38 Too Many

As a followup to “One Too Many,” reports came today that a record number of soldiers, sailors, and marines killed themselves in July:

A record number of soldiers – 38 – are suspected of killing themselves in July, the Pentagon said Thursday. It marks a startling jump in the suicide epidemic that has been frustrating Army leaders for years….The toll was 58% higher than June’s 24 suspected suicides, and is roughly 50% more than the average monthly suicide count experienced over the past 18 months.

That’s just slightly fewer American service members than died in Afghanistan in July.