Army suicides hit a new single-month record in July, when 38 active-duty and reserve soldiers took their own lives, according to official figures released Thursday.
The toll, up from 24 in June, prompted a wave of renewed anger and frustration among Pentagon leaders and veterans advocates.
Army officials said 187 active-duty and reserve soldiers have committed suicide so far in 2012. Last year’s total was 283. Many of the cases are suspected suicides under investigation and have not been officially classified as a suicide, officials say, meaning the eventual final total could be higher or lower. And the numbers Thursday do not include statistics for former service members.
“As shocking as the Army numbers are, we have no idea what the veteran numbers are,” Tarantino said....
