‘22 A Day,’A tragedy in three acts, is a revolutionary story and wake-up call for the Veteran community
Gloucester Township, N.J. – Marine Captain and Infantry Officer, Mark A. Bodrog, has recently published a play for the Veteran community in order to raise awareness for the 22 Veterans each day that take their own lives in “22 A Day, A Tragedy in Three Acts” (published by iUniverse).
“This play is specifically designed to be the wake-up call for the Veteran community and greater American public on the issue of Veteran suicide,” Bodrog shares. “Veteran suicide rates are extremely high and disproportionate. The hope of this play is to end these high suicide rates. Every loss of life is a tragedy. Our Veterans deserve better.”
22 A Day, based off of true events and experiences in Bodrog’s own life, was co-authored with another Marine he served with in Afghanistan named, Hunter Haskins. The two joined forces to create this masterpiece in order to bring awareness for the Veteran lives lost and families destroyed. “Hunter and I couldn’t stand by and continue to see the numbers rise,” Bodrog says about his co-author. “Right now, more Veterans are dying at home by suicide, than on the battlefield against the enemy. We both decided it was time to do more for our brothers and sisters,” Bodrog comments.
Bodrog and co-author Haskins are no strangers to war or the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome when Veterans return home. Bodrog was an Infantry Platoon Commander and Company Commander who served two deployments to the Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Haskins, a CH-53 Helicopter Pilot, served in both the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters.
An excerpt from “22 A Day”:
“Congressman, if you look at any Department of Veterans Affairs study over the last ten years, you will see that suicide rates are disproportionally high among Veterans and they are increasing. The current statistic is that twenty-two Veterans a day take their lives. This is roughly one US Veteran every seventy minutes…Do you know in 2014 alone, almost 20 percent of all suicides in the United States were committed by Veterans, yet less than 1 percent of our total population serves in the military? This is a scary statistic!”
“It is an honor and privilege for Hunter and I to publish this play for the military and Veterans community. We hope that we can save lives through increased awareness of the high rates of Veteran suicides and effects of PTSD,” says Bodrog.
“22 A Day- A Tragedy in Three Acts”
By Mark A. Bodrog and Hunter Haskins
Perfect Bound Softcover | 5 x 8 in | 198 pages | ISBN 9781532071584
E-Book | 198 pages | ISBN 9781532071577
Available at iUniverse, Amazon and Barnes & Noble; Available on Facebook: www.facebook.com/callsignhades
About the Author
Captain Mark A. Bodrog received his B.A. and M.A. Rutgers University. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. He has served two combat deployments to the Helmand Province, Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom 10.1 and 11.2. His personal awards include five letters of appreciation; a Certificate Of Commendation; the NJ Distinguished Service Medal; the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; the Combat Action Ribbon; two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal; the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Navy Unit Commendation; two Afghanistan Campaign Medals; the National Defense Service Medal; the Jeremy Kane Scholarship; the Battleship NJ Scholarship New Jersey; and Rutgers Graduate Scholarship for academic excellence.
