Drains on Humanity Part II: Thomas Grant Campbell

Grant Campbell joined the Marine Corps at the age of 20 in 2006. Officially called Thomas Grant Campbell II (his family seemingly didn't know this was an incorrect form of naming and he should have been dubbed a Junior), he was called Grant. We're told those who make high enough on the admission exams may enter the Marines as a corporal, possibly making sergeant within three more years. For whatever reason, Grant was still a corporal when he left the service five years later...or more accurately was thrown out after his court martial on theft charges. 

Grant served two tours in combat zones and saw action. None of this was anything he volunteered for, and when he returned from his second tour in the Middle East, he contacted medical personnel about his mental problems which included depression. Physicians diagnosed the young Marine with both depression and PTSD. 

Here, we're leaving documented evidence and entering into the world of educated guess. Physicians know if it walks and talks like a duck, it's probably a duck. We're sure Marine doctors treated more than their share of military personnel with PTSD. Therefore, we're speculating they might not have considered a diagnosis of schizophrenia, quite common in individuals in their mid 20s who suddenly begin to have irrational thoughts. Think "Tony Smith" in Part I of this series. Was this Grant's real problem? It would seem likely from his later behavior, and simply having schizophrenia doesn't rule out the possibility of also having PTSD.

Back to documented evidence... Grant was now stationed at Camp Lejuene in North Carolina, a huge facility used for joint maritime training, meaning it housed thousands of items of modern tactical gear. It may have been impossible to keep track of all the expensive military equipment present at the camp, but in 2011 the NCIS was called in to help stem a rash of thefts of high-dollar military tactical gear.

Grant's name came up early in the investigation and agents tailored a sting operation set to capture the Marine gone bad. In short order, Grant made at least two sales to an undercover agent, from which he netted $1,400.00. Grant was arrested and court martialed. His attorney asked for leniency, but a Marine court stated Grant Campbell deserved none. Even though he had asked for a simple discharge, Grant was given a dishonorable heave-ho, the equivalent of a civilian felony conviction.

Grant returned home to Colbert County in 2011 and lived there until his death in 2013. His only jobs were at businesses owned by his family, and he often worked in some sort of restaurant support job. Several co-workers who had known Grant before he left for the Marines were disturbed by the change in the young man who now became easily upset and made inappropriate comments to women who frequented the Campbell businesses.  

Grant racked up some minor arrests and one not so minor; he was awaiting trial on a meth possession charge in Madison County at the time of his death in November 2013. Still on psych meds, Campbell abused alcohol and was well over the legal limit on the night of his death. His obituary enumerated his medals and other military awards, but all were of the participation variety with the exception of a sharp-shooter badge earned via talent, not good or exceptional behavior. 

We have no doubt that both the military and family failed Thomas Grant Campbell. We also have no doubt that at the time of his death, Grant was a drain on humanity and was about to take that which he could never give back.

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We'll be publishing a blog on Grant Campbell's death at a later date using information taken from the Chris Martin trial transcript to which we've just now obtained access.