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Amy Goodman

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Remembering Tomas Young (1979-2014): Iraq War Veteran Turned Antiwar Activist

Web ExclusiveNovember 10, 2014

As the nation prepares to mark Veterans Day, Democracy Now! has learned that Iraq War veteran Tomas Young has died just weeks before his 35th birthday. Young was paralyzed in 2004 shortly after arriving in Iraq. He went on to become one of the nation’s most prominent antiwar U.S. veterans speaking out against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. He was featured in Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro’s documentary, “Body of War.” On Tuesday, Donahue will join us on Democracy Now! to talk aboug Young’s life.

In 2013, Young made headlines and appeared on Democracy Now! when he announced that he had decided to end his life by discontinuing his medicine and nourishment, which came in the form of liquid through a feeding tube. But he later changed his mind, saying, “I want to spend as much time as possible with my wife, and no decent son wants his obituary to read that he was survived by his mother.”

Young has been interviewed on Democracy Now! several times over the years.

Tomas Young Reads His Full Letter to Bush & Cheney, 'A Message From a Dying Veteran' (2013)

Exclusive: Dying Iraq War Veteran Tomas Young Explains Decision to End His Life (2013)

Body of War: New Doc Tells the Story of a Paralyzed Iraq War Veteran Coming to Terms with Disability and Speaking Out Against War (2008)

Paralyzed Iraq Vet Responds to Cheney: 'We Didn’t Volunteer Where You Sent Us to Go' (2008)

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