7th Marine Suicide at Pendleton of This Year : Military: Commanding general says, ‘I view suicide as being a leadership problem that we can fix.’

CAMP PENDLETON —  A 29-year-old Marine captain apparently shot himself to death Friday, the seventh Marine from the base to kill himself this year, military officials said.

The body of Capt. Peter A. Tkach, who was with the 1st Marine Regiment, was found in his parked car in Vista in San Diego County at 11:25 a.m., spokeswoman Cpl. Linda Haymond said. She declined to say anything else about what happened except that civilian and military authorities are investigating.

The other six apparent suicides also are being scrutinized by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Haymond said.

The commanding general of Camp Pendleton, Maj. Gen. B. Don Lynch, said in a prepared statement that he is concerned about the rash of suicides.

“Suicide is preventable,” Lynch said. “I view suicide as being a leadership problem that we can fix.”

Several months ago, he ordered the camp’s Family Services Center to form a plan to educate unit leaders and counselors about suicide prevention. The program included two seminars, one was held this week and the other is scheduled for Wednesday, according to the statement.

The other reported suicides this year were:

* Feb. 8, Sgt. Samuel Keyes, 29, of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot’s Weapons and Field Training Battalion, shot himself after killing his wife and father-in-law.

* Feb. 18, Pfc. Gregory I. Leach, 21, of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, shot himself in the head with an M-16 rifle.

* Feb. 21, Lance Cpl. John C. Von Ferstenrecht Micola, 22, shot himself in the head in his barracks. He was with the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

* March 5, Cpl. Stephen P. Young, 23, shot himself with a rifle in his Garden Grove apartment after kidnaping and raping the wife of another Marine. The woman escaped from Young’s car and was taken to the hospital. The corporal, from the 11th Marine Regiment, had been assigned to Headquarters Battery.

* March 17, Lance Cpl. Edward E. Anderson, 20, from the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, shot himself in the head at a training area.

* March 30, Lance Cpl. Arnold R. Moreno, 22, of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, hanged himself in a barracks.