tomas young
Tomas Young

“We Were Used. We Were Betrayed.” 

Mar 18, 2023
Shortly after writing his “Last Letter” for Truthdig, Tomas Young decided to leave hospice and accept further medical treatment. He died on November 10, 2014, at the age of 34. Following his death, Phil Donahue published a remembrance of Young in the Nation, and Amy Goodman and Chris Hedges wrote a number of pieces for Truthdig. Nearly ten years after Young’s death, his suffering, struggle, courage, and fiery eloquence stand among our most powerful testaments to the incalculable human cost of a criminal and unnecessary war. 
Join our newsletter Stay up to date with the latest from Truthdig. Join the Truthdig Newsletter for our latest publications.

Batman in a Hospital Bed

Jun 11, 2016
With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, many Americans have already stopped thinking about our wars and the casualties from them for another year. As for me, it’s been Memorial Day ever since I first met Tomas Young.

The Last Days of Tomas Young

Nov 17, 2014
The wounded veteran died last week after a desperate battle with the VA, which callously had reduced his pain medication. His crucible is familiar to the many other Americans who have become the fodder of our wars.

2015 Southern California Journalism Award: First Place, Activism Journalism

Tomas Young, Rest in Peace

Nov 13, 2014
There were 8,920,000 military veterans in the United States as of last June, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sometime last Sunday or Monday, hours before Veterans Day began, that number dropped by one, when Tomas Young died at home in Seattle, with his wife by his side.