Earlier this summer, when many in this administration defended the action of trading Bowe Bergdahl, a suspected Army deserter, for five top Taliban commanders in U.S. custody, the one argument made for the exchange was that America does not leave men and women behind.

With that in mind, many of us have been disgusted that our government for the last six months has been ignoring the mental health issues of a Purple Heart veteran Marine who served with honor in Afghanistan. Washington leadership has failed to push the Mexican government hard for the release of Andrew Tahmooressi, who is suffering from combat-related post traumatic stress disorder.One American who has been lobbying hard on Tahmooressi's behalf is Montel Williams who many know only as a successful actor and talk show host. Many are surprised to learn that Williams, a 1980 Annapolis graduate, was a Navy lieutenant commander who received the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal.Along with his distinguished military career, Williams was also involved in youth issues, encouraging parents, educators and business leaders to work together. These efforts to reach out to the community became building blocks for his long-running talk show.Williams has been one of the more prominent U.S. voices fighting for Tahmooressi, who last March was driving with his friends to go to a Mexican restaurant and accidentally missed the last exit before the Mexican border. He proceeded to the Mexican customs post, where he volunteered that he had three U.S. legal guns in the vehicle. He was arrested and charged with gun smuggling into Mexico.Appearing before a House Committee on Foreign Affairs to draw attention to the case, Williams stated that the first thing we as a country did for the 60,000 illegal children who entered this country through our southern border was to give them medical care. So why are we ignoring the mental health issues of a decorated war veteran?There finally appears to be some movement in the Mexican justice system on this case but Mexican officials should have been pressured to move more quickly, considering Tahmooressi's poor health.In Afghanistan, Sgt. Tahmooressi saved the lives of fellow Marines while putting his own life on the line for this country. The hard combat led to his PTSD which can be deadly.Twenty-two veterans each day in America take their life and countless others are struggling in silence. Our leadership in Washington should feel shame that for the last six months, Sgt. Tahmooressi has had to face his mental torment alone while languishing inside a Mexican jail.By Jim Zbickeditor@tnonline.com