PTSD may be to blame for Nellis AFB’s airman’s murder-suicide

From Las Vegas comes news of another tragedy that may be due to a soldier’s PTSD. Although unconfirmed by the Air Force at press time, sources who knew the couple say that Airman Jason Matthew Klinkenberg was the soldier who held what was described as “about 100” SWAT and police officers at bay outside of his apartment before he shot and killed his wife and then himself yesterday morning.

A friend who said he served with Klinkenberg in Iraq said that Klinkenberg battled post-traumatic stress disorder and had back problems that required him to have several surgeries.

The friend, who declined to give his name, said Klinkenberg was traumatized by an incident with a rocket propelled grenade and, later, when a man set himself on fire in front of him.

This information could not be independently confirmed Friday.

Klinkenberg was just 25 years old; his wife, 23. The authors of the report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Maggie Lillis and Lawrence Mower, wrote that a Nellis Air Force Base psychologist said last year that the base “doesn’t have a specific program to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder among active duty troops.” The base apparently relies on troops’ voluntarily reporting their illnesses and seeking help.

I guess that’s working out for them.