COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the second time this month, Fort Jackson is mourning the death of a drill sergeant, after another instructor was found dead on the fort.
Monday Fort Jackson officials confirmed that Staff Sgt. Zachary Melton was found unresponsive in his car. This follows the death of Staff Sgt. Allen Burtram, who died on December 8.
While there are still unanswered questions about the deaths, Dr. Markesha Miller , a psychotherapist, says suffering two losses such as this can be hard to cope with as many people look for closure after a loss.
“We definitely have to understand and consider that the military family itself is a culture. It's a very tight knit community. And so it definitely has an effect with people. Number one people are grieving. Number two people are trying to understand what happened,” Miller said.
“It's very important to acknowledge what you're feeling. A lot of times people will try to suppress it, but it's very important to acknowledge if you aren't confused if you are feeling scared of some people when death comes on if you're in the same age range, or maybe you are really close to this person and you have all of these questions sometimes fear creeps in,” she said.
To help find peace in grief, Miller said it is important not to grieve in isolation.
“All those others that are maybe feeling some of the same things that you are feeling that comes in handy with having that close-knit community being able to share those feelings, and talk about what you're experiencing, and, and what it feels like what it feels like to have two deaths here within our community within eight days.” she said.
Dr. Miller adds to remember there are resources like 988, the suicide and crisis hotline, if you find yourself in mental health crisis.
Melton was 30 years old. The Alabama native spent more than 10 years in the Army the last three years as a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson. Fort Jackson says the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the death of drill Sgt. Melton.