Page 3 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior Oct. 2015

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Annual LanternWalk against domestic
violence set for Oct. 7
By Fort Irwin Family Advocacy Program
Since October 2014, Fort Irwin has averaged six re-
ported incidents of domestic violence a month.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic
Violence, one in three women and one in four men will
experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and couples
in the military are no exception.
To raise awareness about this problem and to provide
information to support prevention, intervention, and
services that address domestic violence, Fort Irwin’s Fam-
ily Advocacy Program will host the third annual Lantern
Walk, as part of the annual nationwide observance of
Domestic Violence Month, Oct. 7.
Soldiers, civilians, and family members are encouraged
to participate in the Lantern Walk beginning at 6 p.m.
The walk of about one mile, will start at the Fort Irwin
Events and Catering Center’s (Samuel Adams) parking lot
and will loop back.
“Like last year, we will be hosting a children’s costume
Former NFL player’s personal loss helps others
Story and photo by Gustavo Bahena
Public Affairs Office
Speaking about personal success and the best of times – most
can do that.
Describing the account about the suicide of a son – not a com- prevention – which the nation and the Army observes during
mon occurrence.
Eric Hipple spoke to an audience of Fort Irwin leadership,
Soldiers and community members about suicide
awareness and prevention, Sept. 2. He serves as an
outreach coordinator for the Depression Center, University
of Michigan and is a former quarterback of the National
Football League Detroit Lions.
3High Desert Warrior
October 2, 2015
Awareness and Prevention
contest for all ages, as well as prizes and giveaways,” said
Julie Moore, a victim advocate with Fort Irwin Family
Advocacy Program. “We invite all of Fort Irwin to join
us at this event. It takes the whole village of Fort Irwin
to resolve this problem.”
Community members can also show their support by
wearing purple every Friday in October, said Pryscilla
Villanueva, Fort Irwin’s other victim advocate.
“We would also like you to post your pictures on Fort
Irwin’s Family Advocacy Program (FAP) Facebook page,”
Villanueva said. “Include in your photo caption, the text:
#IRWINPURPLE. The hashtag will turn blue, when you
click to post, and your photo will be shown with all photos
that have the same hashtag.”
For more information about domestic violence and the
resources available to the Fort Irwin community, contact
the Family Advocacy Program, located behind the Mary
Walker Clinic in building 181 or contact the confidential
24/7 hotline at (760) 267-6792.
When hearing of both from the same person, the juxtaposi- he said. When it can’t, symptoms can set in. Those include sleep
tion can be stirring. problems, loss of pleasure, appetite, loss of concentration, irri-
tability, anger, isolation, anxiety, pain, sadness and hopelessness.
Eric Hipple shared just those experiences with the National
Training Center and Fort Irwin community during four presenta- “It’s not the problem that’s the problem,” Mr. Hipple said. “It’s
tions, Sept. 1-2, to initiate a campaign of suicide awareness and the inability to solve the problem – that’s the problem.”
the month of September. He serves as an outreach coordinator People might start coping by participating in alcohol or sub-
for the Depression Center, University of Michigan and talks to stance abuse, and risky behaviors and then thinking of suicide,
groups about suicide awareness and prevention. said Mr. Hipple.
Mr. Hipple was accompanied by his daughter, Tarah Hipple, Mr. Hipple stated that intervention is crucial. It is important to
who also spoke about her experience dealing with the suicide of not get complacent with people we’re familiar with – continue to
her brother Jeffrey Hipple in 2000. He was 15. observe peers, friends and family. Bystanders can: notice an event,
interpret as an emergency, take responsibility for acting, decide
Mr. Hipple received the phone call while on a business trip to act, and act to intervene. Intervention can lead to saving a life.
informing him of the death of his son. He spoke with his high
school-aged teen, before departing on that trip, and said they Sgt. 1st Class Audrey Davis, non-commissioned officer-in-
would talk about his son’s sense of not feeling well. That conver- charge of S1 personnel with Lizard Team, Operations Group,
sation never took place. related to the Hipples’ experiences, she explained, because a
cousin committed suicide and her family had not perceived signs
Twenty years prior, Mr. Hipple had been informed he would of trouble. She remembered her cousin as “having it together”
be drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. and her suicide as shaking “the ground of our family.”
In 1981, at the age of 23, he was starting for the Lions. He had
reached, what many consider to be, the pinnacle of American “It definitely connected to my own family situation,” Davis
professional sports. said. “We all have to be cognizant and mindful with the people
that are around us and be in tune with them, not be afraid to
After retiring from football in 1989, Mr. Hipple sold insurance connect with people … we still need to make those connections
and actually made more income than in the NFL; but he lived to save lives.”
with depression and attempted suicide.
Davis expressed gratitude to the Hipples for their contribu-
Mr. Hipple explained that after his son’s death, he drank tion and openness.
heavily and spent 58 days in jail after being arrested for drunk
driving. While in jail he realized he was deferring and engaging “I appreciated them sharing their story,” Davis said. “We’re all
in risk-taking behaviors. human beings and so to re-live and re-tell stories that come from
a painful place, sometimes those emotions can resurface. But the
“I’m here because my son died and I have an excuse to be fact that they unselfishly shared those stories knowing that there’s a
here … I don’t want this to be my son’s legacy or my legacy,” Mr. chance that they’re going to re-visit those painful moments, it just
Hipple remembered thinking in jail. spoke a lot to me and I appreciated them tremendously for that.”
Mr. Hipple wanted answers. He wanted to know what hap-
pened to his son and himself.
He found out that the brain can be impacted by injury, illness,
trauma and stress. The brain’s core mission is to solve problems,
For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil