Can a 4 yr old really feel like he wants to die? His dad is in Iraq and our son !

Can a 4 yr old really feel like he wants to die? His dad is in Iraq and our son has not been the same since &?

he has been quick to get angry, lash out at me and then stop and just cry and cry saying he miss's his daddy and now lately he still has that behaviour but for the past 4 days (now) he has had quiet moments I have noticed where he is just looking out to no where...and this evening he said he wants to die and i asked him what did he know about it and he said he would not have anymore daddy or mommy. I am so heartbroken....not sure exactly what should I do? He is 4, how could he know to say that? How could he know about that? His only knowledge of death is that yes, dinosaurs will eat other dinosaurs, thats how it works in the wild with other animals too. But i just didnt think he would SAY that about himself....what do you think, what would you do in this situation? Since his daddy has been away...he has not been the same...I do NOT watch the news infront of him either and watch what i say around him, I dont even say Iraq, i say daddy is at work in abu dhabi helping people..advice plez?

2 weeks ago
Just a bit of an update...we have spent day together my little guy and I, no interruptions. I did make an appointment this morning as well to see the child psychologist...I hope that maybe he will be able to help my little guy open up, maybe help me to say the right things to him if i am not.

Amazingly, at that age is when they understand alot more than we think they would and they have alot of feelings and can get very emotional and can feel very sad. I know this because my son is almost four and I could see it in him and how different he acted when my husband was deployed. I would take him out of the house to my friend's house and he'd play with their kids and feel alot better just being around kids his age and having fun with them. I would find what i could to make him happier, feel better. I would make sure that he understood that i was here with him and for him. i don't know how religious you are, but i would have him pray with me and i'd tell him that there are angels everywhere and that he has one watching over him and his daddy has one too and mommy too and they want him to be happy and anytime he missed his daddy, i told him that no matter where he was, if he ever felt lonely or sad, to remember that the moon was something that they both could see no matter where they were. He'd tell me he missed his daddy and i'd ask him if he wanted to go outside and find the moon. He'd say yes and we'd find it, day or night and i'd tell him, your daddy can see it too. he would smile. It helped him alot and went back to being himself fairly quick within a day or two. I would take him to see a dr. though if you feel that it might be better for him. I just thought i'd let you know what i had done. If you need someone to talk to, you can contact me. Best wishes and hope he starts feeling better soon.