{"id":39753,"date":"2021-09-29T15:51:14","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T15:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/09\/29\/fort-drum-investigates-three-suspected-suicide-deaths-that-took-place-within-two-days\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:39:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:39:22","slug":"fort-drum-investigates-three-suspected-suicide-deaths-that-took-place-within-two-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/2021\/09\/29\/fort-drum-investigates-three-suspected-suicide-deaths-that-took-place-within-two-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Drum investigates three suspected suicide deaths that took place within two days"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Three 10th Mountain Division<\/a> soldiers at Fort Drum, New York<\/a>, are suspected to have died by suicide within roughly 48 hours of each other in mid-September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the troops was among the last to return home during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to a statement from the 10th Mountain Division. Unit leaders warned against painting suicide cases with a broad brush and said they are investigating each case individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deaths of Pfc. Tyler Thomas, 21, Spc. Sika Tapueluelu, 26, and Staff Sgt. Angel Green, 24, are believed to be unrelated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cImmediately when we have a situation when a Soldier is suspected of taking their own life, we want to know the trigger,\u201d Maj. Gen, Milford H. Beagle, Jr., 10th Mountain commander, said in an emailed statement. \u201cWhat are the underlying challenges that contributed to the decision to harm themselves? We want to know what didn\u2019t we catch? What are we missing? This is what our immediate focus is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas was a signal support system specialist from Cedar Hill, Texas; Tapueluelu was a cannon crewmember from Tukwila, Washington; and Green was an infantryman from Barstow, California, who deployed to Afghanistan twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green had only returned on Sept. 6 from his latest deployment. Officials don\u2019t believe his deployment was a primary reason for his death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FORT RILEY, KS – AUGUST 12: Posters raising awareness about suicide are seen in the office of the Suicide Prevention Program August 12, 2009 in Fort Riley, Kansas. Fort Riley is home to the 1st Infantry Division as well as other Army units. A rise in suicides has led the U.S. Army to launch a suicide-prevention campaign this year, with mandatory training for soldiers as well as workshops for leaders to recognize the signs of suicidal behavior. Thousands of soldiers have returned from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental difficulties. (Photo by Chris Hondros\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Local media coverage referred to the cluster of incidents as a \u201cwakeup call\u201d for leadership. But the senior enlisted soldier at 10th Mountain said these deaths are part of a bigger, well-known problem within the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do not consider this to be a wakeup call,\u201d Command Sgt. Maj. Mario O. Terenas said in an email to Army Times. \u201cWe have been aware for years that the loss of a battle buddy is absolutely soul crushing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terenas stressed that looking at each incident separately is key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout September, Ft. Drum has highlighted suicide-prevention resources available to servicemembers. On Facebook, the Fort Drum Family Resource Center<\/a> shared a video urging soldiers to seek help and communicate facing mental health challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know this is Suicide Prevention Month,\u201d Terenas said in a video published Sept. 18, \u201cbut honestly we need to be thinking about it every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year because it\u2019s not just about awareness. This is about prevention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t