PTSD Veteran on Trial

This coming week -- Thursday, to be precise -- decorated Iraq war veteran Daniel Cotnoir, who served under grueling conditions that few of us can even imagine, doing mortuary detail in the war, goes on trial in Massachusetts for actions that aren't hard to see as a result of extreme combat-related stress.  It will be "interesting" to see how his case turns out, from a legal point of view, but from a humane point of view, only interesting if Cotnoir is treated with compassion and concern, and routed in the direction of further help that's needed, not jailtime which leaves the problem intact.  In honor of the upcoming court case, which frankly unsettles us to think it's even going forward, here's a link to one of the more short 'n factual pieces in the news media about Cotnoir's actions, published shortly after he was arrested last summer.  The article is entitled, "Hero Marine Returns Fire."  Another newspaper column, also published contemporaneously, did a marvellous job of painting a picture of what Cotnoir must have been exposed to, versus the unforgiving nature of society once he returned.  This one has a great, and poignant though accurate, title: "Marine bears up under Iraq's horrors, but cracks at home."  Both are worth a read.  Praying readers may be tempted to throw a prayer or two heavenward on Cotnoir's behalf, as well.  It probably wouldn't be a bad idea whatsoever.