Mentally Unfit, Forced to Fight

"My head was in a scary place. I remember thinking, `I can't believe I'm working on a $14 million aircraft. I just don't care about this,''' he said. "When I'd come out of my daze, I was worried about messing up and endangering the life of my guys.''

Denton, 30, said his depression was easy to keep secret -- pre- and post-deployment health screenings were self-reported, and commanders hustling Marines through six-month rotations never probed his mental state.

Now back home, Denton, who is being treated for depression, isn't sure whether he managed to stay below the radar -- or whether there was any radar to stay below.

"If a man is having serious mental problems, and the chain of command knows about it, you get him out of there and get him help." -- Warren Henthorn, father of Army Spec. Jeffrey Henthorn


Monday: Ignored

"They talked about how he had a history of mental problems. No kidding. ... I mean, if you're flat-footed, you don't go in. So isn't there a clause in there if you had mental problems?''

-- Margaret Brabazon, mother of Army Spec.

Edward W. Brabazon

Tuesday: Drugged

"Bobby is on a mind-altering drug, with a loaded rifle, and he is requested to guard an Iraqi detainee?'' -- Ann Guy, mother of Marine Pfc.

Robert Allen Guy

Wednesday: Recycled

"It just floors us that they'd send him back. To be in a psychiatric hospital last summer and now back to a war zone.'' -- Larry Syverson, father of Army Staff Sgt. Bryce Syverson