Lowndes County, GA, October 29, 2012 - This weekend turned tragic when an airmen who had returned from Iraq shot and killed himself. It's the second suicide for Moody Air Force Base this year.

Major Dana Metzger said "we can see the enemy coming, we know that that's going to happen. We can't see this coming."

That enemy within often proves most deadly. According to the Department of Defense, on average, one member of the military kills themselves everyday. That's more service members that die by their own hands then the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Overcoming one's personal hesitation to ask for help often can be most challenging. Major Metzger went on to say "that's actually more of a strength to be able to say I'm having a problem or I'm having some issues and I need some help. Instead of being able to have that, you know, John Wayne type of syndrom where you don't want to open up and you can deal with all your problems on your own."

Clinical Social Worker Judy Martin Trexler said "the people that aren't venting and sharing what's going on with them, they're stuffing it back and stuffing it back and eventually they're going to get full and it's going to explode."

If you're in the military and contemplating suicide, talk to your superior officer. There is no punishment for doing so, only respect for the courage it takes.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE IN THE MILITARY IS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE CALL THE FOLLOWING NUMBER OR CLICK THE LINKS BELOW:

Suicide Hot Line: 1 (800) 273-8255

Links for help:
http://airforcemedicine.afms.mil/idc/groups/public/documents/webcontent/knowledgejunction.hcst?functionalarea=LeadersGuideDistress&doctype=subpage&docname=CTB_205851

SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM OF LINK BELOW:
http://www.stripes.com/news/special-reports/suicide-in-the-military