Reporter does hardest job, writes about suicide of Marine friend

Reflecting on the suicide of a Marine friend made in Afghanistan
JULY 14TH, 2011

DAN LAMOTHE

This is one of the hardest pieces of journalism that I’ve written in a long time.

As it appears online, the family members of a friend of mine — Sgt. Ian McConnell, 24 — are traveling today from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to his hometown in Woodbury, Minn. They’re preparing for his funeral at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, a U.S. cemetery in nearby Minneapolis.

It’s common that when a person dies with most of his or her life seemingly ahead of them, friends and family create online memorials. Ian is no different. His sister, Meg, posted one on Facebook over the weekend, and it has overflowed with stories of his compassion, selflessness and sense of humor as a human being and his honor, courage and commitment as a Marine.

A key detail hasn’t been shared publicly, though.

Ian killed himself.

With a self-inflicted gunshot wound, he ended his life on the 4th of July, shocking those who know him as an upbeat, kind young man who went out of his way to regularly pick up the spirits of those around him. He left no note explaining why, his family said.
read more here
Reflecting on the suicide of a Marine