As we seem to be justifiably nervous again about the terrorist threat, let’s remember an event from October 2000 and a resulting death which happened only two days ago.

The attack on the USS Cole killed 17 sailors and injured 39, among them Petty Officer 3rd Class Johann Gokool of Homestead, an electronic warfare technician who lost his left leg.

Last Wednesday, a week after his 31st birthday, Gokool transitioned from survivor to victim. Relatives say he died in his bed, apparently during one of the violent panic attacks that had plagued him since the incident.

His younger brother found Gokool about 7 p.m. Dec. 23 in the house they shared. Medical examiners still haven’t said what killed him, but relatives believe that a deadly attack stopped his heart.

The U.S. Navy classified Gokool 100 percent disabled due to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The attacks came without warning, lasting from a few minutes to hours, and because of them, Gokool couldn’t work, drive or even bowl – his favorite pastime.

His obituary is in the Palm Beach Post and makes for sad reading. If nothing else it should remind us that for many ex-servicemen war doesn’t end when the last bullet is fired. RIP