Veteran profiled in "Songwriting With Soldiers" death under investigation

Troubled veteran in soldier song story found dead 
Houston Chronicle
December 29, 2014

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (AP) — A New York man featured in an Associated Press account of veterans coping with trauma through songwriting was found dead on Sunday, the same day the story was published.

Guilderland police Capt. Curtis Cox said Monday the cause of Adan Olid's death was under investigation and he had no other information about the circumstances, including when the 29-year-old former Marine died. Foul play isn't suspected.

An autopsy was being done Monday, but the cause of death might not be known until toxicology results are available, Cox said.

In November interviews with the AP, Olid spoke eloquently about the feelings he carried after close calls and seeing friends dying during three tours in Iraq. He told of overcoming despair to confront the "ghost-like feeling" of post-traumatic stress disorder after contemplating suicide at the rail of the Golden Gate Bridge and deciding not to jump.

The AP story published Sunday was about "Songwriting With Soldiers" retreats, in which military veterans work with musicians to turn anecdotes and raw feelings into lyrics and melody. The story included a vignette of Olid working with program founder Darden Smith and veteran recording artist Marshall Crenshaw to craft a song titled "I Couldn't See the Sun Shine."

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