In the summer of 2020, Master Sgt. Andrew Christian Marckesano, a 34-year-old male and decorated Green Beret, tragically died by suicide on July 6th in Alexandria, Virginia. Known as 'Captain America' to his fellow soldiers, he had an accomplished military career, including numerous combat tours in Afghanistan and elsewhere. His service earned him a Silver Star for bravery. Recently, he had relocated to the Washington, D.C. area to begin a new position at the Pentagon.
On the evening of his death, Marckesano had dinner in Old Town, Alexandria, with his former battalion leader. After returning home, he took his own life in the presence of his wife. He was still on active duty at the time and was survived by his wife and three young children. His death sent shockwaves through the military community, leaving friends, family, and colleagues at a loss.
Friends and family indicated that Marckesano may have been deeply affected by his experiences during a particularly difficult deployment in Afghanistan's Arghandab Valley in 2009. His battalion experienced a high casualty rate during that tour, and the emotional toll of those events may have been a contributing factor. Marckesano was the 30th member of his battalion to die by suicide. While his wife noted that he seemed happy to those around him, she also acknowledged the stress of his new job and the complexities he wrestled with internally, attempting to reconcile his faith with his wartime experiences. His death underscores the ongoing issue of suicide among combat veterans.
