Veteran's brother: Suicide not VA’s fault

Charles Huff was ‘impressed’ with how the hospital handled the Iraq veteran’s visit to the ER.

An assault rifle lies in front of the Dayton VA Medical Center, located at 4100 W. Third St. Police on the scene said the death is the result of a suicide. The deceased man, Jesse C. Huff, was 27 years old and had been seen in the medical center's emergency room prior to his body being found outside, according Donna Simmons, VA spokeswoman.

Staff photo Ron Alvey An assault rifle lies in front of the Dayton VA Medical Center, located at 4100 W. Third St. Police on the scene said the death is the result of a suicide. The deceased man, Jesse C. Huff, was 27 years old and had been seen in the medical center's emergency room prior to his body being found outside, according Donna Simmons, VA spokeswoman.

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Photos courtesy of Thereasa Osborne of Elm City, N.C. Infantryman Jesse Huff during a period of training in Alaska.

Photos courtesy of Thereasa Osborne of Elm City, N.C. Infantryman Jesse Huff hands out candy to a child during a patrol in Iraq in 2006.

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By Margo Rutledge Kissell, Staff Writer Updated 12:13 AM Tuesday, April 20, 2010

DAYTON — The oldest brother of the Iraq war veteran who committed suicide at the Dayton VA Medical Center Friday said he is satisfied with the care Jesse Huff received hours before his death.

Charles Huff, 37, of Dayton — a nurse at the VA and a staff sergeant in the Army Reserve — said Monday, April 19, that he and his father met with Dayton VA Director Guy Richardson on Sunday to review his brother’s medical records, specifically focusing on the events of his last visit to the emergency room.

“Jesse was not denied care,” Charles Huff said. “In fact, I am impressed with the actions of the medical staff that evening. Without going into detail, to protect Jesse’s privacy, I can say as a fellow Iraq war veteran, as a medical professional and as his brother, I am in agreement with the decisions made by the hospital staff during Jesse’s last visit to the ER.”

Huff, 27, of Dayton, entered the center’s emergency room about 1 a.m. Friday. About 5:45 a.m., he reappeared at the center’s entrance, put a military-style rifle to his head and shot himself, police said.

He will be buried with full military honors in the Dayton National Cemetery at the VA campus during a private ceremony. Huff had been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and received treatment at the Dayton VA for that and a back injury he suffered when he was hit by shrapnel from a blast in Iraq, his brother said. He completed a PTSD residency program in West Virginia around January.

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