looking at me while they were hauling him away.

Looking at me and searching for a little Hope.

All I knew was that I would never see him again.

And I think he knew it.

Paul was a Tunnel Rat, you see.

Then they sent him to Ranger school.

Ballsiest guy I ever knew.

Not brave, just crazy and fearless.

If he had not have died, he probably never would have lived.

Damn, that old Machine just keeps on slashing, gnashing, wasting more of us every day.

I know I'm being redundant... but :hug:

Okie dokie, that solves so many problems.

Love. Peace. And Understanding. Somewhere. Someday. Somehow.

S.

Not that this guy wasn't obviously unstable, but notice how they emphasize his reasoning for jail is his bipolar (which he probably doesn't have, it sounds PTSD) Why can't they just openly admit it was the war? But the mentally ill suffer to perpetuate the lie...

If he's diagnosed as "bi-polar," then the Army may decline to give this guy medical benefits, because his mental disease is a "pre-existing condition" and by definition not caused by military service.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070409/kors

How Specialist Town Lost His Benefits