‘It’s so personal’: How military families are fighting suicide in the ranks

Emilie Munson
July 22, 2020

WASHINGTON — When the U.S. House of Representatives passed its annual defense bill Tuesday, Patrick and Teri Caserta felt the smile of their son Brandon radiating down on them.

Brandon Caserta, a U.S. Navy petty officer, died by suicide in June 2018 on his base in Virginia. In multiple notes, Brandon attributed his suicide to persistent bullying and hazing from fellow members and and also leaders in his squadron.

A year later, his grieving parents hopped in their car and drove from their home in Peoria, Ariz., to Washington, D.C. With no experience lobbying Congress, they arranged 20 meetings with lawmakers and pitched them on their ideas of how laws should be changed to help prevent military suicides.

On Tuesday, one of their proposals to increase access to mental health care for active duty military members passed the House. On Wednesday, it was introduced in the Senate.

“Having the Brandon Act named after our son is an honor we will never forget and his legacy will live on which is to save service members lives,” said Patrick Caserta, a retired Navy career counselor with 22 years of service.