Vice President Biden says he learned the awful temptations of suicide after plunging into grief over the death of his wife and daughter nearly 40 years ago.

"For the first time in my life, I understood how someone could consciously decide to commit suicide," an emotional Biden said in recalling his wife's fatal car accident in a speech to survivors of slain military service members.

"Not because they were deranged, not because they were nuts, (but) because they'd been to the top of the mountain and they just knew in their heart they'd never get there again," Biden said. "That it was … never going to be that way ever again. That's how an awful lot of you feel."

Biden spoke at an event organized by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a non-profit advocacy group, in connection with Memorial Day weekend.

"There will come a day, I promise you, and your parents, as well, when the thought of your son or daughter or your husband or wife brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye," Biden told the military survivors. "It will happen. My prayer for you is that day will come sooner or later. But the only thing I have more experience than you in is this: I'm telling you it will come."

Reports ABC News: